Supersprint1988 Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 It's the Saab this time,- sorry. The headlight lenses are now so cloudy and blurred that I hardly can see the bulb and I believe the performance is severely impaired. I feel tempted to try one of these restoration kits. Anyone tried doing this,- and does the polished surface need a protective coat of a kind ? Edited by - Supersprint1988 on 18 Oct 2013 12:21:35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Could Renovo, as recommended for restoring plastic sidescreens, be of use on plastic headlights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A10ROX Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 EVO 5 star rated the Meguiar's Headlight Restoration Kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 15, 2013 Member Share Posted October 15, 2013 Are they made of plastic or glass? Is the clouding on the surface or all the way through? Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted October 15, 2013 Leadership Team Share Posted October 15, 2013 Remove the bulbs and use a cloth over the end of a length of dowel to wipe the inside clean ... spray a little Mr Sheen on the cloth and you'll be surprised at the dirt that comes off! I've had to do both the Caterham and my motorbike but don't know why either should have been so dirty. Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersprint1988 Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 These are white/yellow blurred plastic ones. Don't think dirt on the inside is the main problem but certainly worth doing as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Renovo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersprint1988 Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 I have tried Renovo already. It worked very well at the Caterham sidescreens, but didn't do much good at the headlight lenses. Maybe it could be useful for frequent light treatment after "the big job". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Slotter Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Toothpaste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I attacked some plastic headlights that were dangerous at night they were so clouded. 1000 grit wet and dry first - makes them look beyound repair. Then a goood going over with some abrasive metal polish (that stuff in the goldy/greeny and black tube - good on aluminium) followed by T-cut type stuff, followed by plastic polish. 20 mins later, two very clear and bright headlights. If you looked closely you could see scratches, but no worse than you might expect to see on 17 yr old headlights. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redlight Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Yes, I have used metal polish on my son's Clio. Did a good job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 16, 2013 Member Share Posted October 16, 2013 Quoting Dr Slotter: ToothpasteAgreed: it's a really useful very mild abrasive. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 A aproved system is 4 steps, sand dry with 1000 - 2000 and then 3000, then apply clearcoat ( the same as used on the body ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersprint1988 Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 elie boone: seems to match the 3M kit quite well. Bricol: Did they stay clear and bright ? And what about the toothpaste,- flouride type or not ....... 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Slotter Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Quoting Supersprint1988: And what about the toothpaste,- flouride type or not ....... 😬 Doesn't matter really, most toothpastes use calcite particles which are all about 5 microns in diameter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 "Did they stay clear and bright ?" No idea - I scrapped the car not long after as no-one seemed to want to buy it off me. But I have no reason to believe they wouldn't stay clear, although maybe not for as long as a new set would. But 20 mins every other year would be cheaper than a new set of lights. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Wienerkalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 17, 2013 Member Share Posted October 17, 2013 WienerkalkProduct - Vienna Lime Vienna lime, 125 g shaker. Vienna chalk - like waxed. In older women, and artisans that old plaster and care products available in the highest esteem. It exerts its effect fantastic especially for metals (steel, stainless steel, silver, brass, etc.) and is actually indispensable in the home and workshop. Vienna lime is a mixture of about 25% kaolinite and about 75% crushed quartz. The exceptionally finely ground quartz and kaolinite fans the causes Schmitzol's Vienna lime works ultrafine polishing without significant material removal. He is so toxic that cat, child and dog might mistake him safely with milk powder. Withstand the test of time. Good 'things come to those who wait, and - even if it is made, and later when it is needed. But to develop a quasi horticultural ratio of "fostering and care" even to things has been revealed heavy. (At most collectors can do that yet.) Hardly decidable whether this is due to the things that do not earn more "care", or to the people who shy away from the time involved. We have resources to blunt the ravages of time, care and Hege funds for good things out of metal, wood, leather, porcelain and rubber.Jonathan Edited by - Jonathan Kay on 17 Oct 2013 13:48:08 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Sorry Jonathan Carsten is Danish, so am I, and I didn't know the English translation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 17, 2013 Member Share Posted October 17, 2013 Tak I'd never heard of either Wienerkalk or Vienna lime. Jonathan PS: It's hard to find anything on the Web about "Vienna Lime" without being reminded of zithers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersprint1988 Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Ended up using the 3M kit. Before After Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonpa Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Great results! Did you just refinish the outside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersprint1988 Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Yes,- outside only. 30min job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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