Cracked headlight plastic... What to do?

Say No To Pistons · #1 12-27-2006, 08:05 AM

The Infiniti's passenger headlight is cracked on the corner from that accident the other day. It hasn't fallen off yet but it's wiggling around since it's the corner thats cracked. Should i just epoxy (two part epoxy) the inside? Buying a new headlight is not an option since they are OEM factory projectors... Pics soon, once the camera is charged.

wotnartd · #2 12-27-2006, 08:08 AM

Junkyard?

Say No To Pistons · #3 12-27-2006, 08:09 AM

I won't have luck finding QX4 HID's for under 100 bucks at a junk yard. They get stolen all the time.

vrooom305 · #4 12-27-2006, 08:45 AM

duck tape.....

Say No To Pistons · #5 12-27-2006, 08:56 AM

No need for duct tape yet, it's not that bad.

Tofuball · #6 12-27-2006, 09:12 AM

Believe it or not; superglue.

Also, to stop the crack from advancing more, find the end of the crack and drill a small hole in the plastic.

wotnartd · #7 12-27-2006, 09:15 AM

Is it just a removable piece of clear plastic, like a lens, or soemthing? Or is it a whole piece?

Say No To Pistons · #8 12-27-2006, 09:31 AM

Here are some pics. As you can see, the bumper and the fender is scratched but i can fix that by touching it up, sanding, and polishing. I might pay to have a body shop massage the dent out. There are more scratches on the corner of the bumper.

The plastic that is cracked is probably being held on by the rubber edge trim.

Sorry if i'm being paranoid. I'm just not used to the Infiniti not being perfect

edit: Before anyone calls me out... I'm going to have everything repaired at my own expense. Why? Because i'm totally responsible for what happened (to my mother's car) and i don't feel the need to depend on someone to pay for what i did.

Tofuball · #9 12-27-2006, 10:04 AM

Oh, that looks really simple.

Definitely just superglue it and polish the edge that emerges.

If you're not comfortable doing that yourself, just mail it to me with return postage :P

Say No To Pistons · #10 12-27-2006, 10:15 AM

What do you think about the dent? Think it can be fixed without replacing the fender or repainting it?

Tofuball · #11 12-27-2006, 10:17 AM

I can't tell from the pictures, but it looks a lot like a rounded piece of metal and a planishing hammer with a rag would fix that crimp in the metal. I'm willing to bet you could make everything else look just fine with some rubbing compound and some touch up paint.

Say No To Pistons · #12 12-27-2006, 10:42 AM

Thanks for the help. I'm too scared to touch it now, because I don't want to stretch the steel. Probably going to epoxy the headlight and polish and touch up the scratches first.

Tofuball · #13 12-27-2006, 10:45 AM

Go to a junkyard and grab a fender off something similar, prefferably already dented (if not, then dent it) and practice fixing the dent

Or just go and randomly fix dents on the vehicles there so you don't have to pay for a fender.

That way you wont be scared when it's time to do the real dent.

R281 · #14 12-27-2006, 05:46 PM

Just report it to your insurance company. You'll get it repaired right and if the damage is under $750.00 (if you're lucky), your premium will not go up.

I used to be an adjuster and the damage looks like it over $800, but I may be wrong. It depends on what needs to be replaced and what needs to be painted.

What's the worst thing that could happen? Your insurance may go up by $100.00 every six months for three years. That's $600.00 total.

Say No To Pistons · #15 12-27-2006, 05:52 PM

I don't know. We're already paying over 2000 a year because my dad got into an accident not too long ago and since we're in Brooklyn...

The insurance company called a few weeks ago and asked my mom if i had a permit. Are they allowed to raise the premium even fi i don't have a license (only a permit)?