What to do with old OEM headlamps

Based on all of the advise on here, I just ordered new OEM headlamp assemblies to replace my old ones that are very cloudy. Now I need to figure out what to do with the old ones once the new ones arrive and I swap them out. It seems shameful and wasteful to just toss them out.

What does everyone else do with them? Is there somewhere that will take them to refurb?

 

Get your post count up to 50 and you can post them in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/2nd-gen-tacoma-parts-marketplace-2005-2015.122/

 

I couldn't find a buyer for mine so I offered them up locally for free, they could be good donors for retrofits.

 

Those old headlights can be re-polished to look good as new. I've done many. I use the 3M headlight restoration kit and then coat the lenses with Maguire's headlight coating. This easily lasts three years, even here in Arizona. After 3 years, all you need is a quick touch up polish and re-coat. The first time you do it will take a morning so don't be in any rush. People will tell you this doesn't work, but it works great if you do it right. I've done Tacomas, Four Runners, GM trucks, and other Japanese vehicles with 100% success.

If I were you, I would restore them and keep them for the day you hit a deer or take a well placed rock.

 

As a public service, here is how I do it. Use the 3M kit below. You will need masking tape or electricians tape (my preference), and a cordless variable speed drill. You also need a spray bottle with water and a few drops of dish washing liquid. You will also need isopropyl alcohol. Also get a bottle of Maguires polish/cleaner

$34 3M 39165 Headlight Restoration Kit (Heavy Duty – Drill Activated)

https://www.amazon.com/3M-39165-Hea...adlight+restoration+kit&qid=1614734718&sr=8-7

Tape carefully around the headlight to prevent hitting trim or paint with the polish wheel. I like electricians tape because it makes the curves easier and it's pretty tough. You can use two layers if you want. Follow the included instructions. Use the spray water to keep the surface wet and flushed of grinding debris. Wash out the foam polish pad at the end, and do one last step with the Maguires polish :

$23 Meguiar's M8332 Mirror Glaze Dual Action Cleaner and Polish – 32 Oz Bottle

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Mir...uire+polish+and+cleaner&qid=1614735236&sr=8-2

Once all the polishing is done, clean the lenses with water first and blow dry. Then clean again with the alcohol and let it air dry. DO NOT use the clear coat included in the kit! Use this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Meguiar-...5ZXPl9z4exNVYyL9vaQ-Bw6SEpvjd3mAaAvyJEALw_wcB

Mask off around the lights and apply two light wet coats with the recommended wait time between coats. Make one coat diagonal to the other. Allow to dry and you will be amazed! Don't use abrasive cleaners on the finished lenses, just mild soap and water. The headlight below was done 2 1/2 years ago, and at least 2 years of that was spent outdoors.
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This does work great... as long as the lenses are only cloudy. Mine were cloudy but also had tons of little stress fractures in them that couldn't be seen until I polished out all the haze.

 

Good point. Polishing won't fix that. By the way, those crazing cracks are usually caused by using glass cleaner that contains ammonia. Never use cleaner to clean acrylic or polycarbonate!

 

Retrofit them!