Headlight restoration

Veloce

Has anyone here restored their headlights? Mine are bit cloudy / faded towards the top of the headlight and I'm looking for a product that can remove this.

Have looked at Meguires cleaning kit but reviews are mixed. Any recommendations?

Supergurrier

My licence plates and side repeaters on my wing mirrors are also always going yellow, annoying

SCOOP 64

Toothpaste works.

Chimaera

Abrasive is necessary to clean them up. I've found Meguiar's Plastix excellent for maintaining them afterwards. A quick polish after each wash does the trick.

Veloce

Chimaera wrote: »

Abrasive is necessary to clean them up. I've found Meguiar's Plastix excellent for maintaining them afterwards. A quick polish after each wash does the trick.

Would you use a fine sandpaper as an abrasive Chimaera? You apply plastix- wait to dry - then polish? Should work well reckon.

Veloce

If you look towards the top of the headlight you can just about make out the faded / cloudy area. The area in or around the actually bulb is not affected (yet).

keithsfleet

Surgical spirits and a little bit of elbow grease. Works perfectly every time.

MetzgerMeister

Veloce wrote: »

Would you use a fine sandpaper as an abrasive Chimaera? You apply plastix- wait to dry - then polish? Should work well reckon.

By "abrasive" he means an abrasive chemical compound like polish. Meguiar's PlastX is very good but as someone already mentioned, toothpaste works too. Just don't use one that has a whitening agent.

Veloce

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

By "abrasive" he means an abrasive chemical compound like polish. Meguiar's PlastX is very good but as someone already mentioned, toothpaste works too. Just don't use one that has a whitening agent.

That makes more sense. Thanks for 'clearing' that up Metzger- no pun intended! Will have a look at PlastX.

Chimaera

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

By "abrasive" he means an abrasive chemical compound like polish. Meguiar's PlastX is very good but as someone already mentioned, toothpaste works too. Just don't use one that has a whitening agent.

Well, without seeing the state of the headlamps to start with, I meant anything from 400 grit emery paper right up to a chemical compound.

IME Plastix is similar to filler based polish/wax products used for paintwork: it buffs up the fine marks left by abrasives and fills in some of the swirls too. It's a good maintenance product once you've gone to the trouble of fixing up the headlights.

On those headlights, I reckon you'd get away with just some Plastix. Maybe a rub with some compound or toothpaste first.

Wet sanding is for badly scuffed/chipped headlamps.

DubCul

Mix bread soda into a paste, apply to lens and leave for approx. 15 min.

Wash off with soapy water.

Cheap and effective;)

Veloce

Thanks Chimaera. The lamps are not in too bad shape, it's purely a bit of frost / cloud and not really much discolouration. Had a look in halfrauds at the weekend, there is a 'headlight restoration kit' from Meguires. 25 quid. http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=4800 Didn't buy it yet.

I might try the toothpaste trick first, but that may be unlikely to work on it's own?

Chimaera

Toothpaste is almost overkill on your lamps. Try it on a small area first. The only part of that kit that's actually necessary is the bottle of PlastX which will cost about €8-10.

JAMES VTI S

Machine Polish (i use Carpro fixers & MF finishing pad) + Minwax Polycrylic Clear Gloss Protective Finish

donal7

Chimaera wrote: »

Toothpaste is almost overkill on your lamps. Try it on a small area first. The only part of that kit that's actually necessary is the bottle of PlastX which will cost about €8-10.

Where can the above be bought? Thanks.

MetzgerMeister

donal7 wrote: »

Where can the above be bought? Thanks.

Halfords or from a motor factors who have Strongline (ROI Meguiars agent) as a supplier.