Cloudy headlamps

[lionatus]

The glass on my headlights is cloudy, how do I clear them up and get back to shiny new. I seem to remember years ago someone told me about toothpaste when I was fixing up the old 220

[stevestrat]

Two methods really, rub with progressively finer grades of wet & dry (there's a how to here somewhere) or you can buy a polishing kit.

[MangoMan]

This would be my recommendation: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/321630012625?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

[lionatus]

Two methods really, rub with progressively finer grades of wet & dry (there's a how to here somewhere) or you can buy a polishing kit.

Like sorting the paint? Am assuming you'd need really fine wet/dry so you dont scratch. End with fine finishing compound as well I assume. Will hunt for the howto. Cheers

[Avulon]

This would be my recommendation: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/321630012625?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0


For a much cheaper option - 1200, 1600 and 2500 wet and dry, then some g3 polishing compound. Use the wet dry pre-soaked. Start with the 1200 - this will make it look a lot worse! and persist until the finish looks even. Then the 1600 - this will get a much finer finish (again until finish is even) but still very cloudy, then you can go straight to 2500 or use 2000 then 2500. They'l be very little cloudiness left after the 2500 and all marks most scratches and chips (apart from the very deepest chips, if any) will be left. Then use the G3 polishing compound - this will make it crystal clear. Then finish off with a good resin bodywork polish (you've already got some of that haven't you? ;)) like Autoglymm SRP.

I did mine by hand last summer and they're still very good (when clean).

Just one word of caution: if you decide to use powertools, then use low speed and not much pressure and don't do each lamp for too long at a time (say 30 seconds max) These lenses are plastic and will melt if you overheat them! By hand it probably took me an hour and half to two hours.

PS. And at the end of it if you had to buy the G3 and SRP you'll still have loads (99%) of it left to treat your bodywork :)