stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Feb 13, 2013 20:35:56 GMT
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Hi, I have a LHD Corolla KE70 (See link in signature if interested) and have been keeping an eye out for RHD headlights for quite a long time. Some came up on eBay about a week ago so I bought them and was very happy. Except when they arrived, one had a stone chip not described in the listing. Understandably I'm not very happy any longer and would have good grounds to refuse it, but when is another likely to come up? Pictures speak a thousand words so... 2mm hole through the glass So moisture has got in and the silvering is peeling a little on the bottom The whole reflector is slightly dulled (definitely noticeable but not really terrible) its hard to tell without dismantling how much is dirt that might wash off and whats permanent damage. So my question is basically can this be fixed and whats involved? Naturally I have tried to find out for myself before posting but all the guides on stone chip repairs I have seen force resin in with a pump but how's that going to work with a hole right through! If the glass is repairable at reasonable cost then I will strip the lamp down and get a better look at the reflector but I don't want to do that if opinion is I'm best just returning it to the eBayer. Cheers, Steve.
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barty
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,088
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Feb 13, 2013 23:41:32 GMT
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return to sender, i think you would be better of looking for another set even if they are rare
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,251
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Feb 14, 2013 12:30:18 GMT
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As above. The scarcity does make a it a bummer though I admit.
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Feb 14, 2013 18:02:51 GMT
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Get half your money back, then you only need one!
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Feb 14, 2013 18:45:07 GMT
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If it really is that rare -returning it would be daft. Its not hard to seperate a headlamp & cleaning the silvering (-or using your lhd rears) will solve that prob. A blob of araldite on the lense and a good polish will sort that, refixing a doddle using any proprietory waterproof sealer. It'll not be perfect -but it will be rhd.
Anyway -posting headlamps isnt easy as most couriers will reject (if they know). And what happens if it does get properly broken on the return journey?
Mend it. Its the RR way
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Feb 14, 2013 19:03:36 GMT
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But ask for a goodwill partial refund due to not being as described.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,926
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Feb 15, 2013 10:32:00 GMT
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Take the lense off the cover the hole with a piece of old milk bottle taped in place. Put some clear araldite in a big syringe, and whilst holding the plastic tight inject it in through the hole in the back. Once its dry take the plastic off and buff the lense to make the surface uniform. I've done a foglight like that before, still watertight 10 years later.
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Feb 15, 2013 12:23:07 GMT
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Araldite will generally colour to a mucus green though.
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g40jon
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,569
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Feb 15, 2013 12:41:46 GMT
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ask for a partial refund and see about getting the chip filled using the same stuff window fitters use when doing chip repairs on windscreens
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,251
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Feb 17, 2013 19:46:32 GMT
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I was going to say. I rarely use my foglights on any of my cars. Headlights are a different matter (pretty much on a daily basis most of the time!).
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barty
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,088
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Feb 17, 2013 20:06:33 GMT
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as previoysly mentioned i don't think the windscreen boys can repair it if the hole goes right thtrough as it has to be injected in and it would therfore go straight through. Any sort of glue would just discolour. Send them back to the seller it would save you so much hassle. Stick a wanted ad up in as many forums as poss
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Feb 18, 2013 15:32:02 GMT
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This seems to have divided RR opinion! Fix or Return! I have sent this message to the seller and will see what they say... I bought the two TE72 Corolla headlights you had for sale recently.
I am very happy with the right hand lamp and have left you good feedback as appropriate.
I am quite disappointed with the left hand lamp however. The stone chip which was not mentioned in the listing is a major defect that will be difficult and costly to get repaired properly. Headlamps are fully sealed for good reason and a chip that goes through the lens means water will get in and the lamp will not last. The one you sold has already got a dull reflector and some lower parts of the reflector silvering peeling off (also not mentioned in the listing) from water getting in. Unless repaired this is is quickly going to deteriorate further.
I hope you think I am being reasonable and can understand my point of view. Would you consider offering a partial refund to reflect the item condition or would you rather I returned the item to yourself for a refund?
Regards, Stephen If they will partial refund me I will use this one for now and keep looking for a better one. They are not easy to find though.
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OUTRUN
Part of things
13...
Posts: 620
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^ I hope you don't think I am being unreasonable...
Already sent it? I'm sure they will get the idea anyway lol.
Contact a Toyota specialist breaker/importer on eBay? Surely that will track down some RHD units from a JDM car?
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I need your help to get back to the year 1985.
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OUTRUN
Part of things
13...
Posts: 620
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I need your help to get back to the year 1985.
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Feb 21, 2013 19:41:45 GMT
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UJN879Y - Yes I had already sent it, but that would have been a better way of wording it. (You must be an English teacher - lol) I had seen that eBay ad and assumed it was a LHD lamp for the US market but the picture does show a RHD beam pattern lens doesn't it. The price once posted is quite a bit more than I have paid and they could get stung with import duty too. That said its not a bad price for a brand new one if the quality is good.
Anyway I'm going to use this one for now. The seller seemed decent and I have accepted a tenner back (I will have saved a tenner by not posting it off too). I will replace it later if it starts letting the rest of the car down, but there's a lot to tidy up before that's going to be an issue!
I will split it apart and see what can be done to get it usable and will investigate the clear resin idea mentioned.
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