Restoring Headlight lenses

[Astrosquirrel]

Hey all,

Made a little video on restoring headlight lenses. I did it using a C5 headlight, so probably it will be of use for someone in the future.

https://youtu.be/azbNmEm0j6I

The video isn't monetized.

If you have criticism, happy to hear it, but be kind. Please

[Mark-RS]

No criticism from me ! Very clear and precise ! Reminds me I need to do mine ! Well, one of them anyway !

[Astrosquirrel]

Cheers for the kind words =)

Hopefully yours doesn't have clear coat

[Mark-RS]

I did do it once already. Used the Meguires all in one kit, but it's ended up cloudy again after maybe 2 years

[Astrosquirrel]

I did do it once already. Used the Meguires all in one kit, but it's ended up cloudy again after maybe 2 years

Do you wax the headlights after a wash?

[Shoppinit]

Nice vid.

All plastic headlights have a clear UV protection lacquer on them from the factory. Once you've abraded it off by polishing, then you need to keep the lens protected or very quickly the unprotected plastic will be degraded by UV again.

I did this job on my Volvo which has a part of the headlight that is almost horizontal and very prone to UV damage. The polishing did a good job, but I could see that the plastic on top was degraded and crazed well below the surface and no amount of polishing was every going to reach it. Anyway, it's good enough and cheaper than replacing. If you thought RS6 lights were expensive, check out the price of the XC90 bendy xenons

Anyway, now I use this to keep the optics protected:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-G1711 ... B009YCTGKU

[Astrosquirrel]

Nice vid.

All plastic headlights have a clear UV protection lacquer on them from the factory. Once you've abraded it off by polishing, then you need to keep the lens protected or very quickly the unprotected plastic will be degraded by UV again.

I did this job on my Volvo which has a part of the headlight that is almost horizontal and very prone to UV damage. The polishing did a good job, but I could see that the plastic on top was degraded and crazed well below the surface and no amount of polishing was every going to reach it. Anyway, it's good enough and cheaper than replacing. If you thought RS6 lights were expensive, check out the price of the XC90 bendy xenons

Anyway, now I use this to keep the optics protected:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-G1711 ... B009YCTGKU

This is the reason I love this forums. Cheers for sharing.

I've just done a CLS 350 which exhibits the same sort of issue. It's kinda "crackly" everywhere you look, but to me it seems to come from the inside.

Thanks for the recommendation, will try it. I just ordered some Avalonking ceramic. Wonder if that'd work well enough or if it'd be the same kind of nightmare the clear coat was.

I'm pretty convinced it was clear coat. Took the better part of 4 hours sanding with 1200, no factory protection I've come across has withstood that so far.

[steve2003rs6]

Very nice video.
Had mine done last year. The guy who did them said when you are waxing the car also wax the headlights.
Thank you for reminding me to wax the headlights as I had forgot about doing this.

[Astrosquirrel]

Very nice video.
Had mine done last year. The guy who did them said when you are waxing the car also wax the headlights.
Thank you for reminding me to wax the headlights as I had forgot about doing this.

Thanks Steve, yeah that's my experience too. Keep them waxed and they will last longer before they fade. Once they start fading, 15 mins polish and good as new (as long as no-one had the bright idea to spray clear coat on them that is xD )

[Foxmeister]

Done mine last year also, they were in a bad way and it looked like somebody previously had clear coated them which failed

As Shopp says, any sanding and cleaning of headlights will remove the original UV coating, always apply this if you do your headlights and you shouldnt need to re-do them again, for a while at least

[Astrosquirrel]

Good advice. Waxing on a continuous basis works well too. It's great to have options and not have to shell out for new lenses, as I'll have to do with the Merc

[steve2003rs6]

Just given mine a good wash and a total covering of meguiers gold wax. This time I remembered to wax the headlights. Thank you for the reminder Astro.