2 Questions MB XR5. Headlight protectors and Tint?

Smoke Pursuit · 23-03-2011, 10:12 AM

Hey Guys,

Had our MB for about 8 months now, great car but I need to know if anyone here has a set of headlight protectors fitted to their MB XR5? Ford doesnt make them but EGR do, but they cannot tell me if they will fit a car that has front washers?

Secondly when we bought the car I asked the dealer to tint it, but they refused to because it already has a factory tint, and if they were to tint it it would be then illegal? Does anyone here have their XR5 or possibly Titanium tinted?

cheers.

Brent

paulie0735 · 23-03-2011, 03:10 PM

Don't know about the headlight protectors but I have my windows tinted, Etheridge had it done before I picked it up, its darker than normal due to the existing blueish tint but I haven’t had any issues with the law although it is quite dark at night but not dangerous.

entheos · 23-03-2011, 03:20 PM

The glass is tinted at the factory but WITHIN the tint. You can either get your tinter to do a 40% tint to make it a total of about 35%, or you can just get normal 35% tint. we tint them all the time and even will tint as dark as a customer really wants to if they want to go darker. It's the Driver's responsibility regarding any defects, regardless of who owns the car. That said, tinting is a very very low risk issue when it comes to that.

Re: headlight protectors, I don't know of anyone running the headlight protectors, but if I see anyone with them I'll chat to them.

Smoke Pursuit · 23-03-2011, 04:04 PM

Ive gone the Tint-a-car formula 1 for $395... He said it works well with the Mondeo's and gives you 50+ uv protection with a lifetime warranty.

apstar · 23-03-2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Hey Guys,

Had our MB for about 8 months now, great car but I need to know if anyone here has a set of headlight protectors fitted to their MB XR5? Ford doesnt make them but EGR do, but they cannot tell me if they will fit a car that has front washers?

Brent

Why would you want front headlight protectors they are made out of polycarbonate and are up to 10 times more impact-resistant than plastic or glass headlights.

apstar

Dusty1 · 23-03-2011, 08:01 PM

There's a guy on here who has done over 150k and he doesn't use headlight protectors, and hasn't had a break.

A new headlight would be about $800 (probably more) so they are pricey, and Id be more likely to leave them as they are and wory about it if or when it happens.

NZ XR6 · 23-03-2011, 08:33 PM

My last Mondeo had a 35% tint and was too dark in poor light. I had 40% tint applied to the new one and it's fine.

Oh, and get Huper Optik ceramic. It will cost more and is probably hard to find but is very effective at blocking IR and keeping the car cool. Plus it's very clear to look through - you wouldn't even know there was a tint applied.

mondo_broady · 25-03-2011, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apstar

Why would you want front headlight protectors they are made out of polycarbonate and are up to 10 times more impact-resistant than plastic or glass headlights.

totally agree. and besides that, you need to be able to wash them with the squirters. any dust that gets between them and the headlight will refract (?) the light and could make it shine in oncoming drivers eyes (the reason why we have squirters).

as for tint, i found that it is very difficult to see out of the rear window with the rearview mirror at night due to the way it auto adjusts to reduce glare... but with the amount of glass in the mondy, you need to have it tinted as dark as you can legally get away with imho...

Smoke Pursuit · 25-03-2011, 09:28 AM

Country roads pit them boys.. Just because they are polycarb doesn't mean they dont chip and get damaged. After 12 months in our VE Calais without protectors the lights were badly pitted, when ever you turned them on you could see all the little chips. This car hasnt done any highway work yet but will be! I got a set of EGR protectors for $60 bucks from the local dealer, just gotta wait to get the car back thisarvo to see if they fit properly, I think they will... but no one can give me a definate answer!

The tint has me worried, ill talk to the tint shop next friday when its booked in to be done, I don't want it too dark...

NZ XR6 · 25-03-2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Country roads pit them boys.. Just because they are polycarb doesn't mean they dont chip and get damaged. After 12 months in our VE Calais without protectors the lights were badly pitted, when ever you turned them on you could see all the little chips. This car hasnt done any highway work yet but will be! I got a set of EGR protectors for $60 bucks from the local dealer, just gotta wait to get the car back thisarvo to see if they fit properly, I think they will... but no one can give me a definate answer!

Mate, that's just another example of Holden quality. I did more than 50,000 kms in my last Mondeo, mostly out of the city, and there wasn't a mark on the headlights when I sold it.

mondo_broady · 25-03-2011, 10:21 PM

i've done 40k in 12 months. there's not a chip in mine yet and that's driving it on country roads a lot and over many gravel and dirt roads too...

NZ XR6 · 26-03-2011, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

The tint has me worried, ill talk to the tint shop next friday when its booked in to be done, I don't want it too dark...

What colour is the factory tint?

allanv6gt · 26-03-2011, 06:55 PM

Mondo_braody said : i found that it is very difficult to see out of the rear window with the rearview mirror at night due to the way it auto adjusts to reduce glare...

I have the reverse problem - no tint but the daytime headlights and DRLs are annoying. Only way to avoid glare is to move the mirror manually (then can't see out). Big step backwards to 1970 (See other grumble thread).

mondo_broady · 27-03-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ XR6

What colour is the factory tint?

comes standard with a slight blue-ish tint. not very dark at all.

vunny · 24-01-2012, 11:24 AM

Great thread. I was looking for tint advice too for my MB XR5. Thanks everyone for the input.