Replacement of headlights

What material are your headlight lenses made of?

 

Headlights of today are different from those of the past. At the turn of the millennium, manufacturers shifted from glass to polycarbonate to produce the optics that cover halogen, LED, xenon, or laser bulbs, along with their reflectors and transparent, curved walls.

Polycarbonate is a plastic-type material that's appreciated for its lightness, level of waterproofing, and extreme resistance to impact. It has also become established for its ability to create aesthetic variants that are more in line with the evolution of 21st-century vehicle design and better adapted to their aerodynamic profiles, into which it's harmoniously integrated.

However, polycarbonate headlights have a few disadvantages. The varnish used to finish them, which gives them their shiny appearance when new, becomes severely tarnished over time under the action of the sun's UV rays, polluting particles, and dust deposits accumulated on its surface. To restore their shine, Sekurit Partner ensures extremely precise and careful polishing, which involves using a sander, sandpaper, and a special paste designed to polish the headlight after it has been stripped.

 

What to do if your headlight lens is damaged?

In the event of an impact or breakage, a complete replacement of the headlight unit is often the only possible solution. This is because all its components are integral and inseparable from one another, including the transparent polycarbonate surface, which is glued to the device containing the lighting system. It's now rare to intervene separately on each of these components, unlike the glass predecessors (at least the first generation), where the glass, attached to the reflector with clips, could be detached from the inner part and exchanged individually for an equivalent part.

At Sekurit Partner, we provide replacement polycarbonate headlights that are supplied by the best equipment manufacturers. We guarantee the rapid delivery of a part of the same quality and specifications as the original model.

 

Riding with a broken headlight: why is it forbidden?

Driving with a broken headlight is a real danger as the cover is no longer able to perform its protective function optimally and ensure the necessary waterproofing of the lights. Without this shield, the headlights inside the block are exposed to moisture, splashes of stone cracks, and many other foreign bodies. In the short term, the normal functioning of your lighting system is threatened, potentially leading to its extinction. The formation of mist and condensation inside the headlight alters its luminous flux, reduces its luminous intensity, and eventually damages the reflectors and bulbs.

Driving with damaged headlights is liable to be punished by the police or gendarmerie. In France, this offense is punishable by a 3rd class fine of 68 euros. Additionally, a damaged headlight has no chance of passing the roadworthiness test, and it's compulsory to change the optics and justify this during a second inspection.

 

 

What insurance cover is there?

 

Some insurance contracts cover the cost of replacing a headlight, and the glass breakage guarantee, when taken out, sometimes covers damage to the headlight's glass. However, this isn't always the case.

When you contact Sekurit Partner, our advisors will liaise with your insurance company to determine what compensation you're entitled to and inform you of the possible amount of your remaining costs (excess).

 

 

What risks are your headlights and bulbs exposed to?

 

There are several types of potential impacts to your headlights. Damage caused by vandalism is generally the most frequent. A violent head-on collision with another vehicle or a protruding object can also break the glass of a headlight and/or remove the optical unit from its housing, causing it to lose stability. In the latter case, the problem is likely the mounting brackets, which may have been damaged by the accident.

A common scenario is when parking in a town or car park, where bollards may be present to delimit a parking area or a space for pedestrians, or grills to protect plantations. These objects are often less than 1m high and may not be visible to the driver when maneuvering. Our advice is to check your vehicle's surroundings before parking or moving your vehicle in a tight space to avoid potential damage to your headlights.

 

Request the help of a Sekurit Partner professional to repair your optics or your light

Whether the fault is obvious, such as a broken window, or more subtle, such as broken mounting brackets, replacing your headlight or rear light will require dismantling the part and related parts, which may not always be easily accessible, along with the appropriate tools. Our Sekurit Partner technicians have the necessary training, equipment, and experience to handle such situations and solve your problem quickly and efficiently, ensuring a professional service guarantee.