Headlight reflector restoration service in DE

zinz

zinz

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Stumbled across these folks on eBay.de selling a headlight reflector restoration service in Germany. I wish I'd found them a year ago... I think it would be worth it to try them out. Finding NOS reflectors for the Euro 2000CS was a challenge!

edit... here's the company's website www.reflektorklinik.de



https://www.ebay.de/itm/BMW-2000-CS-Reflektor-Neuverspiegelung-Bedampfen-Scheinwerfer-Reparatur/153130293253?fits=Make:BMW|Type:2000+CS&hash=item23a746d805:g:YAwAAOSwAllbacre

Google translate from the ad:

The purchase price is incl. VAT!
Headlight Reflector Repair - Reflection
Original aluminum evaporates at the ReflektorKlinik
Here you buy a new mirroring of a reflector with original aluminum vapor in a high vacuum!
You can find more models in our eBay shop!
The prices apply to all plastic reflectors, or metal and to all sizes !!!
Fixed prices: (by quantity, on all sizes)
- 1 reflector: 64,99.- €
- 2 reflectors: 109,99.- € (54,99.- € / piece)
- 3 reflector: 139,99.- € (46,66.- € / piece)
- 4 reflector: 174,99.- € (43,75.- € / piece)
Please send a price proposal with the stated unit price and quantity to us.
Repair time: approx. 3 working days after receipt of goods
Here you do NOT buy a new, used reflector!
Do you have other reflectors? No problem, we have fixed prices!
 
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I have looked on and off over the years for this type of service for other car reflectors in the US and never found anything as reasonable as this outfit, thanks for posting.
 
I was just sourcing this last week. I found two places on the west coast:

This place does actual re-silvering. But with the quantity of reflectors I planned on sending him, it was cost prohibitive:
STEVE’S AUTO RESTORATIONS
4440 S.E. 174th Ave
Portland, OR 97236
Phone: 503.665.2222

And this place puts an aluminum surface on the reflectors. i think that is what the German link is above. So this might be a lower 48 comparable? I haven't gotten a hold of them yet, so cannot comment:
Uvira, Inc.
310 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Merlin, OR 97532
Telephone: +1.541.956.6880
Fax: +1.541.476.9096
email: [email protected]

Not sure if I am reading the prices correctly, but the place in Germany may be pretty cost effective inclusive of shipping. Will see... Thanks for posting.
 
I'm thinking this would be an effective way to restore tail light assemblies. Mine sure need it....

Ed
 
zinz said:
I'm thinking this would be an effective way to restore tail light assemblies. Mine sure need it....

Ed
Click to expand...
Yep, those are on my list. I currently have (9) reflectors that I am either going to have redone by one of these places - (6) of which are the tail light reflectors. Or I might try to plate them myself. I've been gearing up for doing plating and anodizing in-house. I have almost everything I need so far. But I am not sure I want to tackle the copper, then silver plating for the reflectors. But I do like the sound of this aluminum coat system... And I heard it is slightly less costly than re-silvering our old steel reflectors.

The problem with the rusty steel reflectors is that they need to be plated twice: copper, polish, then silver, and final polish. This essentially doubles the price for the true re-silvering process. But as I understand it, the aluminum process is more cost effective, and will not oxidize like silver will (eventually) again.
 
I just reached out to the company in Germany (after trying the place in Oregon a few times and getting no reply). I will let you know what (if) I hear back. Thanks for posting!
 
Well, I already have some news to report. I sent a message to the company Reflektor Klinik late yesterday, and woke to a response in my inbox. That was quick! I had sent the detailed photographs of all of my reflectors, so they had a sound understanding of the level of corrosion on some of them. They let me know that they do provide service to the US, and they outlined the pricing for my specific reflectors. Frankly, I am pleasantly surprised at the pricing. And they state that their turn around is remarkably quick, too. It sounds like it will take longer to ship the stuff there than it will for them to do the work.

All of this said, I am now a little nervous (scared) about sending all 11 reflectors to them. My count went up from 9 to 11 because the told me they can do the plastic reflectors in the rear tail lights as well. I don't fully understand the aluminum steam process, but it seems feasible that it could transfer their coating without melting the plastic. At this point I have no reason to doubt that I receive beautiful, professionally coated reflectors and live happily ever after. But there is a tiny piece of me that is worried things could go horribly wrong and I'll be out ALL of my tail light reflectors, and possibly a few others as well. Alternatively, I am a little bit worried that this is nothing more than aluminum spray paint and heck, I can do that myself. This is exciting/scary stuff.

I am considering sending just the tail light reflectors to them, and I might pay up to have the local place (well, Oregon) do the true re-silvering on the Hella driving lights. I get the impression that the aluminum surface is not as "mirror like", which is fine for a glowing tail light, but not as effective on a focused beam fixture.

If anyone has insight on these concerns, or words of blind encouragement, I welcome it. Thanks!
 
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Tail light reflectors and headlight reflectors are very different.
I cleaned the tail light reflectors and used shiny aluminum tape to make them brighter. It worked very well.
I would not do that with headlights
 
Stan said:
I would not do that with headlights
Click to expand...
Agree 100%. I will be sending my tail light reflectors. I'll post before and after pics. They seem very responsive - and I've communicated with them quite a bit in 2 days time. They tell me all of the prep (blasting and polishing) is included in their price. We'll see how they come back.
 
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