Headlight Clouding? Body Shop Fraud?

[DavidsonCruiser]

Hello everyone, I am not a frequent poster but I know how much knowledge is on this board and I am looking for help.

Recently, I was involved in a collision in my ‘14 cruiser. As part of the repairs, the body shop replaced the right headlight assembly. Upon picking up the car, I noticed that the headlight had some “cloudiness” on its top surface. I’m attaching a picture so folks can see what I am referring to.

When I was in the search process for my ‘14, I noticed this headlight cloudiness on cruisers that hadn’t been garaged, ie I think it is sun damage. The body shop insists that its a new headlight, but I think it’s used! Would a new headlight look like this?

 

[RET2]

Get your insurance involved, ask to see invoice for said part and if they are unable to produce said item refer it to your state bureau of automotive repairs. All of that being said some insurances have a policy of allowing used parts. Doesn't look new to me.

 

[aljollano]

That is not a new headlight.

A.J

 

[DavidsonCruiser]

Thanks, this shop has an explicit “policy” of not using used parts”

 

[RET2]

Then someone needs to explain that to the guy fixing yours?

 

[luke27617]

clear coat overspray?

 

[45Kevin]

On plastic headlights there are two ways to get "clouding".

I recently had a bulb blow, and it caused a clouded look to my headlight, on the inside of the lense. I had to replace it.
The other thing that happens to plastic headlights is the result of UV on them. You can get a polishing kit to temporarily fix that.

From a repair shop I would not accept that headlight as new.

 

[Markuson]

Hello everyone, I am not a frequent poster but I know how much knowledge is on this board and I am looking for help.

Recently, I was involved in a collision in my ‘14 cruiser. As part of the repairs, the body shop replaced the right headlight assembly. Upon picking up the car, I noticed that the headlight had some “cloudiness” on its top surface. I’m attaching a picture so folks can see what I am referring to.

When I was in the search process for my ‘14, I noticed this headlight cloudiness on cruisers that hadn’t been garaged, ie I think it is sun damage. The body shop insists that its a new headlight, but I think it’s used! Would a new headlight look like this?

View attachment 1778013

Other possibility is it was poorly packed and sat there getting an accumulation of abrasions in some yinky box during shipping... Regardless, that’s not new condition.

 

[bjowett]

That's a Bob Ross happy little cloud edition... nice!

 

[Brutes200]

On plastic headlights there are two ways to get "clouding".

I recently had a bulb blow, and it caused a clouded look to my headlight, on the inside of the lense. I had to replace it.
The other thing that happens to plastic headlights is the result of UV on them. You can get a polishing kit to temporarily fix that.

From a repair shop I would not accept that headlight as new.

Kevin is right , it’s also the uv sunlight that will cause this , it’s also ozone it self. They probably found a new/used one cause of there price. And, you can restore them more permanently by having a painter spray them with clear coat. The clear will protect the plastic from the sun n ozone. It’s a matter of sanding off the blemish with 2000 or higher grit sand paper and then clearing them .

 

[Brutes200]

P.s. you can sand n buf that stuff off at the house with light buffing compound n 2000 grit . Just BE CAREFUL not to burn it .

 

[Southfork999]

Curious what happened to this insurance claim on the "new" headlights?