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Old 07-24-2012, 12:06 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Default How to clean headlights?

Picked up a 01 NB. The headlights are a bit foggy. I tried the Meguairs plastic detailer/cleaner, but no good. Its a better better but still foggy.

Anybody in the greater Los Angeles willing to give me a hand or have the know how?

Otherwise, know any recommended professionals, who can help?

Appreciate it.
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Old 07-24-2012, 12:35 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Wetsand up to 2000 grit, rubbing compound, polish, and then wax.

I put vinyl over mine afterwards to protect it as well as hide my crappy job at cleaning it
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Old 07-24-2012, 08:24 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Thank you
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Old 07-24-2012, 09:26 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

If you're on the cheap plain white toothpaste and damp sponge works wonders. Wax afterwards.
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Old 07-24-2012, 09:40 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 90210 View Post
Picked up a 01 NB. The headlights are a bit foggy. I tried the Meguairs plastic detailer/cleaner, but no good. Its a better better but still foggy.

Anybody in the greater Los Angeles willing to give me a hand or have the know how?

Rub harder...
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Old 07-24-2012, 11:05 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

I will try toothpaste today thanks
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Old 07-24-2012, 11:09 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Has anyone tried this?

I've done the wetsand, compound, polish thing before. It works wonders.
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Old 07-24-2012, 12:08 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

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Has anyone tried this?

I've done the wetsand, compound, polish thing before. It works wonders.
Steve


A friend of mine did it the polish compound on my Lexus sc, and in twenty minute it was good as new. He used an orbital. I dont have one. I wilk try the toothpaste thing, if it doesn't work will send it over to a professional detailer.
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Old 07-24-2012, 12:15 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Yeah. The pros do a good job. The reason why I like the idea of that 3M kit is that it comes with a drill attachment. If you've got a drill, that would make life a lot easier. When I did my NB I did the headlights by hand and, while it came out really well, it took forever to do it that way.
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Old 07-24-2012, 12:25 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

i've used a headlight restoration kit, not the 3m one per se, but i've used something similar.
it came with 800, 1200 and 1500 sand paper (or some shit), an attachment for a drill and some polish.

the shit works wonders.
since then, i've gone out and bought 400, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper and have "polished" most of my exterior lights/reflectors.
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Old 07-24-2012, 12:30 PM   #11 (permalink)
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wool buffing pad and a hard compound may do the trick, works for me, i do it at work on semi trucks
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Old 07-24-2012, 01:17 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Thanks guys. I haven't used any sand paper, as I didn't want microscratches on the plastic. I will try the toothpaste, and if it doesn't work,w ill resort to sand paper methods.

Mine aren't yellowed and hazy like a lot. They pretty clear (but no where close to new looking)
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Old 07-24-2012, 02:29 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 90210 View Post
Thanks guys. I haven't used any sand paper, as I didn't want microscratches on the plastic. I will try the toothpaste, and if it doesn't work,w ill resort to sand paper methods.

Mine aren't yellowed and hazy like a lot. They pretty clear (but no where close to new looking)

LOL toothpaste works haha did it on my gf's suby
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Old 07-24-2012, 02:33 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Toothpaste makes sense and should work on lenses that aren't too bad off. My '99's were really bad so I needed to start with something stronger and slowly buff it finer and finer.

This reminds me, I need to buff the lettering out of all my corner markers.
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Old 07-24-2012, 02:43 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

I used Meguiars Scratch X on my NB headlights with a polishing ball (after having tried a commercially available product that didn't work well at all). That worked relatively well.
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Old 07-24-2012, 02:52 PM   #16 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

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Originally Posted by gottspd View Post
I used Meguiars Scratch X on my NB headlights with a polishing ball (after having tried a commercially available product that didn't work well at all). That worked relatively well.
Wondering if I should give in and purchase one of these polishing ball things.
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Old 07-24-2012, 03:06 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Plast-X is supposed to be rubbed on in a linear fashion not in tiny circles like wax, back and forth along the horizontal. Headlights are made of porous polycarbonate and the fog is dirt and grime clogging the surface. Once you have cleaned the headlights you can seal them by warming the surface with a heat gun or heat lamp.
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Old 07-25-2012, 09:33 AM   #18 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 'lilRedRide View Post
Plast-X is supposed to be rubbed on in a linear fashion not in tiny circles like wax, back and forth along the horizontal. Headlights are made of porous polycarbonate and the fog is dirt and grime clogging the surface. Once you have cleaned the headlights you can seal them by warming the surface with a heat gun or heat lamp.

That's interesting.
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Old 08-13-2012, 01:14 AM   #19 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 'lilRedRide View Post
Plast-X is supposed to be rubbed on in a linear fashion not in tiny circles like wax, back and forth along the horizontal. Headlights are made of porous polycarbonate and the fog is dirt and grime clogging the surface. Once you have cleaned the headlights you can seal them by warming the surface with a heat gun or heat lamp.
everything I read said cleaning / buffing them don't work long term. because you are sanding away the UV protective part. headlights will just get hazy faster. can anyone verify this ?

your method is interesting.
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Old 08-13-2012, 10:00 AM   #20 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

BELL

My headlights are as good as they were new. Took a LOT of elbow grease. As far as if they "revert back" to being yellow, I will keep you posted, but so far so good (albeit short time has passed since I did them).
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Old 08-13-2012, 10:06 AM   #21 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

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everything I read said cleaning / buffing them don't work long term. because you are sanding away the UV protective part. headlights will just get hazy faster. can anyone verify this ?

your method is interesting.
This is my understanding as well. When I did the lights on my NB the kit I used (i forget where I got it from) came with a liquid sealant that you brushed on the lens after you polished them. This replaced the UV laminate coating that was removed when polishing the lenses.
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Old 08-13-2012, 11:17 AM   #22 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phillyb™ View Post
i've used a headlight restoration kit, not the 3m one per se, but i've used something similar.
it came with 800, 1200 and 1500 sand paper (or some shit), an attachment for a drill and some polish.

the shit works wonders.
since then, i've gone out and bought 400, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper and have "polished" most of my exterior lights/reflectors.
Sounds like the Sylvania one maybe? It worked great but yeah, if you do it by hand right, it takes a while.

http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=60231

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Old 08-13-2012, 09:08 PM   #23 (permalink)
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Old 08-13-2012, 09:45 PM   #24 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

I've used the meguiars (I think) headlight restoration kit before on my last car and it worked worked.. ok. I've used the sandpaper-compound-polish-wax method on another car and I can say it works much better.
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Old 08-16-2012, 02:00 PM   #25 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

crystal view cleaning kit.....just did it on my IS last week......it worked great...

http://www.myheadlight.com/
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Old 08-16-2012, 02:05 PM   #26 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

3M restore kit, time consuming but works wonders with drill
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Old 08-16-2012, 03:04 PM   #27 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

Mine are pretty good now. Will get some pics tomorrow. I will check if emmi has a drill.
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Old 08-16-2012, 05:02 PM   #28 (permalink)
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Default Re: How to clean headlights?

I've bought this stuff at a gas station once. works pretty good, no joke.
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Old 08-16-2012, 05:38 PM   #29 (permalink)
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I bought the turtle wax headlight restoration kit at vatozone for 9.99. Requires some arm grease though but it works. Still shiney its been 6 months!
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Old 08-29-2012, 11:42 PM   #30 (permalink)
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The 3M kit works. Make sure apply UV protection after like the Meguiar headlight protectant.
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