Risk of removing Coating from Headlamps?

Edward Huggins · 10th December 2015, 22:10

If headlamps were made of conventional glass, there would be no need for this question. Given the material a ZT/75 headlamp is made from, surely any protective coating added at manufacture will be removed by the use of abrasives or sanding as described in some detail in earlier threads? They may look great at first, but will they not go back to an even worse state later? ED

190SETOURING · 10th December 2015, 22:21

All you are doing is removing the UV lacquer which has basicly failed. Once polished should be fine with the odd repolish now and then, mine have been polished once and have been good for just under a year so far.

steve-45 · 10th December 2015, 22:26

The kit I bought had some UV protector that you rubbed into the plastic after you had finished the polishing.

mininuts · 10th December 2015, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

If headlamps were made of conventional glass, there would be no need for this question. Given the material a ZT/75 headlamp is made from, surely any protective coating added at manufacture will be removed by the use of abrasives or sanding as described in some detail in earlier threads? They may look great at first, but will they not go back to an even worse state later? ED

3M kit and then this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meguiars-C...item35f1b14ed3 every time you wax/polish the car. Your lights will stay as new for ever.................probably :xmas-smiley-005:

trikey · 11th December 2015, 02:56

No protective coating added at the factory, they are just moulded plastic units, the 'layers' on the lights are layers of polish that fades over time with the sunshine.

pln64 · 11th December 2015, 06:22

Edward I done X383 's headlights and all I do is wax them when I do the car . Look like new. Also my modern car has been off the road for two weeks and X383 has done sterling service ferrying everyone around.

roverbarmy · 11th December 2015, 08:03

Yup. Just metal polish, followed by auto glym on mine and all is well.

gazcaz · 11th December 2015, 08:49

I have done 16 cars over 2 years and none have started to yellow or anything else but always use a sealer after and once a month a little wax or polish on them...

T-Cut · 11th December 2015, 10:45

Polycarbonate (PC) oxidises in sunlight. That's why those PC roof panels used for conservatories have a treated side that must be facing the outwards. I fitted two of mine the wrong way and after ten years they were yellow and crazed. The others were like new. Headlamp lenses are made of the same material. Most don't face the sky like a conservatory roof, but they will degrade eventually. My own lamps have a degraded skin which is very distinct and virtually peels off. Good headlamp restore kits contain a UV protectant laquer, but it will never perform as well as the original tratment.

TC

aguy · 11th December 2015, 12:55

I always polish my car with a DA once a year and make sure I do the headlights with the DA and a fine finish polish.
Then I use any good wax (mostly Collinite) on the car, usually every 3 months and make sure the lights get a good coating too. This seems to keep any oxidation at bay.

10th December 2015, 22:10	#1
Edward Huggins Avid contributor Rover 75 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Southwold Posts: 130 Thanks: 15 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Risk of removing Coating from Headlamps? If headlamps were made of conventional glass, there would be no need for this question. Given the material a ZT/75 headlamp is made from, surely any protective coating added at manufacture will be removed by the use of abrasives or sanding as described in some detail in earlier threads? They may look great at first, but will they not go back to an even worse state later? ED

11th December 2015, 02:56	#5
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,760 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	No protective coating added at the factory, they are just moulded plastic units, the 'layers' on the lights are layers of polish that fades over time with the sunshine. __________________ Lest we forget..

11th December 2015, 08:03	#7
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,050 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	Yup. Just metal polish, followed by auto glym on mine and all is well. __________________ Oil in my veins!

11th December 2015, 08:49	#8
gazcaz I really should get out more....... MG ZT Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Worthing Posts: 2,744 Thanks: 3,944 Thanked 576 Times in 471 Posts	I have done 16 cars over 2 years and none have started to yellow or anything else but always use a sealer after and once a month a little wax or polish on them... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] MG ZT 2.5 V6 234th of 2,834 Trophy Blue ZT 190 + Saloons Produced 14th of 27 MG ZTs Produced on 27-09-2001

11th December 2015, 10:45	#9
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,751 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	Polycarbonate (PC) oxidises in sunlight. That's why those PC roof panels used for conservatories have a treated side that must be facing the outwards. I fitted two of mine the wrong way and after ten years they were yellow and crazed. The others were like new. Headlamp lenses are made of the same material. Most don't face the sky like a conservatory roof, but they will degrade eventually. My own lamps have a degraded skin which is very distinct and virtually peels off. Good headlamp restore kits contain a UV protectant laquer, but it will never perform as well as the original tratment. TC Last edited by T-Cut; 11th December 2015 at 10:49..

10th December 2015, 22:21	#2
190SETOURING Posted a thing or two MG ZTT 180se,MG ZT 260se Monogram Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Huntingdon Posts: 1,413 Thanks: 215 Thanked 263 Times in 169 Posts	All you are doing is removing the UV lacquer which has basicly failed. Once polished should be fine with the odd repolish now and then, mine have been polished once and have been good for just under a year so far.

10th December 2015, 22:26	#3
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	The kit I bought had some UV protector that you rubbed into the plastic after you had finished the polishing.

11th December 2015, 06:22	#6
pln64 Regular poster rover 75 2.0 v6 saloon Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: merseyside Posts: 95 Thanks: 40 Thanked 17 Times in 13 Posts	Edward I done X383 's headlights and all I do is wax them when I do the car . Look like new. Also my modern car has been off the road for two weeks and X383 has done sterling service ferrying everyone around.

11th December 2015, 12:55	#10
aguy I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Connoisseur SE 2.5 V6 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: CLEETHORPES Posts: 2,108 Thanks: 833 Thanked 748 Times in 511 Posts	I always polish my car with a DA once a year and make sure I do the headlights with the DA and a fine finish polish. Then I use any good wax (mostly Collinite) on the car, usually every 3 months and make sure the lights get a good coating too. This seems to keep any oxidation at bay. __________________ HARRY.

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