cleaning headlights..

[morbid_eclipse]

hey everyone...i was wondering...my headlights look really really dirty...the housing and stuff...so it really isnt clear at all...let me see if i have a pic...

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as you can see my headlights are a little dirty...does anyone know how to clean these...i know this may be a stupid question...but just washing them dont work...thanx...i want them to be clear as can be...

 

[drivemusicnow]

I can't remember the exact brand, however "chrome polish #5" or something like that works really well on headlights. Cleans them up from yellowing any haze, etc. i think pretty much any chrome polish should work.

If there not dirty, but actually scratched, you might try some of the plastic polishes they have out there.

 

[UnderTheDeepest]

used a bottle of scratch remover from wal-mart for about a dollar and worked real well. it'll only stay clean for a couple months or so

 

[DSM MAN]

I used some mothers aluminum polish, worked really good.

 

[morbid_eclipse]

thanks everyone...so i use this stuff on the plastic itself?

 

[UnderTheDeepest]

yea. just apply it like a wax to the outside of the housing. i would go with the cheap stuff first. what do you have to lose other than a dollar?

 

[Justins99GSX]

i use tripol compound, buffing wheel, and a 6" electric buffer/sander i also use 2000 grit sand paper to help get rid of dings.....they still look new to this day

justin

 

[silvercoupe97]

If you headlight lenses aren't too bad then you can use and stick with plastic polish...I use Meguiars Plastic-X. Just know that those polishes are good for fine scratches, hazing, oxidation and so forth.
If your lights are really bad, then I would suggest wetsanding.
400-600-800-1000-2000-polish-clearcoat
Doing this will restore you plastic lenses to "like new" condition and better than polish alone.
This process is not a fast process though and I would recommend that you either take out your light housing first or tape around it so you don't wetsand your paint. A good job is around 1-2 hrs total and you won't have to worry about it until a year or two. Yes I have done the wetsanding process and it's been two years now but plastic-X keeps them pretty clear, but it is time for another wetsanding.
Hope that helps.

John

 

[Pezking]

There's a pretty nice write up in the tech articles

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71434

 

[a_scobel]

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[silvercoupe97]

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I have that and have used it on the lenses and it works good but it doesn't clear the lenses quite like plastic polish. Some folks swear by the Mother's brand plastic polish and some by the Meguiars brand. Go by your preferrence.

 

[Defiant]

There are six nice articles in the Tech Section about headlight cleaning and polishing.