8-1/2 year old CL-S and the foggy exterior haze on the headlight housings is becoming very noticeable. What can be done to clear them up? Plastic polish? Super fine grit paper? TNT?

 

Hey Dan, I used a mcguiars product (forgot the exact name, its in a black tube) called plastic-x or x-plastic. worked very w/ a 1000 grit wet sand paper.

got mine looking brand new. i took the whole headlight out and did it inside, took maybe 30 minutes a headlight, and when you wet sand you want to keep doing it until all the milky liquid comes off.

 

Dan,

Quick How-To but you can find more detailed DIY's using the SEARCH option.

I have some threads with pics from when I did this back in the spring of '08.

Meguiars Plastx.

1500 grit
2000 grit
2500 grit

Start with 1000 grit if really bad.

Mask off headlights with auto paint tape.

Wet sand lightly over each headlight using same pressure.

Clean headlights after each round of sanding.

Apply Plastx by hand with foam applicator.

Several passes with Plastx is what I needed to complete the effect.

You CAN do by hand but for best results use an orbital buffer or borrow a friend's Ultimate Detailing Machine...helps a LOT!

Clean and enjoy.

 

Haze will come back unless you apply some sort of UV Protectant.

I think 3M makes one but I am still unsure which product protects the plastic headlights the best.

I wonder if throwing on a layer of clear coat with serve this purpose...

 

^^ nf3 hes the sheyat when it comes to dirty plastic

 

I'll.....take that as a compliment....?

Lol....but dirty plastic doesn't have a good ring to it.

 

I've been juggling the idea of spraying clear over it... I also found a UV coating from Krylon for arts and crafts/photos. I'm wondering if the UV coating will do it.

 

OR...

if you want to avoid buying all that sand paper separately...

theres a kit made just for this job, with all the sand paper you need, and the chemicals...its called Crystal View, and can be found at your local Advance Auto Parts store for $19.99

sorry if that sounded like an advertisement..

 

^ Lol.

Yes, they make a kit...but I purchased a sandpaper kit that had all those grits in one package.

 

I took my car to Walmart and let them clean them up there. It cost $35 and they look brand new

 

^ Hmm...is that a standard service they offer.

 

^^ Sounds like ya got some competition NF3

lol yeah, they do it here too. 40 bucks I think.

 

Well then...

That just takes me out of the business of restoring dirty plastic headlights! LOL



Wal-Mart...shutting down small business everywhere.

 

I've heard ups and downs on this kit.

 

^ +1

 

I'd recommend Meguiars Plastic X as well. It's worked for me every time as long as you have a decent orbital buffer and patience.

 

i know u to hoolla at when i think of "Dirty Plastic"

 

Great....That's just great!

 

can you clean the head lights without taking them out?

 

yes, the haze is on the outside. you just have to be careful when sanding if thats what your doing. I would bust the painters tape out and apply that around the headlight before sanding.

 

Wetsand and polish.

 

Did we ever come to a conclusion about a UV protectant clearcoat spray here? Which to use? didnt see it.

 

Yeah...I was waiting for that too...

 

Dan, have you cleared em yet?

 

^ I know...haven't heard back from Dan.

 

hmmm..maybe i should tell David about this plastic obsession of yours Noah...

 

lets see how long this can go on.................for.

SB ones told me, that notin feels beta than having PHYSICAL CONTACT with a dirty plastic on a cold winter morning.

 

 

 

I have had good results using 303 Aerospace Protectant on my interior as well as the exterior black rubber trim. I will be resurfacing my lenses this weekend and will give it a try on them.

 

^^won't last....

it's too cold over here in VA, so I'll have to wait till spring to try some stuff.