PackedPanniers.com

22nd September 2012 – £64.80/$130 (BMW OEM).

According to microfiches openly available online, the lens itself just costs about ~£16/$36 and the headlight unit sells for ~£220/$441.36. According to the dealer I was talking to, in the event of a cracked lens, they can only sell the whole headlight unit (incl. lens) as one complete unit only. IF this argument is true, that would be extremely pricey.

Rather than take chances, I decided to protect just the lens as I can imagine a loose chipping from a vehicle in front on poorly paved roads in the UK or abroad would probably be a high likelikhood.

Reasons:
*Chose polycarbonate coverings over the ‘metal grid’-only ones so that even the smallest of stones would have a lesser chance of hitting the headlight lens;

I either missed, or out of convenience, just went with BMW. When, in retrospect, I should have gone for the great, money-saving combo of the aptly-named ‘Headlight Guard Combo’ from Rugged Roads at just £65/$130 for both!

I think this would work better. As perhaps, in a simple guy’s mind (i.e. mine), if a LARGER stone/chipping were to hit the metal grid layer should absorb and deflect first rather than hit the polycarbonate layer first. -In the hope that the polycarbonate layer would remain uncracked (whereas with mine would be damaged straightaway).