Headlight reflector plating

[Wallace White]

It keeps getting better. Here's more I found from you, Dave.

Hurray for the archives!

So how did the chrome spray paint on the surround hold up? I know you
don't have this car anymore...

- Wallace
  '87 5kcstq 177k

> To: quattro at coimbra.ans.net 
> Subject: Vacuum metalizing - another satisfied customer 
> From: Dave Head <dhead at sundial.net> 
> Date: Sat, 01 Mar 1997 00:31:15 -0500 
> Sender: owner-quattro at coimbra.ans.net 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Received my replated reflectors and surrounds from the plater today. One
> surround was crushed on the way to him - he returned all the parts he could
> find and the glue is setting now... (Now you know why for the previous part
> # post - sure wish I'd insured them). The plating is phenomenal - one euro
> light is all back together already and looks brand new! The other surround
> I'll have to use chrome spray paint on, as it was in too many pieces to plate.
> If yer euros are getting nasty looking and you can afford to wait a month
> for the parts - 16.00 per side for reflectors, 12.00 for the surround. Don't
> pass a set by if you see them in the junkyard!
> Total cost so far: 75.00 for the lights and grill, 51.00 for the replate -
> one set of primo 100 euros fer 126.00!
> 
> ********************************AUDI FAN***********************************
>                                    EMCM(SW) Dave Head  
> 87 5KCStq 187K miles and counting... 1.7 bar boost - Whee!
>                 Maitland, Florida   Hey! There's no mountains here!
> ******************************************************************************
> 


Wallace White wrote:
> 
> Dave -
> 
> I found it:
> 
>         D&D Plastic and Chrome Plating
>         419-389-1748
>         Toledo Ohio
> 
> Sound familiar? Take a look at
> 
>         http://www.audifans.com/archives/1999/03/msg01091.html
> 
> Funny, I found this by doing a Google search (entire web) for "vacuum
> metalizing Toledo."
> 
> Thanks--then and now!
> 
> - Wallace
>   '87 5kcstq 177k
> 
> David Head wrote:
> >
> > You need vacuum metalizing - Al and I had them replated at a place in Toledo
> > Ohio to the tune of about 30.00 per side. You have to remove the reflector
> > and the assorted connectors and send it in. I found the place via Hemming
> > Motor News about 4-5 years back. Anyone who 'rechromes' plastic parts like
> > the 60s cars had in the interior pieces can do it...
> >
> > Wallace White wrote:
> >
> > > Any experience with replating headlight reflectors?
> > >
> > > You may recall that I recently installed a set of 5k/100 non-turbo Euro
> > > H4 headlights, which I found at the junkyard. And I wasn't real
> > > impressed with the performance of them.
> > >
> > > I'd noticed the the reflector plating wasn't great, but I hadn't
> > > realized the extent of the problem. In the area of the reflector where
> > > the low beam light hits, which is the upper half because of the half-cup
> > > on the H4 bulb, the plating is really bad. The flat surface on top isn't
> > > reflective at all where it gets illuminated most. The paraboloidical
> > > surface right near the bulb is better but still leaves much to desired.
> > > ("Parabolic" isn't as much fun to say, though it is a real word...)
> > >
> > > This explains why the high beams look much better than the lows. The
> > > plating must have gone away with use; the high beam surfaces are much
> > > better. And the lenses (one Bosch, one Hella) are in very good shape.
> > >
> > > So...
> > >
> > > - Al Powell mentioned that he's had reflectors replated. Anyone know a
> > > place to have this done, or what type of plating company (I'd prefer to
> > > do it locally, of course). What kind of plating do I need?
> > >
> > > - Is it just a bad idea to try a do-it-yourself fix? I can't help but
> > > think of chrome spray paint... and I know Steve Jensen tried chrome tape
> > > with surprisingly good results. I expect something like this would still
> > > be a big improvement, if replating is too expensive/troublesome.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > - Wallace
> > >  '87 5kcstq 177k