Has anyone replaced the headlight lens on the RX350? If so what brand did you go with and how hard was it to put the new lens on. I have a 2015 that is in perfect condition with the exception of the headlights. They have deep hard water marks from a sprinkler that can't be sanded out and the previous owner already had them redone once. I don't feel like spending $1300 on a set of replaced ments. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated

 

I would not give up on cleaning those headlamp lenses so easily. There are multiple products available to try. I have used SoftScrub with Bleach bathroom cleanser on our various headlamp lenses for more than 15 years with great success. Just polished the lenses on my 2013 Subaru Outback 3.6R a few weeks ago. They are crystal clear again. I have found that as long as I do this two or three times per year, all of our various headlamp lenses stay relatively pristine.

 

Unfortunately the last owner tried sanding them and burnt through the plastic in a few spots. Passenger side is still in good shape but the drivers one bothers me as the car is is excellent condition for its age

 

A friend just had great results using this on a 28 year old Mercury. Cerakote Ceramic Headlight restorer. Under $20!
https://cerakoteceramics.com/cerakot...t_Mj7w0Hjk_XXU

As you found out, any replacement HID headlamps are very expensive. Even used ones. eBay has aftermarket ones for a reasonable price but the quality and fit is unknown.

 

Try a salvage yard and replace only what you must.

If you have embarked on restoring, keep in mind that a clear coat is needed to extend the life of a cleaned lens.

Salim

 

@Clutchless The Cerakote Ceramic Headlight kit is awesome - I used it on one of my other cars and the headlights look new. Just wondering how long it will last

 

Here in Austin, there are several headlight restoration companies. You have nothing to lose but time to see if one by you can do the job.

 

I actually replaced the headlight lenses on another of my cars, a 2006 Corvette. It was a quite complicated procedure, not without risks, and the only replacement lenses I could acquire to swap in were on brand new Corvette headlight assembly take-offs (which although thousand of dollars cheaper than new headlight assemblies, were still quite expensive). The procedure requires complete removal of the car headlight assemblies themselves - not a casual task and for many cars more difficult than lengthy headlight lens polishing. Then you have to heat up the complete assemblies in an oven to just where the adhesive holding the lenses in place can be released but without damaging the headlight assemblies themselves. I pretty much destroyed one of the four assemblies I did this to. Then you have to carefully pull off the old lenses and the new donor assembly lenses and then remove all of the old adhesive (PITB) and then put down a new bead of new sealant and install the replacement lenses, then reinstall them in the car. It's an all day job.

They came out okay but I would never do this process again. I would spend all afternoon polishing them if required (which my 2015 RX needs eventually). YMMV

 

Geeze, you're making me feel good about only paying $1800 for two brand new head light assemblies for my 545.

 

Consider it as 'services provided.'

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18682563140...3ABFBMmKzqrPRk

 

Interesting.