[adi555]

Has anyone put paint protection film on headlights? Does it protect the lens from fading or yellowing the headlights? Any inputs?

[ted99]

I have. It protects the plastic headlight covers from the yellowing caused by UV rays. What I don't know is if this UV protection is now embedded in the plastic covers and no longer necessary. One can see a lot of older cars with yellow headlight covers, but I haven't seen any recent (say the last 5 model years) BMW's with this problem. Anyone know if this is a "factory fix" now?

[adi555]

Can others please throw some light on this?

[knightarmor]

I've had ppf on all my cars headlights including a 2010 nissan frontier and 2013 nissan leaf which both have platics lenses. I did not have any yellowing or fading of any kind on either of those two vehicles. I would say the film kept the plastic lens from fading. I got rid of my frontier in 2015 and my leaf in 2018 and the headlight lenses still looked new when i partied with them.
The nissan leaf now lives in south Texas with my folks so ill have to ask them to snap a pic since the car lives outside there in the hot Texas sun.

[adi555]

Would the PPF interfere with the headlight operation or build up more heat?

[knightarmor]

No.

[oakey46]

I'd question the need to put any sort of film over the lights, unless it could prevent stone chips. The plastic outer lens will be UV stabilised and I've not seen any relatively recent deterioration in any car headlights other than maybe a few that are pretty old and obviously not looked after by their owners. There are also kits available in motorists stores that are claimed to rejuvenate deteriorated units. I find a decent polish (such as Autoglym Super Resin polish in the UK) is enough to remove minor (not deep) scratches if used carefully with good quality cloth or cotton stockinette.

[ted99]

^^^Experience is different in places where the sun shines.

[Xorbitman]

I just leased a 2018 BMW X1 about 2 months ago and I put the 3M protection film that goes on the hood and mirrors and the rear bumper sill. I also put it on the front headlights. It works really well.

[PurePulse64]

Originally Posted by Xorbitman

I just leased a 2018 BMW X1 about 2 months ago and I put the 3M protection film that goes on the hood and mirrors and the rear bumper sill. I also put it on the front headlights. It works really well.

Where did you get it from? How much?


To answer the forum question. I had it on my 2011 328i and noticed the film started to yellow but the headlights were fine (even after removing it). My 2014 328i I never put anything on and never had an issues. I also had a 2005 325xi without it and never had the problem.
Overall I would only say do it to avoid rock chips on the lenses (if you're concerned)
The only car I ever had that issue on was my Lexus RX350.

[ted99]

I've seen a lot of yellow lenses on 2000-era Fords, Nissans and M-B, but I've never seen them on a BMW. Makes me think that BMW has put some type of UV stabilizer in their plastic formula. I did the PPF on my 911, but it was for rock chips.

[Xorbitman]

I went to my local aftermarket garage...They do window tinting, wheels, tires, multimedia systems, etc. Lazer Auto here in Montreal, QC. They are great!