My girl just got an 03 with 100k miles.

The windshield and headlights have severe tiny rockchips everywhere. It's just the standard thing that happens to most cars but this thing has a ton of them. Considering the headlights are like that and the windshield it makes it hard for her to see at night.

Any suggestions?

Any way to polish the headlight covers? Buy new ones?

Any idea how much a new windshield costs?

Thank you!!!
-Gene

 

a lot of insurance agencies will replace your glass for free if it impairs your vision as they view it as in there best interest to keep you safe and keep them from having to pay out for an accident caused by not being able to see. (ours does at least.. USAA) but if you go to autogeek.net they have a glass kit for polishing your windshield. you probably need access to an orbital polisher though.

http://autogeek.net/lc-pro-glass-kit.html

 

New windshield (including install) from my dealer was over $400. Thank goodness it was covered. But, since you asked, that's what it would have cost me.

 

I think that new headlight lenses cannot be obtained separately, and the whole unit must be bought. That said, when you get the new ones, invest in some clear protectors for them. I've had some on my car since new and the chrome is a moonscape but the lenses are just fine.

 

ask for ppg glass. you should be able to get new for about 200 or 240 tops installed in your driveway..

 

+1
I put protectors on my headlights at 16k and now have 60k, the lights look like new.

 

Installed this on the head lights day one after delivery: http://www.lamin-x.com/Default.asp. Four years later still good as new.

 

i just wash my car once every other week, park it in a garage, and use headlight cleaner twice a year. 8 years and they still look brand new...

 

That's nothing, the last car i had a windshield was just about a grand alone, not even including install.

 

You can wet sand and then polish your headlights, but you have to have the right materials and know what you are doing. I have had a few 3 series BMW's through our lot and the lenses pit and discolour even with lower kilometers.

You will need

1500 and 2000 grit wet sand paper
Mild Cut Compound
Polish or Plastic Polish
High Speed (preferibly random orbital) Polisher
Green Painters Tape

Here is what to do:

1. Clean & dry your lenses if neccessary
2. Mask the chrome trim rings
3. Wet Sand the lenses only if the pitting or discoloration is bad, you might want to try the compound alone without sanding, and only use the 1500 if it is neccessary then follow with 2000 grit
4. Dry the area and re-mask if neccessary
5. Using the polisher at a medium speed apply the mild cut compound, once the product has broken down a bit (after a minute or so) increase the speed a bit, wipe off any remaining compund with a towel
6. Apply the Polish or Plastic Polish the same way

I will try to post a before and after pic of the BMW I recently did this on.