The headlight plastic is faded by the sun (say my garage) & wonder if anyone else has this problem & can tell me how to get the plastic clear again.
Rubbing with cleaner has had no effect!

Buff up with toothpaste

Yep, i've heard of that method
Luigi

I'm not sure I understand the nature of the problem. What plastic are you referring to?

SteveinTurkey said:

I'm not sure I understand the nature of the problem. What plastic are you referring to?

Click to expand...

The headlamp plastic front I assume.

He is referring to the headlight lens, i had the same issue with my astra van which also had plastic lenses.
Luigi

Ahh!

I think that you will find that the headights are glass. However, there may be a very thin ant-dirt coating of plastic which most definitely should not be polished with anything other than soap and water.

We need then to clarify then, is the lens plastic or glass.
my fiorino lens is plastic,most modern car lenses seem to be plastic
Luigi

Plastic, all plastic. And they do degrade - become scratched and crazed - over time. Mine certainly did.

The question is: how can this deterioration in the plastic be reversed. The answer seems to be; use toothpaste as a polish, rather like jewellers rouge is used for polishing I suppose.

Now, does it work?

As i thought........plastic.
We need a car detailer to answer the question on how to renovate plastic lenses
Luigi

SteveinTurkey said:

Ahh!

I think that you will find that the headights are glass. However, there may be a very thin ant-dirt coating of plastic which most definitely should not be polished with anything other than soap and water.

Click to expand...

Most cars for the last 10-15 years have been plastic, stop stone chips, and aids with crash signatures

This video gives the general idea....

Re: Re: headlight plastic faded by sun?

2668GRIFFIN said:

As i thought........plastic.
We need a car detailer to answer the question on how to renovate plastic lenses
Luigi

Click to expand...

Time to learn wet sanding ;-)


Time to do some ordering....

First use automotive (damp proof) masking tape mask the surrounding paintwork very well.....


First rule of any aggressive work is to start with the least aggressive option

So a firm German applicator and meguires Plast- x

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/meguiars-plastx.php
http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/index.php/flexipads-ultimate-german-applicator.html

If that doesn't work or is taking forever it's time to step up the level of aggression of wet sanding...

Again start with lower aggression higher the number the finer it is..


Start with p5000

Grit 5000 Wet And Dry Sandpaper P5000 Waterproof Sanding Sheet Sand Paper: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Again if you need to step up....


P3000
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/meguiars-unigrit-finishing-paper-3000-grade-1-sheet.php

Again you can go more aggressive if needed


Then refine with the 5k then working the opposite direction to the 3k paper ( this makes it easy to see when you have removed all the 3k sanding marks then plastic polish

A flex sanding block is useful

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/meguiars-professional-sanding-backing-pad.php


A machine polisher can save a lot of arm ache but do not let the headlamp get too hot!


http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=5sZg9cj2hxI

I know i did'nt start the post. but well done everyone.....case closed me thinks
Luigi

Would brasso work?
I've used it to take light scratches out of watch lenses and CDs. (I've also used furniture polish and T-cut as well as toothpaste - as they are all abrasive compounds)

on my doblo the headlights were awful when i bought it, i used my meguairs g220 da polisher and meguairs ultimate compound and they were transformed

just use any normal car polish

Just to add my experience to this useful thread.

Mrs_G's Doblo still has the original headlights and at 9 years / 450,000 miles old they have faded in the sun and been 'sandblasted' with road grit. The deterioration seems to have accelerated over the last year and so with nothing to lose I've started the process of restoration.

The lenses on Mrs_G's Doblo are plastic. After washing them I tried car polish (didn't touch the damage) and T Cut (same non-result).

Time to bring out the big guns and a spare pair of underpants!!!!

I tested a small area using 1200 grade sandpaper. OMG! I think I've ruined the lens. But after cleaning and then following up with T Cut the difference was remarkable.

Feeling much braver I set to on the whole lens with the 1200 sandpaper. While plastic was clogging the paper and covering my hand but I carried on sanding away. After cleaning the lens and then polishing using lots of T Cut the lens began to look much better. Having proved that this works I stopped and applied a protective coat of MER polish. The lens is still some way from 'as new' condition but it is way better than before. When I have time I will give it another go and see how much better I can get it.

In the meantime here are a couple of pictures.

1. Showing the passenger side, as yet untreated. The driver side was just as bad. (click on the yellow bar at the top of the picture for the close up).





2. The driver side showing the results of 30 minuets work. (click on the yellow bar at the top of the picture for the close up).





So if your headlights are in need of a bit of tlc don't be afraid - it's easy to do.