Headlight Protectors

[ukiltmybrutha]

The headlamps on my vehicle are made of glass and the particular headlamp assembly in use was only made for one year. The headlamp is no longer available from the dealer as far as I know. I'd like to know if I can use headlight protectors without sacrificing light output or not. Seems to me that if the protector can take a hit instead of the headlamp when a rock comes flying at it, it might be worth it. I am thinking of using a film that they sell today or perhaps even yester-years GTS headlight covers. Car is a Galant VR-4. Bulbs in use are HIR1 and HIR2 for the high and low beams.

Thoughts?

Thanks for your time.

 

[-Virgil-]

Pick your poison. Those headlight guards (whether the rigid plastic or the adhesive film) "steal" at least 20% of the light when they're new and perfect. None of them are at all UV or thermally stable, nor "optically transparent" (a trio of false and misleading advertising claims), and they deteriorate rapidly and badly. Result is reduced seeing light and increased glare, the usual of what we get with a diffusion material in front of the lens.

 

[Hamilton Felix]

I suppose the fact it's a Mitsubishi Galant pretty much rules out the "other" type of headlight protection, the metal grilles favored by some light truck owners. Right?

 

[TEEJ]

Yeah, the use of a metal cage is one way to at least only let rocks that fit through do any damage. The metal grates with small mesh openings seem to be pretty transparent and are not going to get worse as they age...and most stuff will be fended off by them.

 

[-Virgil-]

Actually, those metal grid type protectors are a "no" item, too. They block a much larger area (and therefore block a lot more light) than you might think. It helps to take a close look at the grid and imagine all the wires used to make it straightened out and placed side by side with no gaps between them.

The US law against any kind of cover, even a "clear" one, in front of a headlamp, is actually a sane and rational regulation.

 

[Hamilton Felix]

Darn. Well, I kind of wondered about that. Yep, I see your point. Usually you see a number of parallel heavy chromed wires attached to a front end guard on a truck. Sounds like the better choice is just a guard that "frames" the headlight area and is a few inches in front of it. That should stop most branches and still put nothing in the way of the light. Won't do much for rocks, though.

Years go, I tried those plastic "bubbles" that went over the 5-3/4" round lights on my 1978 Saab. Frustrating. Fogged, clouded, diverted light. I tried vent holes to prevent fog, finally gave up. Back then, I didn't know they weren't even legal. I've seen thick clear plastic shields in front of flat glass headlights (for some reason, 1985-1987 Subaru wagon pops into my mind. The had about a half inch of space between light lens and shield, and they looked pretty tough. But I'm sure they robbed light.

I do still miss standardized headlights. I miss the 7" round hi/low headlights (Cibie) of my 1969 Chev pickup, augmented by the 5-3/4" curved lens Cibie H1 high beams in some surplus Unity buckets mounted to the front bumper. Nice. And if I did break one, not hard to find (at that time). With hard to find headlights, I certainly understand the wish for headlight protectors. But I also understand why they are bad for lighting performance.

 

[irsa76]

Headlight protectors "can" be a good thing. If you do ALOT of gravel road driving following trucks etc.
Otherwise they are not a good idea. I've had them on a couple of cars and the difference when I removed them was surprising, and I've never busted a headlight despite spending alot of time on dirt roads. Headlight glass will take a surprising about of abuse before they crack/break, more then a rigid plastic headlight protector will.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Headlight protectors "can" be a good thing. If you do ALOT of gravel road driving following trucks etc.
Otherwise they are not a good idea. I've had them on a couple of cars and the difference when I removed them was surprising, and I've never busted a headlight despite spending alot of time on dirt roads. Headlight glass will take a surprising about of abuse before they crack/break, more then a rigid plastic headlight protector will.

Thanks for all of the information everyone.

 

[barbagris]

Headlight protectors "can" be a good thing. If you do ALOT of gravel road driving following trucks etc.
Otherwise they are not a good idea. I've had them on a couple of cars and the difference when I removed them was surprising, and I've never busted a headlight despite spending alot of time on dirt roads. Headlight glass will take a surprising about of abuse before they crack/break, more then a rigid plastic headlight protector will.

You've been lucky. I've lost 4 glass lenses since living in Spain. Two front left Foglight on my wife's Citroen and a fog light and head light on my Land Rover Discovery 4x4. All stone chips - I suspect flung from the rear tyres of trucks or other 4x4s. All properly surfaced roads. Had a windscreen go for the same reason I saw it - less than 1cm across.

I totally agree about the 100% light transparency NOT being so. And also that a hard plastic protector will mark. But imo - there are indeed solid cases for using them. It's like insurance.

I for example have them on my 8630 JW Speaker lights (at 500 Euros a pop) - I'd rather replace €12 protectors yearly than risk a €500 light unit. And on CLASSIC vehicles - My 1979 Guzzi has a CEV light built especially for that vehicle - they're made from 100% unobtanium.