looking for opinions on new headlights...

[V]

my stock headlights are beat... i have custom vinyl surrounds on them to hide most of the weathering and checking of the borders, but they still look used and abused. Now with the brand new grille and all the clears up front, the old headlights really stand out, in a bad way.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/2011-02-07164527.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1311.jpg

As I see it, I have 5 options...

but quickly let me give you all the info about my current lights... They are factory HIDs with headlamp washers that pop out from the lights to rinse off the lights. These lights came standard on the V series CTSs and optional on a few regular CTSs.

Option 1....
Buy brand new CTS-V series replacement lights from GM, but at a cost of around 2,600 for the pair, and i could sell my old ones for about 300 each. So thats still 2,000 bucks out of my pocket.... I dont like this option personally.
-cost= 2,600 (and sell old lights for 300 each)

Option 2...
Buy aftermarket replacement lights for a base CTS and give up the washers and install an aftermarket HID setup in the projectors.
-cost= 350 (and sell old lights for 300 each)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/ctslights.jpg


Option 3...
Buy aftermarket base CTS lights, BUT modify them in order to accept the washer system AND the projector units from my current lights so factory HIDs are still intact. No selling of the old lights would be available.
-cost= 300


Option 4...
Buy CHROME base CTS lights and modify them as stated above to reuse washers AND factory HIDs. This would give the car a slightly different look, but keep in mind almost all the other Cadillac cars, from 2005 to now have chrome inner housings.
-cost= 300
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/chromects2.jpg

Option 5...
Buy aftermarket base CTS lights and REMOVE the lenses from them and swap the lense onto the original lights. Only mod would be to cut out the section where the washer pops out. HOWEVER, this idea has been brought up on the CTS forums and has been tried, NO ONE has been able to do it successfully. So i may waste 300 on the new lights and ruin my original lights.
cost= 300




and btw, buying used good condition Vseries lights is NOT an option... they want 500-900 each for a nice light and most will start weathering very soon.

[sweetbmxrider]

I'd modify some new lenses with your stuff if its not too involved. Otherwise I'd leave yours alone for resale and get some aftermarket lights then fit them with some nice projectors.

[V]

I can modify a set to fit the washers and oem projectors very easily. the whole lens swap in a much bigger deal.

also i can buy oem projectors and washers so i could technically keep my stock lights untouched


And personally i like the chrome lights... but i want to see what others think.

[92REDBIRD]

option #4

[creeper]

stock ones are beyond wetsanding and polishing out?

they don't look all that bad from the pictures

[V]

stock ones are beyond wetsanding and polishing out?

they don't look all that bad from the pictures


I have considered it, yes. Some people have tried that approach and the results do not last long. I most likely will attempt that prior to buying any new lights regardless.

[WildBillyT]

stock ones are beyond wetsanding and polishing out?

they don't look all that bad from the pictures

I have considered it, yes. Some people have tried that approach and the results do not last long. I most likely will attempt that prior to buying any new lights regardless.

I did this and it lasted a while, FWIW.

[Stevoone]

Have you looked into salvage yards? May be able to find a good set of OEM lamps.

[V]

Have you looked into salvage yards? May be able to find a good set of OEM lamps.

its not even worth it. anything that would be in a salvage yard most likely has this issue already. Plus the rarity of finding a V at a yard. Any used lights online i've found range from 400-900 each side.



As for the polishing, it seems the issue comes down to what they are saying are the "UV blockers" that protect the lights. When sanded and polished this protection is removed and the lights will stay clear for 6-9 months approx. The only recommended solution to this that ive found so far, is once polished up, you have the lights painted with good quality automotive clear coat paint, like at a body shop. A paint product with UV blockers mixed in it. That sound right? i can believe it, lol.

Im thinking, maybe this summer, ill pop the lights out(have to remove the front bumper, ugh) and wetsand/polish them up, then find a painter to clear them. That should fix the issue for a long time, and cost less than new lights. ...but i do like those chrome ones... maybe ill get them for the time being, polish and have the stockers painted and decide what to do then lol.

[maroman88]

stock ones all the way... maybe have the black outlines painted body color? personally i think the all chrome looks cheesey, while the black is bad ass

[V]

stock ones all the way... maybe have the black outlines painted body color? personally i think the all chrome looks cheesey, while the black is bad ass


hmm, i do like the look of the stockers myself, as in how the projectors look recessed. but buying new ones isnt financially feasible.

As for the body color border i got rid of that idea VERY quick months back after this quick photoshop i did. yes its not exact but gives a good enough idea of how bad it would look.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/moddedvlights.jpg



I do like the chrome just because itll match but i am hesitant. I can not find a pic of a car yet that has them. I have a hard enough time deciding on what car i wanna buy/build each month, so picking out headlights, im all over the place, lol.

I did look more into polishing and reconditioning my current ones.
read a bunch of threads and saw pics, they really DO look awesome when in mint shape.
people have said though that the refinishing kits by like 3M etc, are not good enough alone. And that you need to wetsand the lights starting at 400 grit.

I looked to see what products are available locally by me and so forth.
Being that im at base, id have to buy everything.
sandpaper, 400 grit, 800 grit, 1000 grit, 2000 grit, 2500 grit. ~$25($5 per pack)
polishing compound & rubbing compound ~$7 ($3.50 each)
Plastix clear plastic polish ~$8
spray-on UV protectant(what makes the refinishing last longer) ~$7
6" orbital buffer w/enough terrycloth bonnets $38
masking tape $5

thats a total of about $90. (id be able to do other lights or these again in the future)

So ill probably order all that stuff online, and save 30-40 bucks and do the lights when spring finally gets here. IF they dont turn out decent, then ill look into swapping on lenses.

[maroman88]

ahh i thought that was u that did that photoshop... i dont think it looks THAT bad lol

possible to buy the base CTS lights and open them up and paint the insides black?

[V]

ahh i thought that was u that did that photoshop... i dont think it looks THAT bad lol

possible to buy the base CTS lights and open them up and paint the insides black?

i dunno, like i mentioned, no one has successfully posted online as to opening up a set of these lights, painting them and resealing them. people would post that they will try or are in the process and would post pictures once completed but then they never respond in the thread again.

And well the insides of mine are gray too, not really black. Only real difference between base and V are the washers.

[Blackbirdws6]

I would go with polishing and a good coating on the lenses. Does anyone sell the 3M clear bra material for the CTS? I would imagine they have it and that would add some protection once you get the finish where you want it.

May want to try one of the simple Meguiars kits before you grab the sandpaper. I was pretty pleased how my wifes headlights came out on her Lexus with using the simple kit.

[Rich189]

If they arent to bad wet sand and polish them out... then get laminex covers for them they'll look like new and you wont have to worry about the sandblasting effect again. When they get dingy looking just peel the laminex off and put a new sheet on. Few of my clients who do tons of highway driving do clear bra's with laminex on the lights and their front ends look almost new with 100k plus miles.

edit... heres links on what I've been using on people's cars normally wetsand the light then use a heavy compound then the plastic care kit below..

http://www.lamin-x.com/
http://www.autogeek.net/plastik-lens-cleaning.html

[V]

I bought some supplies today. When i get a chance ill give polishing them out a shot.
I'll be sure to take pics of the process and report back how it goes.

[T69SS]

I like the sound of option #4

[Rich189]

I bought some supplies today. When i get a chance ill give polishing them out a shot.
I'll be sure to take pics of the process and report back how it goes.

Give a call if you have any problems I beleieve u have my number

[Syzygy]

I just use meguire's plastic polish, a mothers ball, and some time and they usually turn out amazingly clear.

[Rich189]

I just use meguire's plastic polish, a mothers ball, and some time and they usually turn out amazingly clear.

clear yes... but i think most of his problem is the sand blasting effect from a few years of highway driving... the meguires will help but really wet sanding then polishing does a much better job

[V]

well, i tackled it today. ill post pics up later, after i get dinner.

I don't think i'm done with them just yet, still a little cloudiness i think i can clear up.
they aren't perfect like brand new, but they are much much better than what i had before. Also i think that black vinyl i had on the lenses helped speed up the decay underneath, when i pulled it off, it was much worse than what i remember having covered up, lol.

oh and yeah, they definitely are good enough that i dont have to consider buying new lights of any type just yet.

creeper, thanks for bringing up about wetsanding and polishing. i really hadnt considered it but now im glad i did, and Rich, i may be in touch with you about how to get them to that last step of clarity lol.

[V]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1677.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1679.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1680.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1687.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1696.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1701.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1714.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1713.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1702.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1706.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1711.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1712.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1708.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1720.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1717.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1718.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1723.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1724.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1733.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1735.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1731.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1743.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/CTS-V/IMG_1739.jpg

[Rich189]

They look like they came out pretty good... are they still cloudy but baby ass smooth? or can you still feel imperfections in the plastic.

If the plastic is perfectly smooth it could be 2 things. 1 is gm lights are notorious (with me anyway) for clouding on the inside of the lens I've seen it on a bunch of gm trucks including my own and my dad's. Second it could just be that your plastic polish wasnt strong enough to remove all the scratches from wetsanding completely in which case you just need a heavier polish.

Also once you finish them up i highly suggest getting laminex or something similar to cover them with. I know it sounds stupid but when I did the headlights on my truck it seemed like after wetsanding it made the plastic softer (maybe the outside layer is harder from the manufactuering process) but either way it seemed like they got cloudy and chipped up quicker.

[The Fixer]

Paul, those look awesome!! What supplies/steps did you wind up using? My lights are in great shape now, but I need to be prepared in case I have to do them in the future. :)

[T69SS]

Looks much better!