NHTSA OKs advanced headlights for use in U.S.
10-17-18, 09:48 PM
#91
Lexus Fanatic
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ht-lenses.html
Glass! I thought so...so now I'm fairly sure the W140 ('92-99 S-Class) were glass, too. My Dad had an E38 in 97 and they were glass now that I think about it. My guess is glass was replaced with plastic right around the turn of the century, at least on expensive luxury cars.
Glass! I thought so...so now I'm fairly sure the W140 ('92-99 S-Class) were glass, too. My Dad had an E38 in 97 and they were glass now that I think about it. My guess is glass was replaced with plastic right around the turn of the century, at least on expensive luxury cars.
10-18-18, 04:07 PM
#93
Lexus Fanatic
The reason you'll never see glass again is design. You can't mold glass into the sort of shapes we see in modern cars.
The original LS400 had glass lenses. In fact my 98 LS400 was the first year they went to a plastic lens. 90-97 they were glass.
The original LS400 had glass lenses. In fact my 98 LS400 was the first year they went to a plastic lens. 90-97 they were glass.
10-18-18, 08:47 PM
#94
Lexus Champion
Very good point. I got my 14 year old LS430 out today out of the garage and parked her outside and noticed that. My car is old and the headlights would not work as glass, let alone new cars today.
10-18-18, 09:52 PM
#95
Lexus Champion
Glass can be blown or molded into almost any shape.
10-18-18, 10:59 PM
#96
Lexus Champion
10-19-18, 09:44 AM
#98
Racer
I wouldn't hold your breath for a return of glass headlights. Glass shatters much more easily and can create hazardous situations for other road users in the event of accidents. Polycarbonate lenses can take much higher forces. Even in less extreme situations like off-roading, it'd be pretty simple for a rock to crack a headlight whereas polycarbonate would be just fine.
10-19-18, 10:24 AM
#99
Lexus Fanatic
Not inexpensively.
Remember its not just the cost of the part in the initial car, its replacement cost too. Modern plastic headlights already cost $1,500-$3,000 each...wanna know what a glass housing would cost, blown into a specific shape?
Remember its not just the cost of the part in the initial car, its replacement cost too. Modern plastic headlights already cost $1,500-$3,000 each...wanna know what a glass housing would cost, blown into a specific shape?
10-19-18, 11:10 AM
#100
Lexus Champion
High replacement costs are not because of the housing and lens we are talking about multiple servo motors, electronic controllers, LED arrays et cetera. I have a car with glass lens headlights a replacement is $200.
10-20-18, 09:05 AM
#101
Lexus Fanatic
But what would that same headlamp housing you're talking about cat if it were plastic? Glass costs more than plastic, the reason why modern lamp housings are so expensive isn't the point, glass will make them more expensive than they are.
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