Scratched/ Cloudy Headlamp Cover Options

[eiger]

Have a 2001 Shogun with plastic headlamp. Have damaged by using acetone to remove excess glue when removing continental beam reflectors. DOH!! Can this be polished out (scratches and cloudy) and if so anyone know how? Any suggestions appreciated as replacement very expensive. Cheers

[Guest_bullet_bike_syke69_*]

if you go to autozone or any other major corporation type auto parts store you can ask for the attachment for your drill to wet sand the scratches out. not they will not end up crystal clear, but it will be better than just trying to scrub it off with a scotch brite pad. i can't remember exactly what they call it, but its says something like headlight scratch remover, or lens cleaner.

[eiger]

thanks bullet - will try to find in France if poss but if not will very fine wet and dry do or even OOO guage wire wool??

[lenhardn]

Yea, my headlamps had a cloudy look to them so I took it to the dealership and they buffed them and then put a clear clear coat ontop i'm pretty sure. it only cost $40.

[anyadang]

I just got another mit, and the headlights are all clouded up. I found this video, but have not tried it yet. He makes it look easy though!

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1441188/diy_...light_cleaning/

[anyadang]

I gave it a try last night on one of my head lamps, and it worked awsome. I screwed up and used a really course sand paper to start (OOPS). That made it more difficult because I had to sand them down even more. But ultimatly I got the job done.

You absolutely have to WET sand. I started with 100 paper (DON'T DO THAT), then used 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000. I probably spent about 5 mintues with each, and cleaned with glass cleaner between paper types. I finished with some wax.

I only did one so far. I'll try to take pictures of both so you can see the transformation.

[anyadang]

(IMG:http://www.adamanthony.net/mitsu/headlamp_restore.jpg)
There you go....

[love_my_eclipse]

the best thing ever is go to walmart and in the headlight section in a foil package is a headlight refinish kit. it cost like $20 but it comes with not only the really fine wet sand paper but it also comes with a suff that resurfaces your headlights. i did it to my eclipse and they look just like new.

[rpeclipse]

the best thing ever is go to walmart and in the headlight section in a foil package is a headlight refinish kit. it cost like $20 but it comes with not only the really fine wet sand paper but it also comes with a suff that resurfaces your headlights. i did it to my eclipse and they look just like new.
[right][snapback]191068[/snapback][/right]

do you have pics?

[Rob]

How about mothers mag polish?

[love_my_eclipse]

do you have pics?
[right][snapback]192154[/snapback][/right]

there you can see the drivers side and i've already sanded the passenger side. to tell you how bad they where before you couldn't even see through the cover. :clap: the best part is it only takes about 15 minutes per light. depending on how bad the damage is

Attached File(s)

 40600669.JPG ( 347.11K ) Number of downloads: 47

 

[rpeclipse]

there you can see the drivers side and i've already sanded the passenger side. to tell you how bad they where before you couldn't even see through the cover. :clap:  the best part is it only takes about 15 minutes per light. depending on how bad the damage is
[right][snapback]192329[/snapback][/right]

very nice job man i will try with my girlfriends car :clap:

[RazorAce]

very nice job man i will try with my girlfriends car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif)

Great place to start. haha.

Anyway, im about to try mine, they look horrible right now. But ill post pics.

[NWM_Tech]

used 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000. I probably spent about 5 mintues with each, and cleaned with glass cleaner between paper types. I finished with some wax.

You could probably start with 1000 to 2000, then go with a plastic polishing compound like the Meguiars PlastX in the vid. I've done headlights with just the polishing compound depending how bad they are.

[WOJO]

I had really really badly fogged headlights when I got my car for whatever reason. I taped off everything around each light and sanded them in a circular motion with 800 then 1000 then 1500. I kept a spray bottle by me so I could wet sand and keep the headlights soaked.
After I sanded with the 1500 for a while I used my power buffer with some plasticx scratch doctor stuff for a minute. Brand new. It has been over a month and no fading.
I spent about 10 minutes on each headlight. I wish I would have taken pics.