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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 12:13 AM
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Default Headlight De-Crystaling? Views

J Performance (midlands) do this on their cars when they sell them does it ruin clarity when headlights are on? is there anyone on here who can do this to headlights & cost?
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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 10:34 AM
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From: Rl'yeh
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What's it mean? De-crystalling?

Most people want to go from stock lights TO the crystal ones.

Unfortunately, they are all cr@p anyway
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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 01:30 PM
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De-crystaling? What do you mean?

Alcazar, crystal headlights aren't any worse than a modern (non-projector) car with decent bulbs fitted.
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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 01:35 PM
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Give over............I've tried both crystal and non-crystal lights on my Scoob, and both were as bad, neither could hold a candle to my Cibie fitted Morettes with standard bulbs in. On both dip AND main, even without the extra main-beam inners.

The word "scatter" was invented for them wasn't it?
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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 03:34 PM
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Sure they're not perfect (lets face it, no headlight is, projectors and HIDs included), but they're not as bad as you make them out to be. Fitting them with a DECENT set of bulbs made by a DECENT manufacturer makes a world of difference.

Still intrigued by the meaning of de-crystaling!

Last edited by BLU; Nov 1, 2011 at 03:38 PM.
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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 04:16 PM
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I'd like to know what the de-crystalling is too.

Ah googled. They De-chrome (term in this ad :http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3359094.htm) Which is basically, painting the chrome parts black. Like black crystals.
I've done a few, and there are probably guides on here.
It involves putting the headlight in the oven, to soften the glue.

Its an easy DIY, just most people dont like the oven bit.
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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 04:20 PM
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Like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Imp...item336c978029

Or doing the whole lot? Not sure Mr MOT would approve...
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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 04:28 PM
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Oh now I get it! I did my classic ones with a hairdryer, no oven required.

You can paint any part of the headlamp black providing it doesn't need to reflect the light back out! e.g. the surround on a projector unit etc
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Old Nov 1, 2011 | 06:10 PM
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From: Rl'yeh
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Agreed, five minutes in an oven, open light unit with oven gloves, place glass somewhere safe, remove and spray bits you want black, place in oven again and reseal.

The shrouds around the reflectors unscrew, iirc one small screw?

DO NOT touch the reflector, even by accident, and if you do, DO NOT under any circumstances, try to polish it: it's an aluminium coating on the reflector surface, and will simply come off

When I went projector, I also went all round my light seals with Carafax, just in case the original glue hadn't sealed it properly after it had been opened. Not had any problems yet.
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Old Nov 2, 2011 | 01:30 AM
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Ooops sorry guys thats what its called (de-chrome) anyone got any close up pics with their headlights done on a hawkeye, before I take the plunge.
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Old Nov 2, 2011 | 03:16 AM
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I tries the oven but didn't like it and it took to long. So just got the wife's hair drier out and focused on where the glue was round the seems. Very quick and so easy to do.
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Old Nov 2, 2011 | 11:19 AM
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From: Rl'yeh
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Either method will work, but with the hairdryer you are risking cracking the lens due to it expanding a lot in a certain area and not in another.

In an oven, it's ALL at the same temperature.
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Old Nov 2, 2011 | 02:25 PM
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I thought that. So what I did was. Put a towel down an put my light lens down and slow turn the light heating up the seam. So that it heated up slowly. Worked a treat. If anyone dose anyone how to do this with a spot light? I've got a pin hole in mine and a lil bit of crap has collected in side and I wouldn't mind cleaning it. I tried the above method but no just joy.
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Old Nov 2, 2011 | 02:27 PM
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I've done the oven the oven trick plenty of times. Only once did I try the heat gun method (slightly manlier than the hair drier) , and that cracked the lens. But I suppose on the new plastic headlights, I'm assuming hawkeye ones are, there is more room for the lens to flex.
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Old Nov 2, 2011 | 06:23 PM
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From: Rl'yeh
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Also more likely it wil melt using a heat gun

Wonkey:when you say spotlight, do you mean the OE foglights? AFAIK, they can be split by placing them in an oven.
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Old Nov 3, 2011 | 12:47 AM
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Originally Posted by alcazar
Also more likely it wil melt using a heat gun

Wonkey:when you say spotlight, do you mean the OE foglights? AFAIK, they can be split by placing them in an oven.
Yeah the fog lights in the front. I tried the same method but to no avail. Lol
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Old Nov 3, 2011 | 01:42 PM
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You tried putting them in an oven?
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Old Nov 3, 2011 | 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by alcazar
Also more likely it wil melt using a heat gun
I didn't use enough heat, thats why it cracked. I had one side loose, the other didn't budge, then it cracked.

The oven is certainly the best way.
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Old Nov 5, 2011 | 02:16 PM
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My hawks headlights were done by j performance. Unfortunately i have no idea how to upload a pic to post of it
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Old Nov 5, 2011 | 02:22 PM
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try this???



http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...5/scooby12.jpg
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