headlight cleaning

[scorpio stu]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

Be very wary of applying too much pressure or speed, you could melt the lens.

I only have a drill. Is it possible ?

[scorpio stu]

OK .. I have bout the 3M headlight restoration kit that fits on your drill..I'll be doing it over the next week so will post before and after pictures and do a review if anyone is interested.

[Airedale]

Originally Posted by David Lawrence

Is this the polish you mean?
http://www.glasspolishshop.com/headlight_polish

I haven't used it, but I have some windscreen polish from the same place and it just worked a treat to remove the yellowish haze and small scratches that had appeared on my headlights

Hadn't noticed it was there until I read your thread. Gone now.

I have bought this kit and used it. I have to say it worked really, really well and my lights were particularly bad. At the time I bought it, I thought it was expensive but now I think it was worth every penny. However, I do know that some member on here have also have very good results using only T-Cut with a small pad in a drill on a slow speed. I am certain that there are several threads about this.

[rovexCDTi]

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.

[GagHalfrunt]

I spent quite a while reading about this because mine look terrible. I was thinking about having them polished at the same time the bodywork was being mopped.

My understanding is that polishing will remove the surface protection so by rights they will then get cloudy quicker (maybe this has happened on mine). I was debating getting them coated with something following the polish.

This assumes of course that our cars have a coating as they are far worse that my wife's Toyota which almost look new still (her car is the same age as mine).

[trikey]

Originally Posted by GagHalfrunt

I spent quite a while reading about this because mine look terrible. I was thinking about having them polished at the same time the bodywork was being mopped.

My understanding is that polishing will remove the surface protection so by rights they will then get cloudy quicker (maybe this has happened on mine). I was debating getting them coated with something following the polish.

This assumes of course that our cars have a coating as they are far worse that my wife's Toyota which almost look new still (her car is the same age as mine).

There is no coating on our headlights, the dulling / yellowing is due to the UV over time which gives the impression that its a harder surface than the newly polished light.

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by rovexCDTi

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.

[ceedy]

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.

[Rocket]

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








Nearside before and after with lights on








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.






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



The polish comes with the Meguiar's





A closeup before and after

[Ravinder]

What a difference.