Quick post to show the success I had with cleaning up the headlights on the Fabia. I'd been meaning to do this job for a while, but hadn't got round to it.

 

An hour and a half for both headlamps and a fair amount of elbow grease. Job would have been much easier with one of those drill mounted buffer pads!

 

First started with bodywork rubbing compound on a bit of old towel, but it wasn't quick abrasive enough. Ended up dry sanding the whole lens with P1200 wet and dry, and then finishing with the rubbing compound, and thoroughly pleased with how it's come out with so little work. If I'd just gone straight for the wet and dry, could have had the job done in under an hour.

 

Ideally, both will need going over again as I only had half a sheet of P1200 left and it clogs very quickly, but please with the outcome for now.

Nice work. Make sure you put something on the lenses to protect them or they will just go cloudy again. I bought some of this stuff...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161382281736?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Restored mine the other day using the 3M kit.

 

 

 

^ The tiny speck at the bottom is an insect which I have now removed using a vacuum cleaner and a piece of windscreen washer pipe through the bulb aperture 

Great outcome guys!

Thats a good effort by hand

Well done

I so need to do this to mine !!!

I so need to do this to mine !!!

Get some sand paper or cutting compound or just £20 for the 3m kit :P

Meguiars do a kit also.

Get some sand paper or cutting compound or just £20 for the 3m kit :P

I tried it on a mates lights so I didn't **** mine up if it didn't work and well it didn't work haha, I'm not sure what I did wrong I used p1200 wet and dry then g3 compound and it just seemed to scratch the lens :s it did stop it being cloudy but just scratched it instead

I tried it on a mates lights so I didn't **** mine up if it didn't work and well it didn't work haha, I'm not sure what I did wrong I used p1200 wet and dry then g3 compound and it just seemed to scratch the lens :s it did stop it being cloudy but just scratched it instead

Ahh probably needed to refine further with higher grade papers

I tried it on a mates lights so I didn't **** mine up if it didn't work and well it didn't work haha, I'm not sure what I did wrong I used p1200 wet and dry then g3 compound and it just seemed to scratch the lens :S it did stop it being cloudy but just scratched it instead

 

When you're doing the restoring process the lenses turn a milky white. It looks like they are completely fooked. lol They polish back up though. I can reccommned the 3M kit, it works very well if you do it properly.

Just don't overpower the drill as it can burn

Just don't overpower the drill as it can burn

 

Oh yes, very true. My drill is faster than the drill speed recommended in the kit instructions but I just took it very gently only using light pressure.

think im going to order a 3m kit and give it ago cheaper then buying new ones

think im going to order a 3m kit and give it ago cheaper then buying new ones

Really is a good kit also smear the cutting compound over the lights first as when the drill starts its flicked everywhere!

Ahh probably needed to refine further with higher grade papers

iirc the 3M kit last sanding disc is 3000 grit

Sent from Richies iPad

iirc the 3M kit last sanding disc is 3000 grit

Sent from Richies iPad

Yeah it is iirc it goes 800 1500 3000 polish

Could try some aggressive compound by hand first

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Did mine by hand with turtle wax scratch remover, took 5 minutes per light and they look great. They were almost opaque.

I did mine other week by hand, went from 400 grit to 600 to 800 to 1200 then 2000, used tcut to buff them back clear and then meguiers plastx to finish off.

Wont let me add pic but they are crystal clear now, which is good considering all elbow grease.

Great work guys - nice to see the improvements and varying product selection! 

Nice work. Make sure you put something on the lenses to protect them or they will just go cloudy again. I bought some of this stuff...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161382281736?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

Thanks man, will do. I'm intending on going over them again, and then will use some headlight protector.

Just ordered a 3m kit will let u know how it gos when it's here

Certainly cheaper than what I did by renewing both headlights.........sigh....LOL

Certainly cheaper than what I did by renewing both headlights.........sigh....LOL

I was going to get projectors but i cant see the point spending so much on lights. When the list is only getting bigger for engine parts and suspention/handling bites

I used good ol t-cut - worked alrite!