Cozzer
Established Member
Do any of 'em work?
These headlight 'cleaning' hacks....
- Thread starter Cozzer
- Start date
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My old thing failed it's MOT on the headlights. Garage spent 30 minutes polishing them up and it passed. So yeah, I guess the polishing "hack" can work.
A guy I used to work with did the same.
Yes they do work, had mine done for an MOT and no problems.
Cabinetman
Established Member
Put some cloth on my orbital sander and used Autosol polish, actually took longer than expected and not what I would call all that good really , but it did improve them.
I started out by buying a second hand pair and T-cutting them back to like new, then had them resprayed with uv resistant sealer as I intended keeping the car some years.
Within 3yrs the coating was coming off in places and by 4yrs I was back T-cutting them for the next MOT. Now that's just what I do before each years MOT, 10mins on each headlamp is enough to do the job.
Within 3yrs the coating was coming off in places and by 4yrs I was back T-cutting them for the next MOT. Now that's just what I do before each years MOT, 10mins on each headlamp is enough to do the job.
An excellent excuse to buy a Festool Rotax.
Kittyhawk
Established Member
I cleaned mine with a gentle abrasive cleaner/polish and they looked very nice - as good as new. But with our killer levels of uv here in NZ they didn't stay like that for long. Would you know what uv sealer was sprayed on?. Thanks.
MorrisWoodman12
Established Member
I did my mrs' Honda after it failed the MOT. It then passed. Took a while longer than I anticipated though and doesn't leave them as crystal clear as I expected but it is a 15 year old Jazz. I'm sure I used a Holts kit from the dreaded Halfords.
selectortone
Still waking up not dead in the morning
I use Turtle Wax Lens Restorer on my old MX-5. Works a treat and brings the old lenses back beautifully.
You get a selection of abrasive pads and creams, polishing cloths and a UV sealer. I find 15 minutes on each lens with just the cream works for me. Some people on the MX-5 forum swear by toothpaste.
Top tip, take a stool out with you. It's a lot easier sitting down.
You get a selection of abrasive pads and creams, polishing cloths and a UV sealer. I find 15 minutes on each lens with just the cream works for me. Some people on the MX-5 forum swear by toothpaste.
Top tip, take a stool out with you. It's a lot easier sitting down.
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Cozzer
Established Member
Yes, that was the sort of thing I was meaning!
I've seen lemon juice mentioned, even HP sauce and dishwasher tablets!
I tried a Magyar (?) product a few years ago, but wasn't very impressed, hence the question....
Ollie78
Established Member
I have restored headlights a couple of times.
The first time I used a kit which was ok but the second time just wet and dry paper and polish.
I found you need to be fairly aggressive with the wet and dry at first. Effectively you need to remove the surface that has gone yellow and start again.
Just like polishing anything work up to the finest wet and dry paper I think I did 5000 maybe 8000, then go to a cutting compound and then a fine polish, I used Farecla g3 I think.
They look fabulous once you have finished polishing and crystal clear, but then you need to apply a really good UV protecting clear coat.
The first one that came with the kit was a wipe on stuff and did not last long before yellowing began again.
The second time I got a spray can of anti UV laquer from a car paint place ( I forget the exact name but tell them what its for ) this was a much better job, I did 2 or 3 coats.
The first time I used a kit which was ok but the second time just wet and dry paper and polish.
I found you need to be fairly aggressive with the wet and dry at first. Effectively you need to remove the surface that has gone yellow and start again.
Just like polishing anything work up to the finest wet and dry paper I think I did 5000 maybe 8000, then go to a cutting compound and then a fine polish, I used Farecla g3 I think.
They look fabulous once you have finished polishing and crystal clear, but then you need to apply a really good UV protecting clear coat.
The first one that came with the kit was a wipe on stuff and did not last long before yellowing began again.
The second time I got a spray can of anti UV laquer from a car paint place ( I forget the exact name but tell them what its for ) this was a much better job, I did 2 or 3 coats.
Blackswanwood
Still Learning
As already mentioned, toothpaste does the job.
Ollie78
Established Member
It might if only lightly oxidised but on heavier yellowing the wet and dry is needed and much quicker.
My car failed on the lights - I used wet and dry ( think it was 12.000 ) but kept going finer , made a right mess , eventually I used a upvc window cleaner and polished them by hand - they looked new . The garage asked if I had new ones fitted 
passed it and then asked what I used to get them so clear .
passed it and then asked what I used to get them so clear .Cozzer
Established Member
My car failed on the lights - I used wet and dry ( think it was 12.000 ) but kept going finer , made a right mess , eventually I used a upvc window cleaner and polished them by hand - they looked new . The garage asked if I had new ones fitted
Cozzer
Established Member
That's handy to know, Bingy man...nice one.
Cheers...
Cheers...
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Fine ash from the fire/burner works too.
I’ve used fine steel wool, wet & dry etc in the past.
