S.A. Lights

bus2 · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:50 pm Post subject: S.A. Lights

Hello
Does anyone now of a source for the South African head light lense. I belive it is 5" dia. (high beam, Hella) I have one lense were the lense reflective coating is coming off. I know G.W. sells complete replacement set with bracket, but was hoping I could maybe just find the lense. I did try to Goggle the part number (303-131-040) but didn't have much luck.
Thanks for any help
Bus2

chojinchef · Samba Member Joined: February 17, 2011 Posts: 1539

I do not have the kit yet, its on the wish list from Santa, but it seems the inner lights are the same as the Golf lens, maybe?

Hella H12719011 driving light insert lens?
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onwardtothestars · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:13 am Post subject:

If the reflector is metal you can have it replated I think even if it's plastic it can be done. There's a metal plating company on broadway in Denver. Ace or acme or something is there name. I hav talked to them in the past about Replating some Audi european headlight reflectors
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onwardtothestars · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:15 am Post subject:

If the reflector is metal you can have it replated I think even if it's plastic it can be done. There's a metal plating company on broadway in Denver. Ace or acme or something is there name. I hav talked to them in the past about Replating some Audi european headlight reflectors
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r39o · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:20 am Post subject:

It is a special process to replate the lens. It must be optically right. It makes sense if you are restoring a true relic. Not worth the hassle since you can buy new ones. Spend the $70 (I think) and buy a new one.
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Syncroincity · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject:

*EDITED* Cabriolet lights are NOT the same, sorry... I retract my statement. Embarassed

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erdonline · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject:

Here's a link to some on eBay. They seem to be going for around $30 per light. I picked up one from a junk yard last year as an extra in case I bought the South African grill and lights. I'm still not sure if I'm getting the South African grill, and not sure if I want to keep or sell the light I have.

But they do come up on eBay, and, as previously stated, were used on earlier Cabriolets.

Ed
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mtnwater · Samba Member Joined: August 15, 2008 Posts: 215

kamzcab86 · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:38 pm Post subject:

Deleted due to Syncronicity's post below. Don't want anyone going out and searching Cabriolet part numbers. Wink

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Syncroincity · Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:23 am Post subject:

Syncroincity · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:57 am Post subject:

Statement retracted. Cabriolet lights are NOT THE SAME as the SA units.
They are made by a different factory, to different specs.
The SA lights have a larger plastic keeper/ adjuster piece, they don't fit into German lights without boring out the holes.
The bolt pattern is a smaller circle on the SA lights, trying to mount German lights to the metal carrier requires bending the mount tabs on the lights inward quite a bit, and generally making a mess of them.
I did manage to get it mounted to the carrier bracket, but it sits at an odd angle, and sticks out too far, almost flush with the outside of the grille. It turned into quite a project to get one in place. Embarassed

Looks like getting the correct replacement light assembly is the only option here. I would add extra sealant around the edge of the glass lense, and POR-15 or paint the back of the reflector to prevent rust. There's not enough sealant in the lense in some of these and that's whats letting moisture inside, which ruins the reflector, and the finish is generally poor, both my original SA lights are significantly rusted around the outer lip and at the tack welds. Quite shoddy materials, only the lense itself seems to have actually come from Hella Germany. Evil or Very Mad

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kamzcab86 · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:28 am Post subject:

Syncroincity · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 1:32 pm Post subject:

Here's the crux of the biscuit. Note how much taller the mount tabs are on the Cabriolet lights, the SA tabs are very near the glass lense.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

10 internets to the one who spots what's wrong in that 2nd picture. Wink

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