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Front and Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 6:53 pm
by dragonflyjewels
Just back from another club's meet on the continent with excellent news. This is the club president's car, with reproduced rear cluster lenses and centre panel.

Image

They were made by a man who runs a business making one off prototype lenses for the design departments of various car manufacturers. It is an entirely hand-made process, and he has very kindly agreed to remake our rear cluster lenses in his spare time for a fraction of his normal price. The only difference is that the name Hella and Made in Germany is not moulded into them - obviously he cant put false information on them. The first batch were brought to the meeting for some very happy members. Once their own club members all have their orders, they will offer them to other clubs, including ours. I believe the cost to us will be 3-400 euros for the pair of light clusters and 1-150 euros for the centre panels. As it is a slow process to make them and the moulds are only good for about half a dozen castings, it isn't going to happen tomorrow but it is on the way. I have put my name down for a set and will bring them to the October meet if I have them by then.
As it is only the lenses we will have to pry broken ones off old clusters, same as with Joep's drl lenses. Anyone who only needs one side will need to think about how they want to do it. I suggest that the repros are fitted in pairs in case the colour is slighlty different, in which case people who buy a pair will need to source a duffer so they then have an odd good one to sell - hooray ! I foresee a surge of interest in damaged rear clusters as well as a trickle of decent clusters for sale.
I will keep in close contact with the other club to make sure we are not forgotten. If they want someone to collate the orders/take delivery etc I'm happy to offer my services, or it might be our Belgian friend Michel, who speaks good English who acts as go-between.

NB PLEASE DON'T SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE WILLING TO SUPPLY NON-CLUB MEMBERS

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 6:59 pm
by mathrock
:hopping: :hopping:

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 7:04 pm
by edie_fox
Excellent news. I can have live with a little less stress/fear! I chipped a corner off my last 480’s set. 🤢

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:10 pm
by jamescarruthers
O
M
F
G
!


Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:15 pm
by jifflemon
I’ll happily have a set.

This news pleases me more because it may stop people breaking a car to make a quick bit of cash from the lenses.

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2019 11:14 pm
by Murf
Happy days! :D

Not a bad price too considering the work that must go into making them.

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 6:43 am
by dcwalker
Brilliant! :D

Never thought we'd see the day, tbh…

David

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 8:19 am
by cranna21
Fantastic News!

put me down for a set (excluding centre section) when the time comes and you hear more! :D

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 8:40 am
by MisterH
That is Spectacular!

They look really nice, shame about the lack of period Hella branding, but understandable.

I would only use them as a last resort however, mine are OK, but I would like to keep the originals if possible

that 480 of the president's is VERY shiny...

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 9:34 am
by 100
This looks great, I'll be putting my name down for a full set when the time comes!

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 4:07 pm
by Norm57
Great news, mine are ok at the moment but I may invest in a spare set as with most things the price will only go up!

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 6:12 pm
by mathrock
I'd be interested in having a set. Also interested in seeing pics of the procedure to separate the existing/old lense covers and installing new ones.

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:01 am
by dekkb
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, exciting news.
I'll definitely be up for a set of these as my passenger side has a chunk out of it courtesy of a little oik with a stick :angry: good work sylvia, keep us posted :hopping:

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:48 am
by Martin Mc
Hello Sylvia,

Great news and thanks for posting such a positive development!

I must be a bit thick, though, as I couldn't quite grasp what the pricing information meant. Please could you lay it out in simple terms for me, as I'm not sure what '3-400 euros for the pair of light clusters and 1-150 for centre panel' meant.

Many thanks :)

Martin

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:20 am
by Murf
From what I can ascertain a pair of rear light lenses will cost between 300-400 Euros.
The black centre panel that sits between the rear lights will be between 100-150 Euros.

This is for just the lenses, you will need to remove the lenses from your existing light clusters and silicone the new lenses in place.

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:44 am
by nicklee
Great news :)
thanks for getting out there and doing the research!

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:01 pm
by justtank
I too would sign up for a new set of lights!

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:48 pm
by dekkb
It seems they've gone public!! They have been announced (with pictures) on the Volvo 480 re manufacturing page. I would post a link but I'm at work and facebook is blocked, so I can't :lol:

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 7:18 pm
by dragonflyjewels

Re: Rear Light Clusters - problem solved !

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 5:38 pm
by dragonflyjewels
Apologies for the delay in posting pics. The big thing with these replacement lenses is that they are made from a modern material which is not affected by UV so they won't go white or become brittle.
I've just been sent to link to the 'how to' on the French forum - needless to say the text is all in French but there are lots of pics which should be pretty self explanatory. NB there are various bits about taking it slowly or only pressing gently (doucement) so maybe copy and paste into a translation website - here's the rather rubbish translation of the text above and below the first pic:-

As promised, here is the technical sheet of replacing the taillights cabochons ;-)! I want to clarify that I do not have the infused science and that I remain open to all comments and / or suggestions 8-)!
First, break the edges of the screen all around the fire to gain access to the "soldering" of the two pieces. I know, it hurts, but if you do that is that the screen is not risking much: mrgreen:!

Start cutting SOFTLY at the Dremel at the thickness on the support. WARNING! Wear protective goggles, long-sleeved and long-legged clothes and closed shoes!
The plastic melts very quickly and Dremel takes pleasure in sending you very hot pieces where you do not want it (it's lived: ab!)! Do not hesitate to stop often to clean the cutting disc on its periphery!


For those who don't speak any foreign languages and haven't used a translator before, be aware that a direct translation never works well. The French for lenses is the same as for cabochons, which to us is a type of cut for a gemstone for jewellery.

The club will produce an English version in the new year if we have queries, or I can always ask Michel who speaks excellent English.

Here's the link : -

https://www.volvo-480.org/forum/viewtop ... 11&t=45752