Headlight restoration is something that most motorists never even think about. Some may even ask if it’s a thing. Well, it is a thing, and most vehicle owners should be aware of the consequences of ignoring it.
Over time, all plastic (polycarbonate) headlight lenses will lose that brand new, clear, shiny surface. Even with the very best of care, they will eventually start to deteriorate, lessening the effectiveness of your headlights.
It’s Not Your Fault!
There are many different factors that will lead to the discolouration of your vehicle’s headlights. Just with normal everyday use, the sun’s UV rays are damaging the lens of your headlights. Add to that the build up of pollution and road grime, and the battle is already lost.
Unfortunately, this type of severe life is normal for the protective lens covering your headlights. The diverse types of torture are relentless. In addition, there’s the high temperature of halogen headlights when turned on and slowly, the discolouration continues.
It’s a Safety Issue
As your vehicle ages, your headlight lenses will cloud up and become hazy, leaving an opaque appearance. Should your headlights become too bad, the police could even defect your vehicle and issue you with a fine.
The Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017 states that ... a low-beam headlight must illuminate the road ahead of the vehicle for at least 25 metres and a high-beam headlight must illuminate the road ahead of the vehicle for at least 50 metres.
You Could FAIL a Rego Check
After a new vehicle has its fifth birthday, we all know that you need to provide an annual Pink Slip to the RMS. This is to show that the vehicle is roadworthy and also completes one of the requirements to re-register your car.
During each safety check, we use a piece of equipment called a beamsetter to check the settings of your headlights. Should either not be able to project their light the required distance on low or high beam, your vehicle will be issued with a White Slip.
A White Slip will detail the repairs needed to your vehicle before a Pink Slip can be issued. In this example, your headlights would need to be replaced or restored.
Headlight Restoration
Restoring your headlights is a much cheaper option than replacement. For some car brands, headlight replacement would cost many hundreds of dollars. On the other hand, restoration can be done rather quickly and completed while you wait.
It should be noted that once your headlights do deteriorate to the stage of needing restoration, it is not a permanent fix. As your vehicle ages, your headlights may need some extra TLC each year to continue working at their best.
Book in today and have the team at St Marys Tyre and Wheel Centre take care of those yellow or discoloured headlights for you.
Safe motoring ... see you in-store soon!
Tarkan
