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- The Valeting Forum (https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=51)

- - headlight cleaning (https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=94341)

I did my mates Vectra at work last month. Used Duraglit. Took a while but the results were pretty illuminating.

I've heard of people using toothpaste! Anybody on here tried it? :shrug:

Its mildly abrasive so might work if the lights are very slightly hazy, but its no good for bad ones or more deeply stone damaged ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpy1 (Post 1233973)

I've heard of people using toothpaste! Anybody on here tried it? :shrug:

Absolutely any fine abrasive will remove the surface haze, including toothpaste.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rovexCDTi (Post 1176885)

Pretty much any heavy polish/compound will do with a drill polishing head. I did mine by hand, hard work, but still possible. Wet sand and buff out, then maybe use a fine polish to finish for the best clarity. The key thing is to wax or preferably seal the lenses afterwards with something like a synthetic sealant or rain repellent. It will make them not only look clearer, but will protect the newly exposed plastic.

A word of caution....

Abrasion generates heat - if you use a powertool be very gentle with it or you may soften and melt the lenses.

Used a 3m kit , got it for 9.99 via groupon..

Used a battery drill so not too fast, but make sure you mask up well around the paintwork.

Took about 10 mins per side.. and still lots of stuff ( pads/cream etc) left.

I did seal them a bit with few coats of polish after just in case ? .

the 3m kit works very well and over last few wintery weeks
the lights still look good.

C.

Halfords now sell a Meguiars Headlight Restoration Kit for £20 and I have to admit, for very little effort it really does make a difference.

I did mine today and took some pics

I used wet & dry 600, 1200, 2000 & 2500

I used Meguiar's One Step Headlight Restoration Kit

I tried using the Meguiar's One Step Headlight Restoration Kit straight out of the box but I think my lights were to far gone and did not get great results. I then went and bought sheets of wet & dry as above.

I started with the coarsest grade wet & dry and worked my way through the grades finishing with the finest. I used lots of water and kept the bucket of water clean and the lights pretty wet. I guess I rubbed for 5 min max on each light with each grade of wet & dry.

The Meguiar's kit did a great job of the final polishing. I used a varying speed drill so I could control the rpm of the mop. (did not want to go fast and build up heat)

I applied some car wax when finished. ( not sure if that is a good idea or not)

I dropped the front bumper for easy access. I think it is nearly as quick as taping around the 4 lights.

I am very pleased

Nearside before and after

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0923.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0951.jpg

Nearside before and after with lights on

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0942.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0954.jpg

How lights look after wet and dry sanding but before polishing. All the discoloration is rubbed away but the lights have the light scratch marks of the fine wet & dry.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0945.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0948.jpg

I used the mop supplied in the Meguiar's One Step Headlight Restoration Kit attached to an old drill

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0959.jpg

The polish comes with the Meguiar's

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0961.jpg

A closeup before and after

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0922.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/IMGP0952.jpg

After doing mine in 2013 they are going cloudy again . will have to find another method of sealing the surface :duh:.