I was washing my car (it was sorta cold out and I used warm water with a terry cloth for each panel) and I noticed alot of hairline cracks in my passanger headlight.

Wish I could show it, but i've a suck ass camera.
Ill try my best to explain.

They arn't deep cracks at all, ranging from about 1/4 inch to inch length and there are many of them, est. of about 27.

I'm not too sure how long i've got left for my headlight in this condition, nor how long they have been present. I'm very sure they all didnt appear at once too.
Surely i'll be in the market for prices and what not, but could having washed my car with warm like water in a semi (mid 50 degree weather) cold temp really do this kind of damage?

Im very concerned about this, and positive this isn't normal.
Any suggestions?

 

No, I doubt it was the water. The headlights are plastic and their thermal expansion limits are beyond semi-warm water in 50deg temp.

 

have you every used an alcohol based cleaner on them? or like laquer thinner? that WILL crack them

 

Well, you have a 2001 and I believe you probably have never polished and protected them with some sort of sealant/wax?

Eventually the plastic will fall apart like this. You might as well buy new headlights because it seems to me the cracks are beyond a simple polish.

 

even with no polish or wax on a 2001 s2000's headlights the "plastic" should not "fall apart", but it might oxidize from no uv protection or sealant.

I have a my01 and when i received the car the headlights were in TERRIBLE condition. u could tell the headlights were NEVER conditioned, but there was never any sign of cracking, just lots and lots and LOTS of oxidation.

and i thought it was made from a plexi/lexan material not a clear plastic?
correct me if im wrong.

 

Ive waxed them 2 times before in the last 3 months.
I havn't really noticed them, now they pop out horribly.

What I dont understand is, my other headlight is flawless to what I can see... Why the passanger one?

 

Are you the first owner? Maybe the previous owner got into an accident and replaced one side from another S.

 

Well, that's what I mean. That's the begining of "falling apart".

 

Try to take a pic anyway.

 

Light off, camera does not show visability.



light on, thats another story.



According to the dealer I bought from (and carfax), im second owner.