Headlight Lens Restoration - Full Process

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by Mintee

You seem rather keen to find things wrong by accepting a couple of unverified comments on Amazon as fact.

Try the suppliers website where they make no mention of not being suitable for PC and state it is 'long lasting' .

(BTW the plural of lens is lenses, no apostrophes needed.)

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The answers on the Amazon product link, seem to be from the manufacturer or their agent, agreeing it might not be suitable for polycarbonate and may only last 3 months.

I am always sceptical of magic solutions, making similar claims.

I do usually manage the correct spelling of lenses, but I was rushing to another more urgent task at the time, so let it go - however I thank you for the correction.

[Rogue]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

I did mine last year and they need doing again, this despite my car being parked in a dark garage much of the time. So I am keen to find a more permanent fix.

I wonder if there is a difference in the material of Mk1 and Mk2 lenses. I checked mine earlier and they are still crystal clear.

[Dallas]

I did mine one year ago tomorrow, and they still look as new.

[Canonite]

Just to clarify, this thread was about restoring old, tired and faded looking headlight lenses. I have simply took some photos and documented the process I did here for the benefit of members, who may wish to do the same with their cars.
I don't want anyone to enter into debate about whether the process of wet and dry sanding is detrimental to the UV protection of the lenses, or whether or not they need further protection.

The leaflet in my Autoglym kit says nothing about needing it, their website also says nothing about it and neither does their thread on Detailing World when they announced the product release. I know very little about polycarbonates, but as a precaution I polished them afterwards with Meguiars Ultimate Polish, this is a sealant polish. Followed this with AG EGP and a coat of my G3 paste wax.

[Mintee]

Originally Posted by Canonite

Just to clarify, this thread was about restoring old, tired and faded looking headlight lenses.

I see what you did there....


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[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by Canonite

I don't want anyone to enter into debate about whether the process of wet and dry sanding is detrimental to the UV protection of the lenses, or whether or not they need further protection.

It is an open forum, where members can make contributions to the threads.

The UV protection film was gone, just as soon as soon as your lamps surface dulled. There was no suggestion that your polishing up of the lens was detrimental to the lens or would remove the UV coating, because as said it was already compromised.

I was simply trying to point out what I and many others have found - That polishing them up, without some form UV protection on the lens after your efforts, means they will quite rapidly need polishing up again.

The later discussion was one of deciding what was best used, after the lenses were polished up, to avoid having to redo them for as long as possible.

Polycarbonate is a tough shatter proof solution often used for lighting fittings installed in exposed positions on buildings, a cheap alternative to glass. Just like our headlight lenses, they do soon become discoloured.

[Ravinder]

Good thread. I will be tackling mine soon in time for POL.

[mininuts]

Originally Posted by Ravinder

Good thread. I will be tackling mine soon in time for POL.

3M kit Rav..........nuff said

[Ravinder]

Cheers, Paul. Yes, that is the kit I’ll be buying from amazon tomorrow.

[trophy160]

Just ordered one of the auto glym headlight kits from halfords, theres 20% off at the moment so it was £19.90