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StonGard for headlights

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Old Apr 1, 2002 | 06:51 AM
  #1  
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Default StonGard for headlights

Just curious if there's any diff in the color output of the light when StonGard is applied on the headlights? Or if StonGard does get discolored over time?
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Old Apr 1, 2002 | 08:24 AM
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I've had mine on for almost 1.5 years and have had no problems. Mine is 40 mil thick and is perfectly clear today with no ill effects on the light. I was told it's not necessary to go more than 20 mil thick. Just make sure you know about some of the problems that have arisen (search SCS2K and check out his Stongard thread). His headlights got damaged by the application of this film. If you don't know exactly what you're doing, make sure you do a "wet" install an be careful what you use to clean the lens before the install. Harsh chemicals may have been the cause of the aforementioned problems. Plexus would be a good way to clean them.
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Old Apr 1, 2002 | 11:23 AM
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After reading those few threads about StonGard, I think I'll stay away from it...

What about Xpel??? I was looking at their website but wondering if it will develop the same problem as StonGard...

Know of anyone in Canada that sell Xpel?
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Old Apr 1, 2002 | 01:42 PM
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Seks
[B]After reading those few threads about StonGard, I think I'll stay away from it...

What about
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Old Apr 1, 2002 | 01:59 PM
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Viper,this is the first I've heard of a product like this.Is this stuff clear or tinted?
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Old Apr 1, 2002 | 02:07 PM
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Originally posted by Flyin Wedge
Viper,this is the first I've heard of a product like this.Is this stuff clear or tinted?
It is perfectly clear. The stuff used to protect the painted surfaces like on the nose of the car is 8mil. This film can be had up to 80mil thick but after 20mil can get very hard to mold to certain contours. I was told 20mil will take a really good rock hit on the headlights. The 8mil will suffice to protect the car for your routine "sandblasting" like you would get on country roads. I you take a good hit there, the film will be "streaked" and can be changed. I was thinking of changing the big piece on my car sometime this year due to a couple of real good whacks. That one piece should only cost just over 100 Cannuck bucks. Beats paying this amount to fix just 1 or 2 chips.
There have been lots of threads on this stuff. Search: Stongard, xpel, Clearbra, film
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Old Apr 6, 2002 | 07:34 PM
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Mine have been on for almost 2 years and you can't even tell they are there. I haven't had any problems with my lenses, but I have seen some that have "crazed" for myself. I sold a bunch of them to people on this website and also at the Knoxville meet last year. Some of them were put on S2000 headlights that had a problem, most did not, I only know of 3.

I did the install on one of these headlights so I know it was installed properly. One threory was that the installer may have used a harsh chemical to clean the lens such as amonia. 3M has done extensive research on this problem with polycarbonates, including jet fighter canopies which also experience this problem called "crazing". It is where there is a breakdown of the material at a molecular level causing small white cracks in the plastic.

Their research ( 3Ms) basically said they didn't know why it happened, they speculated that it may have been a slight variation during the manufacturing process of the polycarbonate since it only seemed to happen some of the time.

When I offered these headlight protectors to the people on this board, I was unaware of this potential problem and was doing it to help fellow owners protect their cars. Since even 3M couldn't tell my why it happened, I have been concentrating on protecting paint not headlights.


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