headlight cleaning - Page 6

HarryM1BYT · 26th July 2017, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by operamagorum

My headlights were slightly clouded/yellowing. Cleaned them yesterday with toothpaste and soft toothbrush. Not perfect, but a vast improvement. Total cost £2 and I've got loads of paste and a toothbrush left for next time!

Toothpaste is a fine abrasive - so OK on that, but you are not trying to clean them, you are trying to polish them, to lightly abrade the surface away - so a toothbrush is the wrong implement for that. Use a soft cloth, maybe slightly dampened.

Rovex · 31st July 2017, 12:28

Just a vote for the 3M kit. I used one on my ZT-T 15 months ago and found it gave a great result. I left the bumper on the car, masked off the surrounding paintwork and polished the lights with a cordless drill on low speed.

My car lives outside so has been exposed to a fair bit of weather since polishing and the lights still look good, plus I have enough left in the kit to polish them again in future if needs be.

Nev The Bear · 6th August 2017, 13:38

I used a Meguairs Headlight Restoration Kit on my ZT-T and I am very pleased with the results.

mbrenn · 6th August 2017, 20:01

I have used the Autoglym kit with excellent results but it was very time consuming . My friend has just done his headlights with a product called Formula 1 headlight restorer (yellow bottle) - a wipe on wipe off product. He swears by it. Will borrow it and try it on my other car and let you know.

HarryM1BYT · 7th August 2017, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbrenn

I have used the Autoglym kit with excellent results but it was very time consuming . My friend has just done his headlights with a product called Formula 1 headlight restorer (yellow bottle) - a wipe on wipe off product. He swears by it. Will borrow it and try it on my other car and let you know.

I would be wary of any product which was instant, all it can do is fill in the tiny scratches, to make it appear clear. You can get an almost similar effect just wetting the lens, but it doesn't last long.

The only sure longer lasting effect, is the use of a fine abrasive, of which several have been suggested, but then 'something' needs to be applied will prevent their future degradation occurring, something UV proof.

I polish mine up each year, not fully, because can only do it so many times before the lens material gets too thin. If I find something UV proof, then I will give them a proper, thorough polish up. Would the clear lacquer as used by car body painters work without damaging the lens, I wonder?

fega72 · 7th August 2017, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

Would the clear lacquer as used by car body painters work without damaging the lens, I wonder?

I used 2k clear on my Mercedes headlights - no damage at all

Billyuk1 · 8th August 2017, 21:05

i bought a dad6 polisher a while ago to do a full car polish...

wet sand with wet and dry then polish with meguiars ultimate compound then wax polish,
came out very good...

T16 · 8th August 2017, 21:48

People should read better.

The "perfect" fix to restore properly is to sand down to polycarbonate, and re-spray with 2k UV resistant clear coat, just like the factory.

Having done it myself, if you do it a certain way, you can get the lens looking like it just came out of the factory.

You need to just mask off the front, spray liberally, orange peel doesnt matter, with a nice thick coat you can flat back, and because you have a nice ridge all the way around where the new coat meets the old near the corners, you can smooth down with sandpaper, and because its clear, it seamlessly blends into the original coat.

I made the mistake of trying to coat the whole lens (like factory) and you just get overspray that wont fix and look nice.

Front only, then smooth the step, works BEAUTIFULLY.

There is a German 2Pack coating, thats £16, and is the best. WEAR a mask though.

mininuts · 9th August 2017, 13:00

Another vote for the 3M kit.
Simple to use, works very well and gives a perfect, as new finish. Did mine over two years ago and they're still as good as new. I give them a treatment of Meguires Headlamp Protectant every time I polish/wax the car and it has kept them perfect.

mbrenn · 9th August 2017, 18:02

Tried the Formula 1 headlight restorer, decent result, front headlights done in 15 mins. Not as good as polishing with a restoration kit but a big improvement. How long it will last is anyone's guess, but for those who don't have much time it is a good choice. That said, for a perfect finish sanding and polishing is best.

8th August 2017, 21:05	#57
Billyuk1 Avid contributor zt saloon 1800cc Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: in my car Posts: 234 Thanks: 277 Thanked 63 Times in 48 Posts	i bought a dad6 polisher a while ago to do a full car polish... wet sand with wet and dry then polish with meguiars ultimate compound then wax polish, came out very good... __________________ 15,577th ZT to run off the production line, out of 18,894 703rd ZT 120 to be made out of 921 66th ZT in Aquamarine (Goodwood) (code: HQM) to be made out of 189 Aquamarine (Goodwood) ZTs

9th August 2017, 13:00	#59
mininuts This is my second home Cooper S 210 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Port William Posts: 5,309 Thanks: 5,098 Thanked 2,406 Times in 1,631 Posts	Another vote for the 3M kit. Simple to use, works very well and gives a perfect, as new finish. Did mine over two years ago and they're still as good as new. I give them a treatment of Meguires Headlamp Protectant every time I polish/wax the car and it has kept them perfect. __________________ *Paul* 2016 MINI Cooper S 210 : 2000 Rover 75 CDT Classic SE : 2009 Freelander 2 GS : 2000 Mini Cooper Sport : 1986 Mini Mayfair : 1980 Mini Pickup : 1971 Mini Cooper S

31st July 2017, 12:28	#52
Rovex Regular poster ZT-T+ CDTi Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 91 Thanks: 7 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Just a vote for the 3M kit. I used one on my ZT-T 15 months ago and found it gave a great result. I left the bumper on the car, masked off the surrounding paintwork and polished the lights with a cordless drill on low speed. My car lives outside so has been exposed to a fair bit of weather since polishing and the lights still look good, plus I have enough left in the kit to polish them again in future if needs be.

6th August 2017, 20:01	#54
mbrenn Loves to post Rover 75 Saloons Conn SE 2.0L V6 (2001) & Conn 2.0L CDTi (2003) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dungannon Posts: 489 Thanks: 109 Thanked 110 Times in 100 Posts	I have used the Autoglym kit with excellent results but it was very time consuming . My friend has just done his headlights with a product called Formula 1 headlight restorer (yellow bottle) - a wipe on wipe off product. He swears by it. Will borrow it and try it on my other car and let you know.

8th August 2017, 21:48	#58
T16 I really should get out more....... ZT CDTi 135, ZT260SE Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dundee Posts: 2,877 Thanks: 10 Thanked 331 Times in 213 Posts	People should read better. The "perfect" fix to restore properly is to sand down to polycarbonate, and re-spray with 2k UV resistant clear coat, just like the factory. Having done it myself, if you do it a certain way, you can get the lens looking like it just came out of the factory. You need to just mask off the front, spray liberally, orange peel doesnt matter, with a nice thick coat you can flat back, and because you have a nice ridge all the way around where the new coat meets the old near the corners, you can smooth down with sandpaper, and because its clear, it seamlessly blends into the original coat. I made the mistake of trying to coat the whole lens (like factory) and you just get overspray that wont fix and look nice. Front only, then smooth the step, works BEAUTIFULLY. There is a German 2Pack coating, thats £16, and is the best. WEAR a mask though.

9th August 2017, 18:02	#60
mbrenn Loves to post Rover 75 Saloons Conn SE 2.0L V6 (2001) & Conn 2.0L CDTi (2003) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dungannon Posts: 489 Thanks: 109 Thanked 110 Times in 100 Posts	Tried the Formula 1 headlight restorer, decent result, front headlights done in 15 mins. Not as good as polishing with a restoration kit but a big improvement. How long it will last is anyone's guess, but for those who don't have much time it is a good choice. That said, for a perfect finish sanding and polishing is best.