How to permanently fix your foggy VW Golf / Jettaheadlights! Replace plastic with glass lens

[@Leemonoid]

First of all thank you for the excellent tutorial. I installed my lenses using a method I saw at another web site: Headlight in the oven, on a cookie sheet, at 200 degrees for 20 minutes. The old lens then peeled away easily and left the butyl rubber intact. Back into the oven, along with the new lens, for 5 minutes. After that the new lens seated very easily with no mess and no fuss. The hardest part of the job was watching a headlight bake for 20 minutes. :)

[@Nexus-6]

Thanks brother. I just removed the headlamp lenses off my 2000 VW Jetta today after watching your video. It was really simple using a hairdryer, a bit of patience, and a slotted screwdriver. Going to polish the lenses and re-install with some new Phillips HID bulbs.

[@GarryOzols]

Might I also add that you should use something like a couple of pieces of hardwood between the lamp housing and the oven shelves as the hot metal can damage the plastics.

[@4gunner]

My 65' bug has glass lenses and it has never broken. I even rear ended someone at 25mph and it didn't even scratch it. It looks like a similar thickness. Glass lenses for life!

[@ericherrera5405]

I did this glass replacement about a month ago. Well worth it. I found out that you do not need that much sealant - I only used about 2/3 of a 2.8 fl oz tube

[@717Veedubb]

Great video!!! Definatly gotta do this to my 20th! way more cost effective then buying new headlights all together!

[@MrCguzzy]

Thanks for the video! Just replaced my headlights with glass lenses yesterday. They look great!

[@GarryOzols]

Fair enough but I put that down to quality control rather than silicon. If you heat the lamp housing and new lens properly before you reunite them with a quick look to see where a little extra sealant may be needed to be moved to to help even it out, will make all the difference. None the less this is a good video tute, thanks for taking the time to share :-)

[@TuneMyEuro]

The silicone that I used is heat resistant up to 450 degrees, it was not cheap, $12 per tube. I did try the oven method recently, which works great by the way. 7 mins in the oven at 300 degrees, easy to pull the old lid off. I also heated up the new lens at the same time, that made it really easy to seat the new lens on the black sealant flushly.

[@IcemanCalfary]

Many thanks for sharing your expertise. The Mrs. Has a Cabrio with terrible lights. Know how to change now. Thanks well demonstrated and filmed

[@marktech101]

Great guide! My car looks much newer and sexier now.

[@dre4011]

great tutorial!!...good camera work too...will be doing this on my '03 GLS soon..was scared to screw with 'em before...now I know how

[@tubeyhamster]

I did this last night with the help of your video. Thank you!

[@IndigoBr33ze]

Thanks for the video. Made a job I wouldn't think about attempting a breeze.

[@albodss]

Thank you so much for your time showing us the process !

[@4DIYers]

Excellent video!

[@TheSpeedModel]

Preheated my oven to 250 degrees fahrenheit and then placed the headlight assembly in the oven for 10-11 minutes (lens side down). Removed it from the oven and then lifted off the old lens cleanly with a quick pry from a flat screwdriver. There was no need remove the old sealant from groove because it stayed in place. I pressed the new glass lens into the groove. NOTE: make sure it's seated firmly all the way around - press hard. Reheat if necessary. My lenses didn't need silicon sealant.

[@vwman85]

I did this procedure today. Will post about the results in another week or two.

[@TuneMyEuro]

It might not have the tabs, but the removal should be the should be the same, heat gun or blow drier and a flat blade

[@eliasnchambers]

Because unlike polishing your stock lenses, this is a permanent fix. Glass will never fade or oxidize in the sun.

[@thomashisirish]

My thoughts too; wouldn't it be easier to just leave the old black sealant in, reheat it when ready to put in the new glass lense?

[@TuneMyEuro]

Some people that did not use silicone have gotten moisture in their headlights when it rains.

[@protectandswerve]

He did mine and they are Awesome!! Great mod!!

[@BigRyGuy04]

Yeah they're strong glass lenses. There's also Lamin-X protectors for the glass lens.

[@TuneMyEuro]

@4DIYers Thank you! Did you buy some lenses also?

[@BMACVAGS]

That does look a whole lot better

[@4DIYers]

@RodriguezInnovations Not yet, but I will be eventually.

[@marktech101]

Did it, worked great!! Thanks for the vid.

[@k3z1a]

Great video! Thanks so much. Seems really straight forward, are there good instructions or video for how to remove the headlight assembly out there?

[@ScapeTimeStories]

Valeo is a brand, just like Hella! The hella ones are easy to open, but the valeo cannot be opened without smashing or cracking it.

[@peteremmanuel2762]

Where can I buy glass lenses for 2003 Toyota Previa/Estima?

[@tbskirk]

This is great ! Why cant this be done for all cars with those cheap plastic lenses !

[@MrWiskin]

I tried cleaning my old headlights with toothpaste sand and eagle feathers but it didn't work? A friend of mine says put it in a tree stump and leave it in the moonlight for three days as this will defo work! What do you think, should I buy a hair dryer and crowbar?

[@Jfresh55]

Fellatio Belsen da ploisher and compound. gone less than a minute

[@mikesharkey2405]

DEET works really well, yes, the ingredient in OFF insect repellent

[@zool8139]

Fellatio Belsen toothpaste only works on plastic lights but cola is better for stripping the fog off plastic light neways

[@TuneMyEuro]

It is real glass, it COULD shatter, but its very strong, and the dimensions make it strong IMHO

[@Professional_Youtube_Commenter]

I am so silly, I watched this video and I really wanted glass headlight windows, then the other day I noticed that my car actually has glass headlamps. LOL

[@dannyleimberger9734]

Thanks for the video. I want to use it to do the same job on my 2004 GTI.

[@FenixPajarito]

Did u use at least half that silicone to stick both lenses?

[@RadostinVelchev]

I see the reflector on your low beam has started to get matt just above the light bulb. Mine are even burned on the same spot... I will send the reflectors of mine to get rechromed It is $20 for a set where I leave.

[@waycool1969]

Thanks so much for the video. I know what to do now.

[@wpnt37]

how much did the lenses cost?

[@ThunderMan88]

Do you need to heat up the silicone tube before applying it?

[@amana1480]

That's so strange..... because here in the UK the Mk4 Golfs only came with glass lenses! Golf Mk4's never came with plastic lenses in the UK!

[@nplus1watches35]

Consider yourselves lucky. The DOT in US/North America are pinheads and goofballs.

[@negra277]

I saw on eBay some lenses like these for an mk5 jetta would the process be the same !

[@PopaMircea]

that silicone won't come off next time you want to open the headlight.

[@radior28]

What about polishing the headlight?? is it not possible??

[@TheKronikmike]

where did you get the glass headlights from?

[@bamudamutesa2813]

Where should I get glass headlight from?

[@benspeese8897]

Does VOlxTuning send 2? I don't wanna pay 70$ and only get one lense. Sorry if dumb question.

[@Mathularan1]

What type of silicon should I use for refitting?

[@TuneMyEuro]

RTV silicone

[@Mathularan1]

FixMyVW.com by AARodriguez thanx!

[@ScapeTimeStories]

This shit cannot be done with VALEO headlights! And this is a really important information.

[@ScapeTimeStories]

Haha :D I've smashed my valeo ones, painted the inside of the lights to black, then had another pair of HELLA and took the glass from them, then fitted to the VALEO plastics... was a nightmare...

[@incomingministries]

what are valeo headlights?????? I just cracked mine trying this....

[@teashahuntsman]

Is it possible to remove the silicone again after this process?

[@TuneMyEuro]

Not easily, some people have sugguested using butyl rubber instead of silicone

[@teashahuntsman]

FixMyVW.com by AARodriguez Do you happen to know if they have been successful? I am nervous of the durability of the glass and would hope I can just replace the glass again. :)

[@mattcomchoc2957]

Tea H I've dealt with butyl a bunch from working on an RV I used to own, and the sealant he removed from the light looked like a lot of butyl that I have dealt with. so I think that it would work just fine. sorry I don't have any actual experience with using it on headlights, though

[@rodbuilder3657]

You're showing you age - or lack of it! They used glass for headlights since they started making cars! The only reason they don't now is because some asswipe "engineer" decided it would make them more money on replacement parts to use that crappy plastic junk.

[@chrismc410]

rod builder there should be laws against using plastic lenses on cars.

[@PJBB-eo5kw]

very helpful thanks

[@ItsTimmyTexas]

How do you repair a halo lens mines fading out?

[@LordToxygene]

I wish they made these for my car.

[@IndigoBr33ze]

Please don't spread fiction as fact. Any hardware grade clear silicon has a max temp between 400-500 degrees F. Far beyond "the black stuff" which would be liquid at those temps if not smoking. Silicon used to be rated for 25 years, but even that proved an understatement and now it's rated "lifetime" as it out lasts anything it is used on. I have silicon caulking on my home (and tractor) in the daily sunlight that is over 30 years old.

[@cengeb]

They can't be the same for each side, the optics has to be focusing the beam properly. And there is differences in E code or U.S. DOT.

[@cengeb]

You do know that the RTV out gasses and will cause it to fog the reflectors inside.

[@stentuning]

Sorry to rough job. Smudged the silicon all the the chrome. You can even see it in the movie thrue the glass.

[@citroeno]

I know that ime in the business of replenishing headlight lenses as a job and ime very popular.

[@Thev6er]

Might have helped to actually heat the seam of the light... Not the lip on the lense

[@KapicRealty]

Whats the specific color of your golf?

[@RanchoBurger]

Would this work on a 2002 Golf?

[@elujsauc8697]

yes :)

[@morfster13]

So during the process my glass lenses didn't seem to go all the way onto the headlight. I tried both lenses so I wasn't using the wrong one it would slide on then, there would be about an inch on the top part that wouldn't slide all the way down. Any ways you think i could get this to work?

[@TuneMyEuro]

I've never heard of that happening, could you send me a picture?

[@morfster13]

I'm thinking its because I have after market headlights.

[@TuneMyEuro]

Colbey Morf I guess that could do it.

[@jferianc]

Hi, can you advise me where can I buy the rubber parking bulb rear cover?

[@tlaloc1525]

Dealer, VW salvage.

[@simonc9206]

eBay

[@Corkoth55]

what is valeo headlights?

[@SanchezMotorsportsLLC]

I need glass for my 05 passat non HID headlights. Does Mike@Volxtuning have an email or site to buy?

[@cengeb]

3M has the plastic lens restore, less work. Plus is the glass less DOT/SAE labeled? If it's LEGAL it ha to have the DOT SAE embossed on the glass, no DOT, not legal. Technicality matter, even though of course new glass puts light back out on the road, but without DOT, they are technically illegal.

[@GarryOzols]

Why did you remove the original black sealant from the lens surround and replace it with cheap old silicon, firstly it isn't as heat resistant as the original black sealant and WILL age and deteriorate over time unlike the black stuff. Another way to remove the lens is to place the entire light fitting in an oven and heat up for about 15 minutes at 250F, pry the old lens off and then reheat and install the new one.

[@ScapeTimeStories]

Now do this with a Valeo headlight :)

[@marypetre6953]

Excelent tutorial

[@stentuning]

And indeed, 5 minutes in an oven at 80 degrees Celsius is much easier

[@TuneMyEuro]

@DragracingX Thanks!

[@TuneMyEuro]

The glass is very thick, I have over 50,000 miles with no trouble so far.

[@carlusdarienus]

are golf Gti good cars ?

[@endroo93]

Good thing that here in Europe glass headlights are legal. There's no need to do this procedure ever.

[@xtsupermotard]

Endroo They're standard on MK4 Golfs anyway.

[@curlygerhard]

i cleared them on different cars with a sponge and toothpaste^^

[@ledmk2]

Nice make

[@hsinyo]

It looks like he's opening a clam shell 😂

[@MariusVerbavicius]

WTF?!?!? On my VW golf 4 no TABS??!? How do i remove glass?

[@HerrPlumbum]

Nächstes mal mit karosseriekleber! Ich bin Glaser & normaler Silikon kann die Scheibe irgendwann blind machen! Gruß

[@benjokazooie]

thats cheap, in the uk the golf mk4 gti 25th anniversary has no chrome, they are all black and want $310 each (yes i used a converter)

[@incomingministries]

ended up smashing the lens trying this, apparently europe uses different glue? Mine was so tough I ended up smashing the lens and partly melting the plastic...be warned!!!

[@kc03300]

urethane better than silicone

[@1000RXR]

Bravo merci

[@flurry]

No. That's just buying little time while wasting money that eventually will be best invested in replacing the irreversibly-faded plastic lenses.

[@benspeese8897]

*light doesn't shatter because it would hit the lens first*

[@odicinho]

muito bom!

[@zilla6990]

Until a rock hits it and shatters it!

[@MAXXOZIC]

cool !

[@eduardodacosta58]

bacana mesmo

[@TuneMyEuro]

Indigo

[@tim7827]

How come I can't find them on your website? FixMyVW.com

[@TuneMyEuro]

They are out of stock :( waiting for more to come in, might be a couple weeks.

[@mostcallmerob]

eBay has plenty

[@TuneMyEuro]

Volxtuning ran out of them, it's other vendors that currently have the, Volxtuning should have more in stock in a week or 2

[@TuneMyEuro]

volxtuning dotcom

[@Checoibague]

Buen aporte, aunque la verdad acá en México lo hacemos sin guantes porque son para pussy y la mica no se tira a la basura. Se puede pulir perfectamente y queda como nueva ;) (Y)

[@ahyhijooooo]

Si si sí si

[@citroeno]

Why did you go to the trouble of replacing the plastic headlight cover when you could have used wet and dry and brought that lens up to new ,ime in the business of saving motorists hundreds of pounds from buying new headlights.

[@26rus24]

Вот бы ты по русскому разговаривал цены бы тебе не было)

[@fockyoumang]

Turtle wax

[@SanchezMotorsportsLLC]

volxtuningDOTcom

[@newfieledman9164]

Why waste money on headlight lens, when you can restore back to New condition with Rubbing Alcohol, i cleaned my headlight lens last July of 2015 and it is May 2016 now and my lens are still like New.

[@bieganowsky]

+Newfie Led Man please tell me your story, i am wonder how you did renovation

[@newfieledman9164]

hi All i used is the 90% kind of the Rubbing Alcohol you can pick this up at a local Pharmacy drug store, i then used a lint free cloth wiped on then buffed off by hand, you can also use non acid tone Brake fluid as well.

[@gorgor251]

👎👎👎