Headlamp Re-silvering

[indy4x]

I have a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZG (Euro version of the ZJ). Headlamps are rubbish as the silvering has deteriorated. Headlamp bowls are plastic, just wondering if anyone has had headlights re-silvered and what the cost was?

Just for clarification, UK spec headlights for a ZG are few and far between, they were not a popular Jeep over here the glass headlight lenses fall out for fun.

I do have 3 sets for spares but the reflectors on all of them are poor

The other option I have looked at is buying new European spec headlamps and swapping the lenses over from my UK spec lights, US versions are not an option as the Yanks didn't do H4 bulbs in the ZJ. However, I am unable to determine if the reflectors are different, I don't think they are as it looks like the beam pattern is managed by the lens and not the reflector.

 

[JOEPRO]

I often wondered could a chrome type wrap be applied to reflectors for a at home repair. I think the re silvering can be done but it's expensive

 

[indy4x]

I did try various chrome spray cans many years ago on a Lancia Beta and the results were rubbish

Have seen a few older posts on other forums where various types of silver stick on tape were used but the general consensus was it's only a short term fix

 

[MetalMonkey]

I tried to repair an old pair of fog lights with "chrome" spray once. Just ended up silver.

 

[Kram]

Silvering is relatively easy to do, also silver has the best reflectivity of the metals near 95% while chrome is poor at 65%.

Difficulty is in cleaning and polishing the originals.

I played with it when I worked in a lab. The chemistry method requires nitric acid which is hard to get, and rightly so, but gives very good results and very easy.

I havent tried electroplating silver but I imagine you can, using a fine silver as anode and a mild acidic electrolite, plated part on the cathode and roughly 1.5v, low current. Should be a relatively cheap process to do.There will be videos showing it on youtube.

 

[Kayos]

The only option I was left with on a Calibra was to paint them black and fit projector adaptors

None of the the resilvering ideas worked and headlights were not available new

They did look good though

 

[frank horton]

there's a firm in Germany that specialises in that job....
sorry no details.....
the antique car lads use em...

 

[Agroshield]

...the antique car lads use em...

Most antique car reflectors will be brass or steel. There are a number of UK companies that also do this.

The issue is that the ones here are plastic.

 

[voipio]

If it is possible to separate the reflector part from the front of the headlight, then these people might be worth getting in touch with:

Vacuum Coatings - Aluminising (astronomical) and Optical Testing

www.scientificmirrors.co.uk

Ashford Chroming: Chrome Plating & Restoration

Ashford Chroming offers premier chrome plating and restoration services in the UK. Specializing in classic cars, motorcycles, and more. Quality guaranteed.

www.ashfordchroming.com

 

[Smallfry]

I have the same problem with a Renault.

Chrome plate is more or less transparent, unless it is plated over something else. Usually polished steel, but more likely nickel. Obviously you cannot electro plate plastic. Or can you ?

Thing is, most vehicle plastic badges and emblems, grilles etc, and interior door handles are made of plastic and "chrome" plated. Same with some parts of plastic model kits. You can buy mirror covers for some vans that are the same, so someone must be able to do it. As said "chrome" paints are just silver paint, and not the same thing at all.

Be great if it could be done at home !

 

[indy4x]

Thanks for all the replies

From the searching I have done, these will need to be slivered, as @Agroshield mentioned, headlamp bowl is plastic so chroming is not an option

I don't fancy a DIY option, yes I have a few lamps kicking about but given their rarity I'd rather not make a mess of 1 just for testing purposes

I do know for 2 new ones, the guy paid £350 for the pair and wants to see a healthy profit but won't commit to what that means but I get the feeling he wants over £500 for the pair. At least it gives me a benchmark cost for resilvering

 

[JOEPRO]

There are places that can chrome plastic headlamp reflectors. Having located a couple of places a few years back the prices are sky high. IIRC £150 per headlamp reflector ish.

 

[Robotstar5]

I did some work at Carello lighting and they showed me the process, the reflectors were put in a vacuum chamber then small bars of Aluminium were vaporised using a high current which coated the reflectors.

 

[Agroshield]

...headlamp bowl is plastic so chroming is not an option...

I think it is the combination of 'headlight' and 'resilvering' or 'rechroming' that is not finding the right results. In that case, we have to use different words.

As above, for plastic items, it seems the process (vacuum chamber, vapour deposition) is called 'metallising' (and if you spell it meatallising, they rub it with a sausage):

Reflectors - Dual Metallising

 

[Turbo]

I think they re-chromed plastic trim on wheeler dealers but that could have been when they were in the USA.

 

[Ian X]

I did some work at Carello lighting and they showed me the process, the reflectors were put in a vacuum chamber then small bars of Aluminium were vaporised using a high current which coated the reflectors.

There was a YouTube video showing that exact same process, vapour deposition or something. I looked for it but it seems to have vanished. I had a bike that I used to use for hogging a parking place outside my house, the MOT man said the headlight was getting too scabby to pass. It had an H4 and I was able to "ship in a bottle" style place pieces of highly polished aluminium tape in place over the patchy areas and burnish them down with an agate tip that I use for gold leaf. The following year I took it in for MOT and it passed, he took a close look when I pointed out the repair and was puzzled at how I managed it. I don't suggest OP does that, he intends to use his vehicle, mine just sat outside as a parking bollard.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

I used these guys, they did a perfect job.

ENGLISH | ScheinwerferKlinikde

www.scheinwerferklinik-ug.de - Geesthacht, Scheinwerfer Reparatur, Politur, Aufbereitung, Reflektorhalterreparatur von Jaguar, und BMW, Toyota T25 Scheinwerfer Reparatur

www.scheinwerferklinik-ug.de

 

[frank horton]

indy4
the price seems a lot until u look at real modern stuff......heard a Honda car headlamp from the dealer is almost 900 pounds each and bulbs are NOT replacable...

 

[beebee]

Here is another one https://dual-metallising.co.uk/lighting-reflectors/

 

[indy4x]

The only option I was left with on a Calibra was to paint them black and fit projector adaptors

None of the the resilvering ideas worked and headlights were not available new

They did look good though

I have been looking at other peoples attempts to do this in the US on their ZJs, some look ok, others, well, lets just less so!

It is an option I will explore further