Headlight lense restoration?

Jaid0gz

Jaid0gz

Member
Hey guys, I'm just curiuous about a headlight lense restoration for when I retrofit my projectors in - because my HL's are turning yellow and icky and I don't want to have to buy another set.

How much would stuff to do this cost and where could i get it from?

How well would you say this worked (if you've tried it)
 
Have a search on youtube, there's a heap of vids on headlight restoration. Might give you some sort of an answer
 
The stuff costs like $60 in Repco and AutoBarn etc. look on eBay, I got mine for $20. And if you do it right, it comes up really well. It takes about ~30min per headlight. I don't know if I messed up the end or something, but it's going back to the way it was. No where near as bad though, not worth $60, $30 tops.
 
the guys from mightycarmods done a vid, search it on their youtube channel, they tested multiple methods, the best was obviously the purpose made car polish, but what i found worked for me was using car polish followed by some wet sand paper (1200grit i think) and going over the headlight with some force then wiping over with methylated spirits, worked fine.
 
oh ok, so you did the kit first then polished and sanded/wiped with methylated spirits? has there been any tainting of the colour since doing it, and how long has it been?
 
na man i didnt use the kit, i just used normal cut and polish which basically does the same thing since it removes a very thin layer. It looks much better than it was before and hasnt yellowed or anything but i only done it a couple of weeks ago, but if you want a perfect job and willing to spend the money just get the kit and it comes with everything
 
i just done my headlights today,
i used the "turtle wax headlight restore" kit which you can buy from supercheap (currently on sale for 19.99)
it worked really well, i thought the cloudiness was on the inside but now my headlights are crystal clear.
 
I have done plenty of head lights over the past year and they all come up looking a treat but I do not use the mega expensive kits... 1500 & 2000 wet and dry paper, then use a wax and grease remover to clean surface then a good cut and polish on a powered buffer and then wax and grease remover again. Perfect job

the sand paper removes a very thin layer of aged plastic, do not use anything too aggressive as this will just allow dirt get into those small scratches, and the cut and polish polishes out the remaining scratches and a thin protective coating.
 
hey hows everyones headlights holding up i got one with a little yellow patch on it if i can fix it that'd be awesome but i got a new one just in case. just wondering how long the repair lasts thanks
 
The reason why it re-yellow is the same reason it went yellow to start with and that is the uv barrier has broken down.
Some of the headlights kits come with uv proctectant you cover the light in when you've finished. They'd be the ones to go for.
 
Things you will need to do it cheap:

-Fine wet/dry paper around 1500 grade.
-Cut and polish and or Polish

-Wet your light and have a hose that is trickling water onto where you are rubbing your light with the wet/dry paper. Rub in small circles around the whole light. You will see and feel the difference as you go along. When you are done, move to the next light.

-Finish the job by drying the lights and then polish with the "cut and polish" or with the polish and you are good to go.

Some polishes have a UV protector put into them but if not, you will find after a couple of weeks they will start to dull up again. If they do, simply polish them and it will come up clearer.

A mate of mine went berserk on his lights and stuffed them due to using a rougher grade of paper and some chemical. Just be careful that what you use does not attack plastic!

Final note, plastic / polycarbonate lenses have a UV protector layer (as mentioned above) and this has deteriorated which causes your lights to go dull / yellow. Also, plastic deteriorates over time being in the weather. You can get polishes with a UV protector it it but if your after a long term type fix then best off to find a proper lens sealer. Companies that work with plastic will be able to get you a proper sealant or worst case, use the stuff that is in the kits from Supercheap / Autobarn etc.
 
Sup guys, I did this back in early March and it worked a treat, no discolouring of the lens has occurred from then until now. I used the turtle wax lense restoration kit from supercheap.
 
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