Actual GLASS headlights for RS/SS?? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

shibbs · 08-12-2014, 02:41 PM

I know in other cars I've owned that most dealers have the ability to order ACTUAL GLASS headlamp assemblies--usually because European exports are/were required to have glass housings. (My old 96 Impala had the SEO "T80" headlamps)

Mine are getting slightly chipped/dimpled and I'm interested in getting replacement GLASS units.

Anyone know any super secret part numbers or any route to pursue this?

Thanks in advance!

2013 ZL1 #7860 · 08-12-2014, 06:36 PM

Why not just clear bra your headlights and call it good?

shibbs · 08-12-2014, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2013 ZL1 #7860

Why not just clear bra your headlights and call it good?

It's a clarity thing. Glass is SO much clearer than these UV-resistant treated plastics. Our US HID lamps are already stunted by the rest of the world's standards. (yes USA has a MAXIMUM lumens, which is why we don't get BMW's Laser headlamps in the new i8, among others) Add to that my poor eyesight (long story, no I won't elaborate) and I need every single bit of light on the road I can get.
Also the ability to be covered more easily by my insurance. MN requires glass coverage which means that ANY piece of glass on the exterior of the car is covered against breakage with a maximum of $100 deductible.

TX_ED_SS · 08-12-2014, 06:56 PM

Pretty sure US mandates plastic lenses on all cars. There may be a way to get glass ones if GM offers it on their European cars. I have a friend that put glass lenses on his BMW but he had to order them through a friend in Germany and he sent them to him here in the states.

ChrisBlair · 08-12-2014, 07:44 PM

Might be for new production cars but I'm pretty sure they can't mandate my '70 Buick having plastic lenses

That said I'm unaware of why that would be. The plastic is nothing special, and in over 300,000 miles of driving my '70 Buick, I've never had a headlight break or crack. The upshot is that the glass doesn't dent; my SS headlight lenses after 32K miles? Tragedy.

wayne watson · 08-12-2014, 08:16 PM

plastic is cheaper to make, but i bet if you could design and produce glass lenses, i would buy em

Kleeeb · 08-12-2014, 09:14 PM

Can you imagine the headlights getting cracks in them from rocks? Would be more of a pain than the windshield!

rebelyell22 · 08-12-2014, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comrando

"Glass" is plastic now. Drop a beer bottle on the floor and watch it bounce. (Shit, I have some experiences

Drop a real glass two inches and watch it shatter with sharp edges.

Hit a rock with your windshield and see that it is deflected rather than shredding your face.

Windshields are laminated...

ChrisBlair · 08-12-2014, 09:44 PM

you can still do the old Blues trick with gasoline, twine, a suitably necked beer bottle, and a match.

Snickers · 08-13-2014, 09:54 AM

Since the head lights become clear in the late 90s, they were plastic. Only very few exceptions, like the VW Golf IV.
Haven't seen glass headlights on a new car since back then.

That is most likely due to the clear front cover has no function anymore, unlike the diffusing panel on older cars with real glas headlights.

GM doesn't offer glass on their EU cars, they are plastic like any other car too. Don't know why they should anyway.

shibbs · 08-13-2014, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comrando

Yes they are, but now they are plastic, not glass.

Go back to the '70's and look at what used to happen. I have seen people who lived disfigured for life. Most people died and had a closed casket.

You're downright crazy if you think that windshields are plastic.
They're laminated tempered glass. Government mandated to be.

Educational material:

shibbs · 08-13-2014, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kleeeb

Can you imagine the headlights getting cracks in them from rocks? Would be more of a pain than the windshield!

The good news is if they do manage to get cracked, insurance covers them under my "$0 deductible glass coverage" which covers all "exterior glass" with absolutely no deductible.
And having had cars with glass headlights, I've never broken one. Even growing up in rural MN and driving gravel backroads often.

And those of you saying that no new vehicles have glass lights - my boss's 2012 Toyota Sienna is currently in the shop having a new foglamp put in it because it broke and was glass--$0 out of pocket for him. MN mandates glass coverage, since a broken windshield is a ticketable offense.

08-12-2014, 02:41 PM	#1
shibbs Captain Gingerbeard Drives: 2012 IOM RS/SS 6MT Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: West Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,489	Actual GLASS headlights for RS/SS?? I know in other cars I've owned that most dealers have the ability to order ACTUAL GLASS headlamp assemblies--usually because European exports are/were required to have glass housings. (My old 96 Impala had the SEO "T80" headlamps) Mine are getting slightly chipped/dimpled and I'm interested in getting replacement GLASS units. Anyone know any super secret part numbers or any route to pursue this? Thanks in advance!

08-12-2014, 06:56 PM	#4
TX_ED_SS Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 628	Pretty sure US mandates plastic lenses on all cars. There may be a way to get glass ones if GM offers it on their European cars. I have a friend that put glass lenses on his BMW but he had to order them through a friend in Germany and he sent them to him here in the states. __________________ U.S. Army Retired

08-12-2014, 07:44 PM	#5
ChrisBlair Buick 455 Fan Drives: 1970 Buick, 2012 1SS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Boston MA Posts: 5,957	Might be for new production cars but I'm pretty sure they can't mandate my '70 Buick having plastic lenses That said I'm unaware of why that would be. The plastic is nothing special, and in over 300,000 miles of driving my '70 Buick, I've never had a headlight break or crack. The upshot is that the glass doesn't dent; my SS headlight lenses after 32K miles? Tragedy. __________________

08-12-2014, 08:16 PM	#6
wayne watson Drives: 2014 camaro ss ,1967 chevelle ss, Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: loganville Posts: 1,209 View My Garage	plastic is cheaper to make, but i bet if you could design and produce glass lenses, i would buy em __________________

08-12-2014, 09:44 PM	#9
ChrisBlair Buick 455 Fan Drives: 1970 Buick, 2012 1SS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Boston MA Posts: 5,957	you can still do the old Blues trick with gasoline, twine, a suitably necked beer bottle, and a match. __________________

08-12-2014, 06:36 PM	#2
2013 ZL1 #7860 Drives: 2013 ZL1 A6 #7860 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: CO, USA Posts: 1,279	Why not just clear bra your headlights and call it good?

08-12-2014, 09:14 PM	#7
Kleeeb Drives: 2014 Red Hot 1LT/RS Join Date: May 2013 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 1,801	Can you imagine the headlights getting cracks in them from rocks? Would be more of a pain than the windshield! __________________

08-13-2014, 09:54 AM	#10
Snickers Rumblebee Drives: ZL1 Rally Yellow Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Germany Posts: 157	Since the head lights become clear in the late 90s, they were plastic. Only very few exceptions, like the VW Golf IV. Haven't seen glass headlights on a new car since back then. That is most likely due to the clear front cover has no function anymore, unlike the diffusing panel on older cars with real glas headlights. GM doesn't offer glass on their EU cars, they are plastic like any other car too. Don't know why they should anyway. __________________ '13 ZL1 Rally Yellow A6 Coupe From dusk till dawn, hammering the Autobahn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EReANdItaE0