458 chipped headlight assembly | FerrariChat
Buy

458 chipped headlight assembly

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by Mattyrae, Feb 18, 2012.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Mattyrae

    Mattyrae Formula 3
    BANNED

    Apr 17, 2011
    2,048
    #1 Mattyrae, Feb 18, 2012
    Looked at a pre-owned 458, was pretty clean, except the chipped passenger side headlight assembly. Most wouldn't see it, but for me, as soon as I see a big enough flaw to me, it just continues to bug me. Looked and $4500 retail. Looks like you cannot just buy the top clear plastic piece. Anyone had to replace or use a crystal clear resin to repair one yet?
     
  2. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    #2 Noblesse Oblige, Feb 18, 2012
    From what you said, the chip is in the clear plastic cover. If it is not too deep, it may be amenable to an aggressive grinding/polishing job. You can buy a commercial kit that will fit your electric drill or a good body/detail man can do it. I did this once on a 997 911 and it virtually disappeared.

    Maybe bring a good body/detail guy to look at it with you. If it is judged addressable, you can wrangle the $4500 out of the price and get it.
     
  3. Mattyrae

    Mattyrae Formula 3
    BANNED

    Apr 17, 2011
    2,048
    #3 Mattyrae, Feb 18, 2012
    $4500 is retail, I am sure I negotiate better than that. Cost is probably $2250 or less. I would just have them do it at cost.

    I think the chips are too deep to grind it down. It's on the right front edge, when looking at the front of the car. Must be from the cheap clear bra that was on the car and has been removed. Probably didn't to the edges really well.

    Wonder if there are and Ferrari Dismantler type places around. I am sure there have been a few 458's wrecked already. Too bad you can't send it back to Ferrari, to have them replace just the clear plastic cover. Having to buy a completely new assembly is ridiculous.
     
  4. racerdj

    racerdj F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jan 19, 2003
    6,952
    Indianapolis
    Full Name:
    DJS
    #4 racerdj, Feb 19, 2012
    Wow! What cost!
     
  5. leead1

    leead1 F1 Rookie

    Nov 29, 2006
    2,828
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Lee
    #5 leead1, Feb 19, 2012
    Yup thats what these car can cost to repair. I has a 3 inch small scratch on my 458 and the cost to fix it was $7 grand.

    Good luck to you my friend :)

    Lee
     
  6. sindo308qv

    sindo308qv F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    3,575
    miami.fl.
    Full Name:
    sindo
    #6 sindo308qv, Feb 20, 2012
    Why don't you contact one of the windshield repair company's and see if the repair they do to the windshields, where they inject a resin into the crack can be done to the headlight first.
     
  7. RobD

    RobD Formula 3

    Nov 10, 2003
    1,182
    USA
    #7 RobD, Feb 20, 2012
    Jeez...what happened? Where was the scratch and why was the repair so much? TIA
     
  8. leead1

    leead1 F1 Rookie

    Nov 29, 2006
    2,828
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Lee
    #8 leead1, Feb 20, 2012
    Aluminum body and very few people who can repair them. That is what I was told by the dealership. The sad thing was this was the cheapest option I was given. When I got it back the car looked perfect.

    I have bought three Ferraris from them and I admit I trust them

    Lee
     
  9. arizonaitalian

    arizonaitalian Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Oct 29, 2010
    20,505
    Wyoming
    #9 arizonaitalian, Feb 20, 2012
    Yup, these are pricey and yup you have to replace the whole thing. I've always wondered (but haven't bothered to check) if the silly Carbon Fiber ones on the Scud/16M are also "one piece" and afraid of how much those must be!

    BTW - this is a good spot to remind folks to get clear bra over the headlight covers!
     
  10. Premier Protective Films

    Premier Protective Films Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Dec 20, 2004
    596
    San Francisco Bay
    #10 Premier Protective Films, Feb 28, 2012
    There are many benefits to paint protection film (aka clearguard).

    1. protects from road debris
    2. protects the plastic lenses from clouding and hazing over time

    If there is a pre-existing chip, there is not much you can do to polish this out.
     
  11. Mattyrae

    Mattyrae Formula 3
    BANNED

    Apr 17, 2011
    2,048
    #11 Mattyrae, Feb 28, 2012
    That's what I thought, a scratch ok, but a chip, could only be filled by some type of clear resin, but it would still stand out.
     

Share This Page