So i went to buy some new bulbs as my lights are getting dull (bulbs are dimming),

 

Halfords chap mentions that i need the headlight exterior casing cleaning..how do i go on about doing this as ive tried before with household means but it doesnt do anything?

 

 

Try some toothpaste.

 

I done mine and it improved them alot but they're still not perfect as the plastic has basically degraded. 

 

2000/2500 grit Wet and Dry glasspaper

Poorboys SSR-2

Rotary Buffer

Appropriate pad. I think I used a 7" yellow Meguires polishing pad. 

 

Use light pressure and lots of soapy water and go over the lamp several times with the Wet and Dry. 

Clean

Dry

Take SSR-2 on the pad and give several passes with the buffer on a high speed, be careful of panel edges. 

Repeat until you're happy with the outcome. 

 

It took about 20-30 mins on each light, TBH i could have went to more effort but I really couldn't be arsed. 

As above - I start with 1200 grit on sunbleached lens' - but not necessary on lens which aren't too badly affected.  Then work up to 2500 grit in stages.

 

Then dry off and polish with a decent cutting polish and then refined up.

 

Always apply blue masking tape around the leading edges to avoid damage to bonnet/bumper/wing as appropriate.

 

Done quite a few sets now and always come up nicely

I used Brasso on mine to buff up the passenger side main headlight.

 

For some reason the drivers side was clear & bright but the p/side was very dull & looked like there was heavy consensation inside the casing (which I initially thought it was).

After buffing the light for about 10 minutes with Brasso it now look like new!

Just use wet & dry paper, for really bad units start with 600grit otherwise 1200 grit, then 2000grit then 3000 grit. Then T-cut or similar then I use my normal car polish. Use plenty of water & rinse well when doing the sanding, & I do it by hand. Done several sets now, Car mechanics Monthly did a topic on it this month or last month

You could try something like this headlight restoration kit:

 

http://www.blok51.com/product.php?id=267

3m, Meguiars and Chemical Guys all do kits, but I'd do as above, 1200, 2500 and 3500 grit (if you can find it!) then use a rotary machine to polish it up

Try some toothpaste.

 

 

I hear what everyones saying but i seriously have to try this...just for a laugh...if i have no luck I'll be back!

 

Thanks guys !

I hear what everyones saying but i seriously have to try this...just for a laugh...if i have no luck I'll be back!

 

Thanks guys !

 

Make sure it has Baking soda in it... or it'll be a waste of time! 

Think about it.  Toothpaste is a liquid with an abrasive suspended in it.  It's just a mild polish.

 

You could always use a proper plastic or paint polish because they're designed to work even when heated up and for a longer period that toothpaste.

 

It's nearly as bad as the nonsense about smearing peanut butter on your black trim.

 

 

It's nearly as bad as the nonsense about smearing peanut butter on your black trim.

 

Nonsense?  I've used it loads

 

Porsche Spoiler

 

 

 

Nonsense?  I've used it loads

 

Porsche Spoiler

 

 

Hi Jason,

 

Does the 'Crunchy' version give more cut if required?  

 

What are your thoughts on durability Sun Pat vs Organic?

 

I tried toothpaste yesterday with bicarb and was a deep polish one, i can honestly say it just made them cloudier and had to use t cut after.

But now they look ok, think its difficult to get good result by hand.

T cut is terrible as a polish.  It's a scratch remover/heavy abrasive, not a refined finishing polish.

 

Jason, Why are you using peanut butter though?

 

Lets look at the main ingredients.  Peanuts, Oil.

Why bother with all the other stuff when you can just use the oil?  That's all that's giving the black sheen to the plastic.

I don't actually think that's done a very good job of it either though.  Ultimately the oil will be washed off in a short time in normal conditions.

 

Here's 2 examples of a proper trim restorer.  Forever Black.  You can get it on ebay.  The bumper lasted about 2 years before needing topped up.  The rubstrips were done about a year ago and still look just as good as when they were done.

 

 

 

I gave multiple treatments. Still looks good now.

Plus peanut butter is cheap.

Plus peanut butter is cheap.

you can use peanut butter (smooth) to shave with also, I saw it on Brainiac: Science Abuse

you can use peanut butter (smooth) to shave with also, I saw it on Brainiac: Science Abuse

 

You can use a chainsaw Lee, but it doesn't make it a good idea

Used Plast-X by Megs on my pretty cloudy Lexus headlights and they look like new now. All done by hand too with no power tools.   I'm at work at present but can post some before and after pics if required later.

 

 

And yes i've used smooth peanut butter on plastic trim for years works a treat.

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Dave.

Ok, I'll take the doofus prize by being first to say "a mate of mine uses wd40 on black trim"....

Here's my before and after pics from using Megs Plast-X applied and buffed off by hand......

 

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Dave.

Toothpaste didn't work, shockingly! Haha

I used the 3m kit. Everything a beginner needs especially if you don't have a machine polisher.

 

It's recommended to use a sealant after to protect from uv rays ect. Like this stuff, it does the job and can be used on your windows too. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Glass-Sealant-Inhibitor-Coating-50ml/dp/B00A3S1RGU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390769548&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+sealant

Edited 26 January, 201412 yr by theezenutz

I've emailed Chemical Guys, as the American arm of the company does a decent kit including 2500 and 3500 grit paper (which I can't find anywhere over here)