Headlight Paint Rub

[Madman]

Just wondering if anyone else out there is having an issue with the headlight tolerance being too tight and rubbing the paint off the front bumper right beneath the headlight?

Can someone please post a photo?

 

[SilverNitr8]

I found this product on amazon, seems thin enough which might work
https://www.amazon.com/Betan-Silico...r+strips&qid=1534859947&sr=8-6&ref=mp_s_a_1_6

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yeah Merlin, that's what I was thinking. I just dont have any access to my car right now to see what rubber piece can be inserted in that section to at least stop it from rubbing.

If any dealership know the part number to that rubber piece surrounding the headlight on the outer portion that goes between the headlight and fender, please let me know.

Something really effective would be clear tape. Even something as common as Scotch Multi-Task tape, which sticks to practically anything and has a glossy surface. A doubled layer would wear like iron, and you'd never even see it. Anyway, that's what I will try first, if I ever need to address headlight assembly rub.

 

[Mach_Tuck]

Something really effective would be clear tape. Even something as common as Scotch Multi-Task tape, which sticks to practically anything and has a glossy surface. A doubled layer would wear like iron, and you'd never even see it. Anyway, that's what I will try first, if I ever need to address headlight assembly rub.

A piece of clear bra or whatever they use on the scratch plates would also work very very well. I will ask about this with the installer after the re paint of my yellow is complete and pending subsequent re-install of the clear bra. Perhaps they can simply extend the cut line to wrap the edge like they do with the hood.

 

[MerlintheMad]

A piece of clear bra or whatever they use on the scratch plates would also work very very well. I will ask about this with the installer after the re paint of my yellow is complete and pending subsequent re-install of the clear bra. Perhaps they can simply extend the cut line to wrap the edge like they do with the hood.

Precisely! I knew I was overlooking the obvious. If you are getting PPF put on, have the installer remove the headlight assemblies first and wrap the lower edges. Genius!

 

[SilverNitr8]

Precisely! I knew I was overlooking the obvious. If you are getting PPF put on, have the installer remove the headlight assemblies first and wrap the lower edges. Genius!

I asked my clear bra installer and he said since the films are pre-cut it might not be long enough to stretch to where it can wrap, but he said he can give me some scraps so I can just add something there to prevent it from rubbing. We shall see....he's a very good and detailed ppf installer and wraps everything around instead of cutting the edges. Hopefully he will pull through for me.

 

[MerlintheMad]

the films are pre-cut it might not be long enough to stretch to where it can wrap

Still, the PPF (even a specially cut scrape of it) will beat anything else for protection. It will outlast the headlight assembly!

 

[SilverNitr8]

Still, the PPF (even a specially cut scrape of it) will beat anything else for protection. It will outlast the headlight assembly!

I agree, anything is better than nothing. It wont help you if you already have a chip there, but if you don't yet, it's a good first prevention step if you're even remotely worried about your paint chipping or just OCD like me.

 

[eflyguy]

Clear hockey tape..

 

[bumble bee]

Agree eflguy! Anybody try that?

 

[AV8R]

Im just going to wait until it chips and then i get a free respray! With thicker paint! Summer approaches Downunder so i will have to see.

 

[Soca Boy]

Any updates on this?

 

[MrSmoofy]

I know this is an old thread and discussed in the paint chip thread but looks like I have this issue on my 2019

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yep, you do. Both sides, which is very rare. What is that white spot you seem to be almost pointing to? just a reflection? (I hope)

The headlight assembly chips won't get any bigger unless your vehicle's paint is having adhesion problems. A spot of touchup paint will make them all but invisible. The fact that they are already rather on the big side is problematic, i.e. possible adhesion issues. (I hope not!)

 

[MrSmoofy]

Yep, you do. Both sides, which is very rare. What is that white spot you seem to be almost pointing to? just a reflection? (I hope)

The headlight assembly chips won't get any bigger unless your vehicle's paint is having adhesion problems. A spot of touchup paint will make them all but invisible. The fact that they are already rather on the big side is problematic, i.e. possible adhesion issues. (I hope not!)

Raining here looks like rain drop.

Well that's some crap then. The pain pen which I used to fix a chip in the bumper is total crap and doesn't match. Only 8k miles on my 2019.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Well, the paint will match better than black! Any improvement is a good reason to do a thing. From five, six feet away you won't notice, I'm guessing. Just get a generous amount on the tip of a small brush and drop/push it into the black "hole", then step away.

 

[Revvdmedia]

Raining here looks like rain drop.

Well that's some crap then. The pain pen which I used to fix a chip in the bumper is total crap and doesn't match. Only 8k miles on my 2019.

The factory touch up pens really do suck, not a match at all. I think it's primarily due to the 2 stage paint trying to be replicated by a single stage pen. Our (white) paint is primer, a flat white base, then a tinted clear with the metallic flake that goes over top of the white...then clear.

I suggest getting a 2 stage touch up paint from PaintScratch (I got from there) or Dr. ColorChip. It takes some practice (do this on a piece of plastic, or card, or whatever) and find what matches best. I apply a decent thickness of the white base, then in very light layers add the tinted clear until I get a close match. It's not perfect but WAY better than the 1 stage pens.

Of course doing this under the headlight is a really tricky area to touch up. I suggest putting some painter's tape on the headlight and giving it a try.

Or just get the dealer to do it lol.