Front indicator reflector

Frankie123

Frankie123

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Found one of my front indicator reflectors to be missing, and have removed the good one so the housings can be rechromed.
Does anyone know where to source one of these or are people running without them once they have broken? (Again plastic not meant to last forever…)
Is there a demand for these?



Cheers
 

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I think the reflectors only break if the outside glass was broken too; meaning it took a direct hit at some point in it's life.
I've never seen or heard about only the reflector being broken before, so my guess is that demand for such a piece is very, very low.
Reproduction is also complex, as you might 3D something that has the correct shape, but the reflective function is impossible to achieve in 3D printing; you'd have to cover it with MYLAR or mill it from aluminum or stainless steel and polish it to get a robust reflective function out of it.

I'd try to source a rusted out housing and scavenge an intact reflector from it, seems easiest.
 
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I designed these in CAD. Can send the STEP file or even print you one if you want. They aren't perfect but they aren't bad.

Parking light restoration

A thread to learn from the experts on fixing these up. My observations (probably common knowledge to many of you already)... Unlike the headlight buckets and taillights, which were made by Hella, the parking light housings and lenses were sourced from Sidler. The housings are chrome plated...
e9coupe.com e9coupe.com
 
You could easily fashion this out of some aluminum m, with a couple hammers a lead bag and a small log.

These would also be simple to make via a 2 piece silicon mold and pourable room-temp-curing rigid polyurethane plastic. All doable at home. You would finish it by covering the molded part with adhesive backed Mylar or something else silver and reflective (paint etc)

Lots of good DIY resources on the internet for doing this.

Here is my first time doing a pourable plastic mold, reproducing the pre-74 license light lenses (which are much more detailed and difficult than this reflector).

John
 

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jefflit said:
I designed these in CAD. Can send the STEP file or even print you one if you want. They aren't perfect but they aren't bad.

Parking light restoration

A thread to learn from the experts on fixing these up. My observations (probably common knowledge to many of you already)... Unlike the headlight buckets and taillights, which were made by Hella, the parking light housings and lenses were sourced from Sidler. The housings are chrome plated...
e9coupe.com e9coupe.com
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That’s a very handy thread. Thanks Jeff.
If you would be willing to share the file I will try and have these printed locally.
 
I sent @Frankie123 the files and some updated shots of my printed reflectors with vinyl chrome "reflector". Some orange peel but better reflection than any 50 year old original I suspect. I pointed out to him that he "could" get them "plastic chromed" (vacuum metalized) bit that would be overkill IMHO. He doesn't even have a 3D printer so he has enough on his plate for now.
 

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Just use chrome vinyl wrap. Cheap and will be perfectly smooth and reflective on the one side you need. Just a few bucks for more than you need on Ebay.
 
bavbob said:
Just use chrome vinyl wrap. Cheap and will be perfectly smooth and reflective on the one side you need. Just a few bucks for more than you need on Ebay.
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Does chrome wrapping work on the tail light reflectors also or is heat more of an issue for them?
 
Don't you have a city light set up so bulb is only on with signaling so no real heat?I just assume based on your location.
 
bavbob said:
Don't you have a city light set up so bulb is only on with signaling so no real heat?I just assume based on your location.
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Correct for indicators. I was wondering if the same would work for brake and reverse reflectors which may experience more heat.
 
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