Polishing headlights?

[besserheimerphat]

No, this is not a euphemism. I bought a used car that is in immaculate shape for its age but the headlights are a little foggy. Does anybody have tried-and-true methods for shining them up? Seems like most people get poor results from whatever they try.

 

[BCClone]

No, this is not a euphemism. I bought a used car that is in immaculate shape for its age but the headlights are a little foggy. Does anybody have tried-and-true methods for shining them up? Seems like most people get poor results from whatever they try.

Best luck I’ve had is just buying different lights after market. The inside reflectors are usually not as good even if you get the old ones polished.

 

[qwerty]

No, this is not a euphemism. I bought a used car that is in immaculate shape for its age but the headlights are a little foggy. Does anybody have tried-and-true methods for shining them up? Seems like most people get poor results from whatever they try.

Are they yellowed? I just learned about retro-bright process and will try it out in next week or so. It turns sun yellowed plastic back close to original color with hydrogen peroxide and UV light (sun). Lots of YouTube videos about it.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

Done it multiple times using auto parts store products and been happy with the results.

 

[gypsyroad]

I've never seen this successfully done without lots of elbow grease. Wet sanding multiple grits, polishing and polyurethane. I've seen it done without the hard work and the lights will brighten up but they won't last long.

If you have an orbital sander it isn't too bad.

 

[AgronAlum]

Most of the kits are good nowadays. Both the Meguiars and Cerakote kits work well.

This is the one I’d recommend.

https://a.co/d/0aiAaCA

If you want to really get after it, wet sand with 800, 1000, 2000 and 3000 then compound and polish. Finish with a clear coat of your choosing.

All in all you’re removing the oxidation and adding a UV coating to them no matter what process you use. There are different ways to manage that but elbow grease will always be a part of it unless you have a polisher.

If someone says it didn’t work, they didn’t remove enough of the oxidation or used a crappy protective coating.

 

[AgronAlum]

Also, if you truly want them to last use a 2k clear for the top coat. They make some spray cans that will mix the two parts right before application.

 

[veteran4cy]

The best way that I have found is to sand it with 600 to get the heavy stuff off. Then 800, then 1000 and spray an automotive clearcoat on it. I did my cr-v headlights 3 years ago, and they still look great. And it sits outside 24-7.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Most of the kits are good nowadays. Both the Meguiars and Cerakote kits work well.

This is the one I’d recommend.

https://a.co/d/0aiAaCA

If you want to really get after it, wet sand with 800, 1000, 2000 and 3000 then compound and polish. Finish with a clear coat of your choosing.

All in all you’re removing the oxidation and adding a UV coating to them no matter what process you use. There are different ways to manage that but elbow grease will always be a part of it unless you have a polisher.

If someone says it didn’t work, they didn’t remove enough of the oxidation or used a crappy protective coating.

Yeah, when we gave our car to our son, the lenses on the headlights were starting to look like privacy film on a window. About twenty minutes of work with a kit made them look close to new again

 

[enisthemenace]

I’ve tried it once. Ended up just getting new ones and installing myself.

 

[Clonedogg]

I've used some of the rubbing compound products a few times, the headlights look better for a while then eventually look bad again.

I think I'll try the fine grit sandpaper and clear coat.

 

[wenkeej]

Best luck I’ve had is just buying different lights after market. The inside reflectors are usually not as good even if you get the old ones polished.

Done a few different methods over the years (Deet/bugspray, parts store kits, etc) and had success clearing the fog up.

But...

I always had to keep doing it every 6 months to a year because the plastic is old and just breaks down again quickly. Last vehicle I did this with had one original and one new assembly and the new one still looked new 3 years and a handful of cleanings on the other side later.

If you really want it fixed try to find new assemblies.

 

[GoCy]

They yellow/cloud when the UV protectant on the plastic breaks down. You can polish them, but the UV protectant is still gone and will yellow again. I chose to replace them on my car with aftermarket lenses and have been happy so far. Price depends wildly on the car, the car I replaced them on was only $100 for the set. But we just got an older car for the youngest daughter to drive to school, and replacing those is over $300. I may try polishing those and see how long it lasts.

 

[AgronAlum]

They yellow/cloud when the UV protectant on the plastic breaks down. You can polish them, but the UV protectant is still gone and will yellow again. I chose to replace them on my car with aftermarket lenses and have been happy so far. Price depends wildly on the car, the car I replaced them on was only $100 for the set. But we just got an older car for the youngest daughter to drive to school, and replacing those is over $300. I may try polishing those and see how long it lasts.

Yeah, I can get new headlights that include side markers and turn signals for my truck at like 80 bucks for the pair. A new single replacement headlight for my car is 2000 dollars, so 4000 for the pair. Absolutely bananas.

 

[RedDog]

This works great, has everything you need but a drill.
Look at this product I found on google.com https://share.google/5Mf5NsTpjKsptszHJ

 

[besserheimerphat]

Thanks all. I think the lenses are just a little foggy, not yellowing yet. But they are dirty enough thats it's hard to tell.

I'm trying to avoid buying new assemblies because they're expensive - they have the bulbs that are self leveling and also turn with the steering wheel. So there are little motors in there and they're more complicated than just lenses, bulbs and reflectors. Sounds like I might need to do the work, then start planning for replacement in a couple years.

 

[besserheimerphat]

Yeah, I can get new headlights that include side markers and turn signals for my truck at like 80 bucks for the pair. A new single replacement headlight for my car is 2000 dollars, so 4000 for the pair. Absolutely bananas.

Mine appear to be $400 - $500 a piece. And from the YouTube videos Ive looked at, installation looks like a huge PITA.

 

[ScottyP]

check with a local body shop or auto detailing place on this. They will wet sand it and polish it. It cost me about 80 bucks to do for one headlight, but it was still way cheaper than replacing the headlight with a used one.

For those in the Des Moines Metro, I used Minor Wreck Express to have my headlight refinished.

 

[2122]

What is the cost in time and money for attempting repair, vs. getting replacement lights?

 

[AgronAlum]

Thanks all. I think the lenses are just a little foggy, not yellowing yet. But they are dirty enough thats it's hard to tell.

I'm trying to avoid buying new assemblies because they're expensive - they have the bulbs that are self leveling and also turn with the steering wheel. So there are little motors in there and they're more complicated than just lenses, bulbs and reflectors. Sounds like I might need to do the work, then start planning for replacement in a couple years.

If you go through the sanding process and finish with a real automotive headlight 2K clear, they should last a long time. There are two part clears specifically for headlight application so it holds up to the thermal expansion. There will be some masking involved if you can't remove the lenses though.

2K 2in1 Headlight Clear | SprayMax

SprayMax® Special 2K Clear Coat is a protective coating for polycarbonate lenses suitable for fixing scratches, yellowness or foggy headlights.

www.spraymax.com