Cloudy plastic headlights, clean or replace?
Discussion
Hi,
Does anyone have any experience on fixing the usual cloudy, yellow-ish, slightly rough headlight outers? Some options would appear to be,
- various kits to help do this.
- use a professional detailer.
- replace the headlights.
Would cleaning (or getting them cleaned) actually last in the long term, or would the problem reoccur? Has anyone had success with any of the avalable kits? Any tips welcome.
Does anyone have any experience on fixing the usual cloudy, yellow-ish, slightly rough headlight outers? Some options would appear to be,
- various kits to help do this.
- use a professional detailer.
- replace the headlights.
Would cleaning (or getting them cleaned) actually last in the long term, or would the problem reoccur? Has anyone had success with any of the avalable kits? Any tips welcome.
RA272 said:
Hi,
Does anyone have any experience on fixing the usual cloudy, yellow-ish, slightly rough headlight outers? Some options would appear to be,
- various kits to help do this.
- use a professional detailer.
- replace the headlights.
Would cleaning (or getting them cleaned) actually last in the long term, or would the problem reoccur? Has anyone had success with any of the avalable kits? Any tips welcome.
Clean them, then seal them against UV.Does anyone have any experience on fixing the usual cloudy, yellow-ish, slightly rough headlight outers? Some options would appear to be,
- various kits to help do this.
- use a professional detailer.
- replace the headlights.
Would cleaning (or getting them cleaned) actually last in the long term, or would the problem reoccur? Has anyone had success with any of the avalable kits? Any tips welcome.
You’ll need to get a variety of increasing grit sand paper, and a sander. Start with the lowest grit paper, and make sure you’re on the lowest speed setting of the sander. Rinse and repeat with increasing grit papers, until they’re clear again. Or say sod it and get decent replacements from EBay or whatever.
As others have said.
600 grit, 1200 grit, 2000 grit, 3000 grit, Fine rubbing compound, takes a couple of hours each & they will be like new again.
Make sure you use lots of water when using the paper & you don't need a polisher, I only ever do it by hand using a small dense foam block.
600 grit, 1200 grit, 2000 grit, 3000 grit, Fine rubbing compound, takes a couple of hours each & they will be like new again.
Make sure you use lots of water when using the paper & you don't need a polisher, I only ever do it by hand using a small dense foam block.
As a newbie to the subject when I tried it, I used this kit and if you follow the instructions it works well: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoglym-Headlight-Restor...
I did my Audi TT about a month ago using Cerakote kit from Amazon. Very easy - took 15 mins max.
It's an odd thing. Stage 1 (essentially wiping the headlights with something similar to a wet wipe) didn't make them look any different.
Stage 2 - lightly sanding the lights with 2 grades of sandpaper - made them look ready for the bin.
Stage 3 - literally just wiping a coating across them (took about 5 seconds) - transformed them into crystal clear lights that look brand new.
Amazing result and highly recommended.
It's an odd thing. Stage 1 (essentially wiping the headlights with something similar to a wet wipe) didn't make them look any different.
Stage 2 - lightly sanding the lights with 2 grades of sandpaper - made them look ready for the bin.
Stage 3 - literally just wiping a coating across them (took about 5 seconds) - transformed them into crystal clear lights that look brand new.
Amazing result and highly recommended.
I’ve done a few now with the sanding process as set out by others. The 3M kit was the best.
I’ve never bothered with lacquer as it seems faffy and it would be easy to undo all your hard work. I just coat them with a ceramic coat such as Carpro Dlux or Cquartz and I’ve not had an issue yet with deterioration.
When they go yellow and foggy again it’s because people haven’t sanded off all the old coating.
I’ve never bothered with lacquer as it seems faffy and it would be easy to undo all your hard work. I just coat them with a ceramic coat such as Carpro Dlux or Cquartz and I’ve not had an issue yet with deterioration.
When they go yellow and foggy again it’s because people haven’t sanded off all the old coating.
Unless they're really bad a strong metal polish, eg Peek or Solvol, will do the job in minutes with just hand action.
I don't bother laquering, just a coat of wax polish, redoing the job when they start to fade again takes 5 minutes each side at most.
I have used the 3M kit, decent metal polish did the job just as well without giving you heart failure as you see the state of the lenses after using 3Ms low grit count first off.
I don't bother laquering, just a coat of wax polish, redoing the job when they start to fade again takes 5 minutes each side at most.
I have used the 3M kit, decent metal polish did the job just as well without giving you heart failure as you see the state of the lenses after using 3Ms low grit count first off.
Anyone used the £7 Turtle Wax two in one headlamp cleaner and sealant?
They're plastic VAG headlamps with the NS being far worse and the OS just starting. I've used a baking soda paste to much improve the NS but there seems to be border where the cloudiness was, a horizontal strip from half way up to the top to the rest of the uncloudy plastic lens.
They're plastic VAG headlamps with the NS being far worse and the OS just starting. I've used a baking soda paste to much improve the NS but there seems to be border where the cloudiness was, a horizontal strip from half way up to the top to the rest of the uncloudy plastic lens.
carinaman said:
Anyone used the £7 Turtle Wax two in one headlamp cleaner and sealant?
They're plastic VAG headlamps with the NS being far worse and the OS just starting. I've used a baking soda paste to much improve the NS but there seems to be border where the cloudiness was, a horizontal strip from half way up to the top to the rest of the uncloudy plastic lens.
It works well on my Impreza blobeye, but for some reason not very well on my Mazda shed.They're plastic VAG headlamps with the NS being far worse and the OS just starting. I've used a baking soda paste to much improve the NS but there seems to be border where the cloudiness was, a horizontal strip from half way up to the top to the rest of the uncloudy plastic lens.
Need to do it at least once a month to maintain what clarity I have left on them though.
Edited by texaxile on Thursday 24th September 14:30
You'll need to sand them and then shoot them with 2K urethane clear coat which is the same stuff they use on your cars sheet metal as it will have the UV protection that will prevent them from clouding up. If you sand them and just polish, you've stripped whatever UV protection the lights had and they will fade in short order.
You can just sand with 1500 - 2000 grit and shoot with clear, there's no need to polish in between as you want the clear to have a tooth to bind to.
Any wipe on product that promises UV protection will wash off.
You can just sand with 1500 - 2000 grit and shoot with clear, there's no need to polish in between as you want the clear to have a tooth to bind to.
Any wipe on product that promises UV protection will wash off.
Edited by alabbasi on Monday 14th September 20:26
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