60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,673
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Sept 11, 2015 22:55:00 GMT
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On my SAAB 9000 the headlights are terrible. Mainly due to plastic reflectors that have lost their sparkle. Even bought the best philips 150% bulbs which did make an improvement, but not enough.
I just had the idea to buy some reflective silver vinyl and somehow (never used vinyl before) wrap the vinyl over the existing reflectors.
My gf said she would give me some glitter and glue! - I did consider this ... maybe not.
I have seen some chrome spray paint but have no idea what it would be like. Any suggestions?
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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gazz81
Part of things
Posts: 842
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Sept 11, 2015 22:56:26 GMT
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Vinyl would probably not cope too well with the heat?
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dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
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Sept 12, 2015 0:12:56 GMT
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There was an article in Street Machine magazine, many years ago now, on doing a similar thing. They did it to a set of teardrop rear lights on a hot rod. The part of the light that holds that bulb wasn't very reflective so they covered it in some sort of silver, reflective, sticky backed plastic. It seemed to work.
Don't see any reason why you couldn't do the same. Some sort of sticky backed chrome-type foil would work. Try hobbycraft perhaps?
Ive just finished colouring the foglights yellow on my Peugeot 306. Couldn't find any decent translucent yellow paint anywhere, so a quick trip to hobbycraft and bingo. A small bottle of yellow, glass paint.
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,673
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Sept 12, 2015 0:30:19 GMT
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Vinyl would probably not cope too well with the heat? It would probably reflect a percentage of the heat? Although I hadn't considered heat before you said. Some heatproof laquer (if it exists) ?
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,673
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Sept 12, 2015 0:32:19 GMT
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There was an article in Street Machine magazine, many years ago now, on doing a similar thing. They did it to a set of teardrop rear lights on a hot rod. The part of the light that holds that bulb wasn't very reflective so they covered it in some sort of silver, reflective, sticky backed plastic. It seemed to work. Don't see any reason why you couldn't do the same. Some sort of sticky backed chrome-type foil would work. Try hobbycraft perhaps? Ive just finished colouring the foglights yellow on my Peugeot 306. Couldn't find any decent translucent yellow paint anywhere, so a quick trip to hobbycraft and bingo. A small bottle of yellow, glass paint. Teardrops don't generate a lot of heat so that would work - Will pop into the local art place and see what kinds of vinyl they have
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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gazz81
Part of things
Posts: 842
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Sept 12, 2015 0:39:11 GMT
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Midas
Part of things
Posts: 511
Club RR Member Number: 14
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Sept 12, 2015 4:38:47 GMT
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Frosts did a reflector paint the last time I looked..
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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Sept 12, 2015 7:07:34 GMT
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Last Edit: Sept 12, 2015 7:07:55 GMT by bazzateer
1968 Singer Chamois Sport 1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport 1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2 1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome 2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily) 2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily) 2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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Sept 12, 2015 7:14:32 GMT
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You can get HVAC foil tape which should stand up to the temperature and is really reflective as it's aluminium.
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lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
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Sept 12, 2015 7:23:51 GMT
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Pop to the local builders merchants or diy place and pick up a roll of alloy tape that should work
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Sept 12, 2015 14:12:43 GMT
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I re did a pair of super oscars a few years ago with some chrome paint and TBH it was better than just silver but it wernt no chrome, took days and days to dry and in the end i did the inside with alloy tape, which was better still but not a touch on getting it redone profesionly All the above are fine for extra lamps (esp if they are free) but i wouldn't use any on the main lights I know new 9000 reflectors are £55 each so i can see why you'd want to try but honestly appart from getting it rechromed prof nothing works as well as new reflectors, sabb specialists sell new ones on exchange so i assume they get them redone, maybe ask where and get your done again ?
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R.I.P photobucket
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Sept 12, 2015 15:38:52 GMT
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You really do need a mirror finish to focus the light properly, otherwise there will be too much light scatter and probably won't pass an MOT.
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Sept 12, 2015 16:23:00 GMT
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There are several MacGyverish things you can do, but i think the only way to get it truly good again, is to get new reflectors....
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Sept 12, 2015 17:18:10 GMT
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cant you just look out for some good used ones
i don't see any silver paint or sticky plastic is going to improve anything
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91 golf g60, 89 golf 16v , 88 polo breadvan
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Sept 13, 2015 15:31:23 GMT
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It's common on mk2 golfs to use a headlight loom with a relay to boost the power to the bulbs. Not sure how the Saab is set up but in the golf the power for the headlights runs through the dash switch, old wires, long cable run, poop headlights.
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60six
Posted a lot
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Posts: 1,673
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Sept 13, 2015 16:55:44 GMT
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The saab 9000 facelift type headlights are known to be a bit poor, and there is a relay thing I can do, but this causes the system that sense blown bulbs to go awry - Original headlights unused are difficult to get hold of and secondhand isnt worth getting as they have the same problem. Didn't think about reflector angles either, and knowing what I can be like with precision neatly done jobs I may try some spray first. Really like the idea of aluminium hvac tape as long as I do it neatly - and keep to the contours of the original. The most extreme method of updating the headlights is to use e36 bmw lights which actually fit but a lot of work there. .... and it looks like a bmw.
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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Sept 13, 2015 18:02:43 GMT
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There's a guy on UKSaabs who refurbishes headlamps (C900, 9000, etc) Think his prices aren't too bad from what I remember. I can't remember his username though, sorry.
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1964 Saab 96 two Stroke 1971 Hillman Avenger 1500 GL (Tuned 1600 fitted) 1976 Saab 99 2dr EMS (Project of very slow progress) 1978 Saab 99 2dr EMS (Awaiting reshell) 1981 Saab 99 2dr Turbo (Awaiting reshell)
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