Frank--Steve's does
re-silvering. That only works if your base is metal. I don't have a euro model and can't tell you what Waqas is working with. If it is like all the
plastic reflectors I have, alas it won't work.
Waqas--get yourself a handheld IR temp indicator; run your light and if you can, remove the front lens (or read from the back) and you can then tell what the internal temp is of the reflector. These little handheld devices are getting less costly all the time. I've seen them for about $35 on sale.
I should be a bit more clear: the silver/chrome color used as a reflector on plastic for most reflectors is actually
vacuum deposited aluminum. The process is generally called
vaccum deposition, sometimes
vapor deposition as the material--aluminum--is converted to a
vapor state before it adheres to the plastic substrate (reflector base).
I don't know for certain but I don't know that there are any firms out there that do this on a one-off or custom basis as a business. However, every production house must be able to do prototypes, else they would never be able to secure a production job! But whether anyone can convince them of doing something for you, or doing it a price that makes it less costly than simple replacement (aye, there's the rub!
)is the real question. Do a google search or similar for vaccum deposition, thin film coating, aluminum coating and you'll come up with enough places to keep you busy for quite some time.
"In the olden days"--the days of 1932 Fords, etc. the headlamp reflectors were silvered metal--like a mirror. That's why people like Steve's offer this service to real old hot rod and car enthusiasts.
The
Cosmichrome process I talked about isn't really
chrome--just a highly reflective
paint. So, it may behave better than true chrome as a reflector, but whether it can withstand the environment of a semi enclosed headlamp, I don't know.
There's another similar process out there, but one available to DIY'ers and hobbyists, and it too, is a paint with a less elaborate installation process then Cosmichrome. It's called
Alclad II.
The Alclad II paints--in many colors including several "silvery" ones--are well known to hobbyists and modelmakers, and are available at many hobby shops and internet retailers. Here's a link to their website:
http://www.alclad2.com/email: alclad2@comcast.net
It will take someone willing to experiment with these to determine if they are suitable for the application of headlamp reflector restoration. They will both most certainly work--but withstanding actual use--heat, cold, moisture, etc. is the real questions.
While I certainly won't re-start the old debate of US-Spec Sealed Beam versus Euro-Halogen's, it is nice to know that
my headlamp filament will burn out
long before the hermetically-sealed silver reflector begins to show any age...and IF somehow it should, $7 at any auto parts store, Target, K-Mart, etc. makes it like
new. Hmmmm...what on earth were those Feds thinking!!???!!??!?!?
I will admit, the reflectors on the tail lamps were looking less than new--after 39 years, why not? I replaced them with new (you'd never get into them without major surgery anyway)and hopefully they'll last another 39 years.
Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
President, International Stars Section
Mercedes-Benz Club of America
