scratches in headlight housing - LotusTalk

bluejae · 05-20-2006, 06:43 AM

i did a search thinking it might be the burning headlight issue but after seeing some pics... they look different...

from the pics i've seen they look like a bunch of little scratches...

but the ones on mine are longer... i took some pictures on the way out this morning but won't be able to get them online until later tonight...

i ran my finger across it and i can't feel anything so i can only assume it's from the inside... and it's on both headlights... the dealer installed the rings just the other day but it was for a different reason...

i'll get pics up ASAP

bluejae · 05-20-2006, 08:08 PM

here are the pics... i'm wondering if this happened while they were adjusting the headlights and installing the embellisher ring?

jac · 05-22-2006, 05:23 AM

It looks like that to me. Back to the dealer you should go.

codymac · 05-22-2006, 05:37 AM

You must be tall - I can't see that part of the car while I'm driving.

bluejae · 05-22-2006, 06:59 AM

actually i'm pretty short... 5' 7... getting in and out isn't too difficult...

just dropped of my car at overseas and they'll be taking a look at it... now i've got an accord...

MattG · 05-22-2006, 08:35 PM

I don't think it's possible for those to have been caused by the dealer...I've taken my headlight covers out (to replace the bulbs), and noticed that the black plastic part appeared to be permanently bonded to the clear curved cover.

Edit - on second thought, are those scratches in the black part or the clear part? If in the clear, perhaps it IS possible for the dealer to have done it, like if they had to enlarge the hole to fit the ring.

bluejae · 05-22-2006, 08:38 PM

it's on the clear... even my service advisor said it looks like its on the inside

the tech didn't even get a chance to touch my car today... was working on the BRG exige... so i just picked mine back up and went to go watch the MAVS BEAT THE SPURS!!!!!!!!!

so i'm just gonna take it back in on thursday along with my 1st service

bluejae · 07-03-2006, 12:28 PM

got the results back from lotus... the dealer took pictures and sent them the pictures (even though it shouldn't be lotus' problem anyway because i believe the service dept did it) but anyway

lotus said they won't replace it and so the only thing the service dept. can do is try to clean it again... although they cleaned one lamp and the inside now has little scratches from their cleaning attempt... i think the dealer needs to replace my housing instead of trying to cover up their mistake

mr t · 07-05-2006, 08:41 PM

Hi folks,

Yes, you can Clearplex your light housings too!

At a cost of $4/sq ft it is CHEAP and will guard against any type of scratches or rocks. You can check it out at www.clearplex.com.

Take care everyone,

mr t

Keeper · 07-06-2006, 05:42 AM

Is it DIY? I thought you need to find an installer to have this done:

http://www.clearplex.com/orderinfo.html

bluejae · 07-06-2006, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr t

Hi folks,

Yes, you can Clearplex your light housings too!

At a cost of $4/sq ft it is CHEAP and will guard against any type of scratches or rocks. You can check it out at www.clearplex.com.

Take care everyone,

mr t

thanks for advertising... but my scratches are on the inside of the housing... and i don't expect a rock to get in there while driving any time soon

bluejae · 07-11-2006, 06:36 AM

after the service dept had another attempt at trying to "clean" these scratches... he gave up saying that if he did anything else, it'll just cause more scratches...

i called them today to talk to them about replacing the headlights and they said they thought about that as well until they saw a new exige come in with the similiar problem...

so i asked if it had the embellisher rings installed and he said yes... so i'm guessing that it might have something to do with a poor installation of the rings...

so then i asked... well... if a brand new exige has visible scratches inside the housing... then shouldn't Lotus reconsider replacing mine under warranty? how is it different from a paint defect? and he was like... you're right... i've looked past paint defects and just made a note because i don't want to go through repainting panels and hoping it'll be color matched... but these are just headlight housings... *sigh*

so now he's gonna talk with the service dept and the service director and get back to me...

bluejae · 07-13-2006, 07:03 AM

*update*

well... apparently Lotus will still not warranty the headlights even though a new exige had the same problem.

so now their solution is to do a transplant with another car... which sounds kind of odd to me... but i'll be going in next friday to take a look at the headlights my car will be getting in surgery...

are there really other cars out there with scratches inside their headlight housing? if so, please speak up

bluejae · 07-20-2006, 06:15 AM

I hope this works. I'm posting using my blackberry. Does elisetalk have the all test version of this forum for PDAs and such?

Anyway. I'm sitting here at overseas because of my headlight issue along with the rear tire wear which they will be looking at. An alignment will likely be done as well.

When I can get to a computer and I will try and start a new thread but I think this headlight scratch issue needs to be looked into just like the other one that led to the embellisher rings.

Lotus said that they would not warranty the headlights with the scratches. And overseas, in order to satisfy their customer, offered to swap my headlights with a brand new car on their lot. Well. Just in case. I wanted to take a look at the headlights that I would be getting out of this deal. And it turns out that EVERY elise/exige had their own set of unique defects on the interior housing. One of them looked somewhat like mine. Its hard to explain without pictures but I will be taking some when I pick up my car. I looked at 10 cars and each of them had scratches. Even the new sport Elise which is now in the showroom.

Even with the amount of cars on the lot with this defect. Apparently lotus will not do anything. Maybe some members won't think twice about this. But personally, I like my car to look clean. And already overlooking the paint defects which I'll just say gives it character.

xtn · 07-20-2006, 06:50 AM

bluejae if you're still at overseas, ask them about them backing into my Exige a few weeks back. It's a cool story.

xtn

bluejae · 07-20-2006, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtn

bluejae if you're still at overseas, ask them about them backing into my Exige a few weeks back. It's a cool story.

xtn

wtc? c-cool story?

i had just left when i posted

xtn · 07-20-2006, 07:56 AM

Oh okay, well if you havn't already seen it, here you go:

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...t=xtn+overseas

xtn

bluejae · 07-20-2006, 08:03 PM

as much as my car has been in service... i'm glad something like that hasn't happened to me... having the guy who sold me the car run into my car would just be plain weird..

SeanB · 07-21-2006, 08:06 AM

xtn didn't think it was a good story that day. I feel for him, though...
-Sean (OSM)

bluejae · 07-21-2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanB

xtn didn't think it was a good story that day. I feel for him, though...
-Sean (OSM)

haha.. i was wondering if that was you sean... welcome to the forum

05-20-2006, 06:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	scratches in headlight housing i did a search thinking it might be the burning headlight issue but after seeing some pics... they look different... from the pics i've seen they look like a bunch of little scratches... but the ones on mine are longer... i took some pictures on the way out this morning but won't be able to get them online until later tonight... i ran my finger across it and i can't feel anything so i can only assume it's from the inside... and it's on both headlights... the dealer installed the rings just the other day but it was for a different reason... i'll get pics up ASAP __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

05-20-2006, 08:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	here are the pics... i'm wondering if this happened while they were adjusting the headlights and installing the embellisher ring? Attached Images __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

05-22-2006, 05:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
jac Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: back in upstate ny Posts: 869	It looks like that to me. Back to the dealer you should go. __________________ Red on Red baby

05-22-2006, 05:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
codymac short angry bloke Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: where the east tapers out and the west begins Posts: 9,287 Images: 19	You must be tall - I can't see that part of the car while I'm driving. __________________ torque (tôrk) n. - an excuse for the lack of momentum. - let's bring back CanAm & Group B! - have you hugged your Exige today? I'm currently working on my performance driving merit badge. There's always somebody faster, sometimes it's me.

05-22-2006, 06:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	actually i'm pretty short... 5' 7... getting in and out isn't too difficult... just dropped of my car at overseas and they'll be taking a look at it... now i've got an accord... __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

05-22-2006, 08:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
MattG insert clever title here Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Living above the clouds in Colorado Posts: 7,686 Images: 11	I don't think it's possible for those to have been caused by the dealer...I've taken my headlight covers out (to replace the bulbs), and noticed that the black plastic part appeared to be permanently bonded to the clear curved cover. Edit - on second thought, are those scratches in the black part or the clear part? If in the clear, perhaps it IS possible for the dealer to have done it, like if they had to enlarge the hole to fit the ring. __________________ '05 Elise, Magnetic Blue / Biscuit / Hardtop Radar detector mounting brackets for sale here

05-22-2006, 08:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	it's on the clear... even my service advisor said it looks like its on the inside the tech didn't even get a chance to touch my car today... was working on the BRG exige... so i just picked mine back up and went to go watch the MAVS BEAT THE SPURS!!!!!!!!! so i'm just gonna take it back in on thursday along with my 1st service __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

07-03-2006, 12:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	got the results back from lotus... the dealer took pictures and sent them the pictures (even though it shouldn't be lotus' problem anyway because i believe the service dept did it) but anyway lotus said they won't replace it and so the only thing the service dept. can do is try to clean it again... although they cleaned one lamp and the inside now has little scratches from their cleaning attempt... i think the dealer needs to replace my housing instead of trying to cover up their mistake __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

07-05-2006, 08:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
mr t Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 205	CLEARPLEX! Hi folks, Yes, you can Clearplex your light housings too! At a cost of $4/sq ft it is CHEAP and will guard against any type of scratches or rocks. You can check it out at www.clearplex.com. Take care everyone, mr t

07-06-2006, 05:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
Keeper Probably Lurking Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North of Boston Posts: 2,501	Is it DIY? I thought you need to find an installer to have this done: http://www.clearplex.com/orderinfo.html

07-11-2006, 06:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	after the service dept had another attempt at trying to "clean" these scratches... he gave up saying that if he did anything else, it'll just cause more scratches... i called them today to talk to them about replacing the headlights and they said they thought about that as well until they saw a new exige come in with the similiar problem... so i asked if it had the embellisher rings installed and he said yes... so i'm guessing that it might have something to do with a poor installation of the rings... so then i asked... well... if a brand new exige has visible scratches inside the housing... then shouldn't Lotus reconsider replacing mine under warranty? how is it different from a paint defect? and he was like... you're right... i've looked past paint defects and just made a note because i don't want to go through repainting panels and hoping it'll be color matched... but these are just headlight housings... sigh so now he's gonna talk with the service dept and the service director and get back to me... __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

07-13-2006, 07:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	update well... apparently Lotus will still not warranty the headlights even though a new exige had the same problem. so now their solution is to do a transplant with another car... which sounds kind of odd to me... but i'll be going in next friday to take a look at the headlights my car will be getting in surgery... are there really other cars out there with scratches inside their headlight housing? if so, please speak up __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

07-20-2006, 06:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	I hope this works. I'm posting using my blackberry. Does elisetalk have the all test version of this forum for PDAs and such? Anyway. I'm sitting here at overseas because of my headlight issue along with the rear tire wear which they will be looking at. An alignment will likely be done as well. When I can get to a computer and I will try and start a new thread but I think this headlight scratch issue needs to be looked into just like the other one that led to the embellisher rings. Lotus said that they would not warranty the headlights with the scratches. And overseas, in order to satisfy their customer, offered to swap my headlights with a brand new car on their lot. Well. Just in case. I wanted to take a look at the headlights that I would be getting out of this deal. And it turns out that EVERY elise/exige had their own set of unique defects on the interior housing. One of them looked somewhat like mine. Its hard to explain without pictures but I will be taking some when I pick up my car. I looked at 10 cars and each of them had scratches. Even the new sport Elise which is now in the showroom. Even with the amount of cars on the lot with this defect. Apparently lotus will not do anything. Maybe some members won't think twice about this. But personally, I like my car to look clean. And already overlooking the paint defects which I'll just say gives it character. __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

07-20-2006, 06:50 AM	#15 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,894	bluejae if you're still at overseas, ask them about them backing into my Exige a few weeks back. It's a cool story. xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

07-20-2006, 07:56 AM	#17 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,894	Oh okay, well if you havn't already seen it, here you go: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...t=xtn+overseas xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

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07-20-2006, 08:03 PM	#18 (permalink)
bluejae Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,097	as much as my car has been in service... i'm glad something like that hasn't happened to me... having the guy who sold me the car run into my car would just be plain weird.. __________________ KG Exige Delivered 5-9-2006 POLL:check for scratches "in" your headlights Excessive tire wear? It may be your alignment My Example Hiro's Example codymac's Example to be installed: stebel horn, fumoto valve current mods: arqray twin muffler, itg intake, 3M film full wrap and full rockers by X-Perts, rear lotus letters removed, locking gas cap, CF Mirror Covers, CF Side Scoops, black lotus nose/wheel badges future mods:wheels, forced induction

07-21-2006, 08:06 AM	#19 (permalink)
SeanB Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3	xtn didn't think it was a good story that day. I feel for him, though... -Sean (OSM)

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