This is with the headlights on, showing vertical lines, are these cracks? No moisture in them. It was raining when I took the photo.
Are these headlight housings too far gone to polish?
- Thread starter spasm3
- Start date
This is with the headlights on, showing vertical lines, are these cracks? No moisture in them. It was raining when I took the photo.
I'm sure you won't get them back to OE shape, but I'm sure you could drastically improve them. I would give it a shot if they were mine.
Try the Sylvania headlight restoration kit, that seems to work best. Cerakote would be a good option and available from WM. Don't expect perfection just a big improvement.
What year? The top of my wife's 2015 Subaru Outback looked similar but without the micro cracks. I had been applying Meguiar's PlastX and Meguiars Headlight Protection 2 times per year as it doesn't last long as the headlights age.
I recently used Cerakote's system to clean and seal the lenses ($16). We'll see how long it lasts.
I recently used Cerakote's system to clean and seal the lenses ($16). We'll see how long it lasts.
13 Elantra. If it cleans up, napa has a 2k mixing spray can of clear to coat them with.
I'm going to pull them off to try it.
Are there any roloc discs i can use with a die grinder ?
I'm always impressed with how much of an improvement 15 minutes with a drill and Blue Magic can make.
Don't uses them, that will ruin the lens. Remove the light and use a orbital sander with #400, #800, #2000 and finish with a 3000 or 5000 Trizact disc, use all the disc with water then polish the lens with a buffer and rubbing compound then a light polishing compound.
You can use 2K urethane clear or one of the kits for the final coating, the one from Sylvania seems to work well enough and is much easier.
Thank you Trav!
Learned here, my method is a bit more barbaric but I’ve done it to at least 20 cars if not more with the worst ones that come in to our ministry.
- WET sand it with 440 grit (you’ll need this with your yellowed lens, perhaps even start for a minute with 220 grit)
- Hand polish with XXX fine steel wool, light pressure wet and smooth
- Dry it, check. Redo any above if needed. Should be a consistent white cloud
- Mask the area more than you should and throw rags over the fenders
- 1 medium coat with U-Pol clear, count 30 seconds
- 1 light coat
Notes - U-pol goes on with orange peel and then levels out. You need to practice this on a cheap picture frame first to get a feel for it. If it runs, and it can quickly, it’s hard to sand down, though really isn’t the worst.
U-Pol doesn’t yellow. You’ll do this once and it lasts years.
- WET sand it with 440 grit (you’ll need this with your yellowed lens, perhaps even start for a minute with 220 grit)
- Hand polish with XXX fine steel wool, light pressure wet and smooth
- Dry it, check. Redo any above if needed. Should be a consistent white cloud
- Mask the area more than you should and throw rags over the fenders
- 1 medium coat with U-Pol clear, count 30 seconds
- 1 light coat
Notes - U-pol goes on with orange peel and then levels out. You need to practice this on a cheap picture frame first to get a feel for it. If it runs, and it can quickly, it’s hard to sand down, though really isn’t the worst.
U-Pol doesn’t yellow. You’ll do this once and it lasts years.
Never too late . These were similar to yours , go here ( scroll down ) for 1st restoration , https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/headlight-restore-w-mothers-mag-aluminum-polish.357246/ . Redid these a few nights ago . Redo every 2 to 3 months . Less is needed in shorter months of daylight .
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My son’s VW headlights were a little bit worse than the ones you posted. I took it to Sam’s Club and they did an unbelievable job. They came out looking like new. 
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