Cloudy headlights

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Old 01-11-2022, 04:48 PM
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Cloudy headlights

My headlights on my 06 are finally starting to bug me. I’ve seen some videos on how to clean the inside glass of various headlights but it doesn’t look as “easy” on the RL. Anyone had luck with a particular method to clean the inside of our headlights!

Old 01-12-2022, 04:35 AM
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Most auto detailers can deal with this and clear it up significantly. There are also self-help kits. I did one myself, though there are some techniques to observe.

Last edited by DanL07RL; 01-12-2022 at 04:40 AM.
Old 01-12-2022, 07:44 AM
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Hard to tell from pictures but are you sure it's on the inside? If it is then you have to open them up but I haven't seen much examples of cleaning haze from the inside. Although I guess its the same as cleaning the outside. Now if it's just on the outside there's many different methods and kits.

I've done a lot of friends and families headlights. Here's my most recent. It's not hard buy a kit and follow the steps.


Old 01-12-2022, 07:46 AM
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Try using Mother's mag and aluminum polish with DA buffer and foam pad. If you don't have a buffer use microfiber cloth and some elbow grease. If it comes out good i would put a 3m ppf on the headlights. Like this

Last edited by deepa1600; 01-12-2022 at 07:49 AM.
Old 01-12-2022, 08:59 AM
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Definitely the inside.

I’ve tried to polish the outside of the lens and had some success. The cloudiness I have is most definitely on the inside. Other solutions have suggested magnetic cleaning like is used on fish tanks. I’d get it but there is no obvious hole to insert the magnetic cleaning cloth.
Old 01-12-2022, 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Mike734
I’ve tried to polish the outside of the lens and had some success. The cloudiness I have is most definitely on the inside. Other solutions have suggested magnetic cleaning like is used on fish tanks. I’d get it but there is no obvious hole to insert the magnetic cleaning cloth.
I think your only option then is to open them up to get at the inside to clean it. Lots of threads on here explaining how to do this. It's not exactly simple but you either do it or live with them as they are or maybe time to look into replacement.
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Old 01-13-2022, 05:25 AM
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Until you confirm otherwise, it's almost certainly on the outside.
Old 01-13-2022, 07:49 AM
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Originally Posted by DanL07RL
Until you confirm otherwise, it's almost certainly on the outside.
I'm inclined to agree with this but we just can't tell through pictures alone.

When he said he's polish the outside it's possible that was wholly inadequate to fix what's happened to the outside. They need wet sanding and spraying with new layer of clear coat.
Old 01-13-2022, 02:22 PM
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I have tried numerous fixes to polish and clear the outside to no avail. I have seen plenty of opinions that fault HID bulbs as the culprit in clouding the INSIDE of the headlights. That is what appears to be happening to me.
Old 01-13-2022, 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike734
I have tried numerous fixes to polish and clear the outside to no avail. I have seen plenty of opinions that fault HID bulbs as the culprit in clouding the INSIDE of the headlights. That is what appears to be happening to me.
Did you buy crappy HID bulbs?
Old 01-13-2022, 06:54 PM
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I spent 3 hours restoring my headlights from the inside. Unscrewing the screws, wrap them with aluminum foil and put the headlight in the oven at 220 degrees for 20 minutes. Take it out with gloves, stick it out, take a microfiber cloth, the second number of polishing paste and erase the internal bloom, in hard-to-reach places you erase it with an qtip.
Used an electric oven to heat up

Microfiber towels like these
Amazon Amazon
Amazon Amazon
Polishing paste Menzerna 2500
Amazon Amazon
Amazon Amazon
I use 32oz. because I professionally polish a lot of cars.
For hard-to-reach places, I used ear Q-tips.
If you peel and seal everything correctly without losing the sealant, you will not need a new sealant.
If the original sealant is lost, then you can add a little bit https://www.ebay.com/itm/16433386256...EAAOSwPv9gF8xk
This is how it looks during polishing, I circled the border before and after




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Old 01-14-2022, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by altair47
Take it out with gloves, stick it out, take a microfiber cloth, the second number of polishing paste and erase the internal bloom, in hard-to-reach places you erase it with an qtip.
Used an electric oven to heat up

Micfiber towels
looks great but two questions. What is circled in the photo? And how do you split the lens from the case? Is it easy when the glue is that hot?

in your post you say take it out with gloves, and stick it out? What did you mean, stick it out?
Old 01-14-2022, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike734
looks great but two questions. What is circled in the photo? And how do you split the lens from the case? Is it easy when the glue is that hot?

in your post you say take it out with gloves, and stick it out? What did you mean, stick it out?
Circled in red is the boundary between transparent polycarbonate and layer of internal deposits. Before heating, make sure that you unscrew the screws around, when you get it out of the oven, quickly bend all the plastic ears, pry off the corner with a flat screwdriver and open the headlight with your hands. I meant take the headlight out of the oven with gloves on because you can burn your hands. The two halves of the headlight are glued together with sealant, stick it out means to open the headlight. Sorry for my english
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Old 03-14-2022, 03:58 PM
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Update

I was wrong. Most of you were right. The damage was on the outside. Made no progress in the past because I didn’t use a strong enough product. I needed power tools.

I bought Mothers NuLens with the POWERBALL. The powerball and polish were enough to clean the lens. I didn’t have to use the 800,1500 and 3000 sandpaper. Also, I had much better results using the drill on high speed.

After

Before
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