anyone successfully installed protective film on retrofit (or regular) foglights?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by bagwell, Aug 24, 2010.

  1. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    the ones I have are glass and you know they'll break sooner or later...so...just curious:

    where you got the film...?
    how much...?
    not melting from the heat?
    pre-cut or bulk film?

    thanks!
     
    #1 bagwell, Aug 24, 2010
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I did. My first pair were completely cracked after last winter. Got a new pair and applied the film (lamin-x). Got the 20mm, 4"x8", clear. It is quite thick. Easy to apply and is sticking real well (on for about 2 months). So far so good but winter will be the real test.
    I order 2 sheets < $20 shipped. Managed to cover both lenses with one sheet so I have one left over.
     
    #2 spiderman, Aug 24, 2010
  3. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    did you want to part with the leftover sheet or are you keeping it?
     
    #3 bagwell, Aug 25, 2010
  4. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I will keep it in case I need to do this again. If I have to do it again, I will forgo that cheap non-SAE/DOT certified units and get some quality units.
     
    #4 spiderman, Aug 25, 2010
  5. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    just ordered 1 pc.

    ...for anyone else....at lamin-x, use coupon code 10off = its only 10% off, but its better than nothing.
     
    #5 bagwell, Aug 25, 2010
  6. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
    1,821
    257
    0
    Location:
    Cleveland, OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I was thinking about adding fog lights to my 2010 Prius IV. I decided not to based on how many times I had to replace the fog light glass on my previous car. It was time consuming and expensive. I decided to do with out on this car.
     
    #6 Judgeless, Aug 25, 2010
  7. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    why?? if you go to XPEL.com they guarantee against breakage
     
    #7 bagwell, Aug 25, 2010
  8. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    does anyone have any idea if the Gen II foglight lenses are pretty close diameter-wise to the Gen III lenses?

    because lamin-x has the Gen II's in stock
     
    #8 bagwell, Aug 25, 2010
  9. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
    1,821
    257
    0
    Location:
    Cleveland, OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    They do not cover all the time it takes to keep replacing them.
     
    #9 Judgeless, Aug 25, 2010
  10. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    XPEL and LAMIN-X are films that takes 10 mins to install and you are done.
     
    #10 bagwell, Aug 25, 2010
  11. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    953
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Never heard of them breaking where I live. Is it the flying rocks in Texas?
     
    #11 32kcolors, Aug 26, 2010
  12. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The attached photo is poor but you can see the cracks. They sand the roads up here in the winter and it is like a machine gun everyday to work an back. In fact the official Alaska Roadmap is usually your windshield.
    [​IMG]
     
    #12 spiderman, Aug 26, 2010
  13. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
    1,821
    257
    0
    Location:
    Cleveland, OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    That is the exact crack I always got. On my previous car I went through at least 6 fog light lens over 10 years. I was ok with the crack. The issue was water got in and burned out the bulb. I tried sealing the crack many times and it never worked.
     
    #13 Judgeless, Aug 26, 2010
  14. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    the key is to PROTECT the lenses with the XPEL or LAMIN-X films BEFORE THEY CRACK.
     
    #14 bagwell, Aug 26, 2010
  15. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    592
    49
    0
    Location:
    the woodlands, tx
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    follow-up....ordered the lamin-x bulk film and applied BEFORE attaching the lens to the surround and installing.

    stuff went on easy with no bubbles...I basically cut out a pattern from paper then cut the lamin-x film. Cleaned the lens with alcohol and then applied film, I then used my thumb and pressed from the center out then all way around...perfect.

    ...the only thing I'm a little scared of is the film is 12 mil thick rather than the 20 mil...if I had it to do again, I'd probably order the 20 mil material...its nearly twice as thick.
     
    #15 bagwell, Sep 8, 2010
  16. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    why did you go with the 12mm? Yeah, that stuff was pretty easy to apply, I was happy with that. So far it is holding up great too.
     
    #16 spiderman, Sep 9, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)