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Bake open Tail Lights... (Or molded covers?) Lens crack repair

TruckDriver

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Long story short, my BLIS equipped tail light lens took a beating and originally just had a crack, now has a piece chipped out which I have in hand so it all still goes back together..

I have baked headlights and tail lights open in the past, preheating with an oven and then using a heat gun - I was surprised I haven't seen a single post on this forum yet so it looks like I'll be the guinea pig

Any chance someone has done this before on this specific taillight? I'm particularly worried about which clips I will encounter or any permanent bonding. Alternately, a molded cover that I can seal over the top would be ideal - I haven't seen one on the market, just vinyl overlays...
 

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ferraiolo1

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There are some on eBay for sale for less than $400

Separating that isn’t going to fix it.


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TruckDriver

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There are some on eBay for sale for less than $400

Separating that isn’t going to fix it.

If you happen across a link, please let me know! Around that price I haven't seen them with the blind spot indicator - physically I can move the blind spot sensor over but there would be a missing pigtail in the wiring of a non-BLIS unit

I'll check again though! Back when I first looked they were 600+, new was near 900...

I did another search and found these covers - they apply with Velcro (wtf?) But I believe I can mount them with a bead of silicone to make them weather proof. Not ideal but it's something to stop gap having to spend 5-600+ from what I've seen so far

 

HSKR R/T

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If you happen across a link, please let me know! Around that price I haven't seen them with the blind spot indicator - physically I can move the blind spot sensor over but there would be a missing pigtail in the wiring of a non-BLIS unit

I'll check again though! Back when I first looked they were 600+, new was near 900...

I did another search and found these covers - they apply with Velcro (wtf?) But I believe I can mount them with a bead of silicone to make them weather proof. Not ideal but it's something to stop gap having to spend 5-600+ from what I've seen so far

Those won't work for the taillights with blind spot monitoring anyways. As far as baking them opens they have changed the glue they use on newer headlights and taillights. It's nothing that can really be baked open. Usually they are cut open if anyone tried to get them apart
 

ferraiolo1

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TruckDriver

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Just buy those carbon overlays for the center section



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I wish it was that easy, the crack extends in a few directions so the only vinyl overlay that could possibly work could be a clear bra material stretched over the whole thing but getting it into the crevices would be tough
 

TruckDriver

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As far as baking them opens they have changed the glue they use on newer headlights and taillights.
yeah that’s what I’m afraid of, and why I made the post in case anyone has tried it – I’ve baked open at least a dozen headlights and taillights of varying manufacturers, but I’m worried that this is just plastic welded together
 

djevox

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Chances are you can bake it. There’s too much going on with leds and sensor to not be two-piece. I doubt you will find a spare lens though.
 

HSKR R/T

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Chances are you can bake it. There’s too much going on with leds and sensor to not be two-piece. I doubt you will find a spare lens though.
It's glued together, but the glue used doesn't really soften when baked.
 

TruckDriver

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It's glued together, but the glue used doesn't really soften when baked.
If I'm stuck buying another one, I might just chance it anyway to see if I can't take it apart with a pre-heat and heat gun technique
Chances are you can bake it. There’s too much going on with leds and sensor to not be two-piece. I doubt you will find a spare lens though.
Agreed - there's def a seam, albeit a tight one. No lens that I've seen anywhere, just hoping to salvage this one until lens/tail prices come down from the moon haha.
 

ZombieSlayer

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Check local wrecking yards. I found a pair of LED headlights from a rear end total. Was going to be $400 for both, unfortunately I had to take the kid to the ER instead :(
 

TruckDriver

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Check local wrecking yards. I found a pair of LED headlights from a rear end total. Was going to be $400 for both, unfortunately I had to take the kid to the ER instead :(
Yikes, hope all's ok!

I'm going to call around today but have a possible fix in the works... As soon as I can I'll post up pictures if it worked out
 

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