Foggy Headlights

[FleetsidePaul]

My 2006 Corvette has those plastic headlights. And they are starting to look a little worse for the wear. (Fuzzy) I want to buff them out.

Can anyone recommend something that isn't really expensive that works?

Some of the prices for the "Polishing Kits' are just ridiculous. But I don't want to waste my time and money on some cheap junk either.

I've looked on the net but it's just a bunch of ad's. I'd prefer a recommendation.

Thanks.

[mongocanfly]

I tried several of those kits on my zr2 ..none really worked as advertised. ..the 3m kit worked best but in a short time the lights were foggy again...I wound up buying a new set of eBay. ..that's what I shoulda done to start with..

[truckster]

I've used a product called Plastx (I think that's how they spell it) that's worked pretty well. No need for a kit, just a soft cloth.

['63GENIII]

Ive used MacGuires Ultimate polishing compound on my daughters 04 Mazda and it worked great with just a damp rag. Tried it on the wife's 04 Yukon and it really didn't do anything. don't know what the difference was.

Ive also heard of using toothpaste for an inexpensive polish.

[Ol Blue K20]

I second the Meguires Plast X. I wax the light afterwards. I do them every month or so.

[Axle]

wet sanding + elbow grease + 2k clear coat to protect it.

[FleetsidePaul]

Thanks for the replies. To me ugly faded headlights ruin an otherwise nice car. It's like a cute girl with bad teeth.

[davischevy]

I pulled the headlights out of my K2500 (easy to remove) and started with rubbing compound and a wool pad. Use plenty of compound and buff till they shine. Finish with a foam pad and polish. The more you buff the better they look. It didn't take long.

Somebody may have a better way, but I just laid an old blanket on the floor, and held the module between my feet.

[greasemonkey]

Originally Posted by Axle

wet sanding + elbow grease + 2k clear coat to protect it.

Yep. I have wet sanded and polished with med/fine cut polish followed by Plastx and it makes the lights clear again. However, in just a few months they start to yellow. If you sand and then clear coat, they will last years.

[special-K]

Dye them yellow

All my headlights are glass. I'll ask my son what he did on his X-Runner. I don't think he used any just for headlights magic potion. Pretty sure he went 1000 grit wet, rubbing compound, then polishing compound. It's a polishing process that they need

I use simichrome on lexan windshields to polish after cleaning. It won't damage the material, Windex will fog it up (alcohol-base)

[In The Ten Ring]

I hate plastic headlights!

I bought a top end kit a year ago, haven't used it yet. I have one clear headlight and one fuzzy one, it does look bad.

[B. W.]

X3 on Meguiars, I use #17 plastic cleaner then #15 plastic polish (I believe those are the #s) I use a 3" air powered mini buffer. The results are very good & last longer than all others I've tried but it still requires occasional touch-ups.

Just went on their website to check my #s, could't find what I use but they offer several different headlight kits.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by special-K

Dye them yellow

No need they're already doing that by themselves.

I'm not a fan of the plastic headlights either. But what are you going to do. I really like the car and that's what it's got.

I think I'm going to try the Meguiars.

[Ol Blue K20]

Here's a pic of the ones in my 97 Z71. It's been over a month since I did them. Plast X and then wax them. I usually polish them every couple of months and wax them with every wash.

[rusty76]

I had a body shop show me how to use compound on my wife's car. Really easy and worked great.

[Kim57]

I used aluminum polish on my 94's headlights.
Worked good and has lasted quite a while.
Kim

[theastronaut]

Plastic headlights have a UV coating, once it degrades then they'll continually turn yellow even after polishing. You'll want to wetsand them with 1000, then 2500 to remove all of the UV coating, then you can either buff them them or clear coat them. Sand with 800 if you're going to clear them. Most automotive clears recommend 2-3 coats so there's enought UV protection so the substrate doesn't degrade.

[68C15]

I'd just replace them and be done with it

[Indian113]

Todd, I just trade cars!

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by 68C15

I'd just replace them and be done with it

True enough. I did a set on my 06 pickup. they were better, but not great. bought a set of new ones off Amazon delivered to the door for a very good price and they are brand new. big difference.

[snj8198]

i do plastic headlamps by hand mostly.

parts needed:

-squirt bottle full of soapy dishwater
-sand papers: 800gr, 1500gr, 2000+gr
-tooth paste, (not jell, white grit paste with baking soda)
-Mother's Power Ball for drill
-plastic lens sealer

Spray the plastic lens liberally with dishwater and soak the sand papers. Start with the 800 grit by hand and work back and forth over the lens in a 9oclock to 3oclock direction spraying the lens to keep it lubed and switching directions frequently. Be sure to cover the whole lens. The rough paper grit is to remove the deep yellow in the plastic. You are looking for the plastic to be thoroughly grayed out from the scratches with no yellow left. This may take up to 5 mins with the 800gr. Next, move to the 1500gr repeating the same as before only this time make your stokes more like from 8-2oclock and criss-cross to 11-5oclock. You are now working the heavier scratch marks out by going across the scratches with the 1500fr; keep that lens lubed with the dishwater. 5 mins here too probably. Next, try working with the 2000+ gr but be sure to use your whole hand and not put too much pressure on the paper in any one spot, try to keep even pressure of your whole hand in contact with the paper and lens and move around alot again in an opposing direction to the last paper's direction. 5 mins. Finally, dry the lens. It should look pretty darn clear by now with no visible yellowing and no sanding scratches. Apply a liberal amount of tooth paste to the Power Ball, about 4 pea size drops should do. Rub around onto the lens just to disperse it a bit so it doesn't just fling off, then start your drill running the ball back and forth across the lens. Start from the top and slowly work your way down, then left to right and finally work into different directions as to not show a wear pattern into the plastic. Pushing hard is not necessary here but speed is; run your drill on high. Just make contact with the ball to the plastic and spin the drill, let the ball and paste work. Wipe clean and buff with a clean cloth and repeat if desired. Apply the plastic lens sealer and you are done. Total time for me can take anywhere from 15-30mins per headlamp depending on how bad the yellowing is or the sandblasting from the roads. An actual headlight buffing compound can be used like Mother's instead of the tootpaste but it's a little pricey.

[Kim57]

Silver polish also works.
Kim