Headlight poly-carbonate lens

[shanegtr]

Hi all, gave my D3 a bath a few days ago and noticed that the headlight poly-carbonate lens is just starting to oxidize. Getting a couple of opaque spots on the lens

Was thinking of giving this meguiars product a run:
PERFECT CLARITY HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT – Meguiar's – Australia (http://www.meguiars.com.au/glass-clear-plastic-and-exterior-trim/perfect-clarity-headlight-restoration-kit/)
Just wondering if anyone else has used any other products like this for this sort of issue with any of there cars (seems to be a common issue with modern car headlights). I'd like to get on top of this before they end up looking dull/yellow and not let any light through (Im sure you've all seen a car in your travels with headlights that look like this!)

[rar110]

I've been using a turtle wax brand headlight cleaner.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/468.jpg

[rar110]

Much cheaper than Meguiars, but does the job.

[Bytemrk]

I got some of that Turtle wax cleaner for the young fella to have a go at the 2002 Astra headlights that he is learning to drive.... they were completely cactus before he started and came up really well!

[101RRS]

The near horizontal sections at the top of the covers are starting to go crazy on my RRS - I am finding like most Brit vehicles the RRS does not like the Aussie sunlight.

They should have really sorted this out by now.

garry

[Homestar]

Toothpaste is even cheaper and works a treat. Did the X trail lights with cheap toothpaste and a bit of water - came up a treat.

But I do use Meguiers on SWMBO car and I would imagine any product they sell would work as described. :)

[DiscoJeffster]

Any paint polish will do the job, which is all I've ever used. I apply wax afterwards like paint to provide some protection, which may or may not make a difference.

[shanegtr]

The near horizontal sections at the top of the covers are starting to go crazy on my RRS - I am finding like most Brit vehicles the RRS does not like the Aussie sunlight.

They should have really sorted this out by now.

garry
Relax, it's not just a brit cars thing. I've seen no shortage of Japanese cars with the same issue - actually if I think about it I reckon I've seen more toyotas with dull headlight lenses than anything else. From my reading so far on the interweb hitting the plastic lens with abrasives is not the best method, needless to say its not hard to get confused researching the subject

[101RRS]

My covers are not getting foggy like Subaru Impreza headlamps but is actually going crazy - internal cracks like perspex does having been left out in the sun. As such no amount of polishing will fix as I have tried - in the end I think the light fittings will have to be replaced.

Garry

[Oztourer]

The headlights on my other car (2001 Astra) were yellowing quite badly but it wasn't until I was threatened with my car failing a rego inspection that I did something about it. After searching the interweb I ended up using going diy by increasing grades of wet and dry to cut the oxide layer back then doing the final polish with Meguiars Plastx. It worked great but the only thing I'm finding is that I have to give the lights a quick once over each year with Plastx to get them looking good again for rego. I see these days that kits come with sealant too which I suppose will alleviate then need to repolish so often.

[discorevy]

Aeroguard works for a short term fix , but for longer term the dedicated products work better.

[101RRS]

When out checking on my headlight covers this morning - I spotted this.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/01/409.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/gazzz21/media/Forum%20Posts%20Album/20170122_1103101_zpsaugohooo.jpg.html)

This is the rear spoiler/wind deflector and as can be seen the clear cost is breaking down in the UV - I thought consumer authorities forced car companies to fix the low UV resistance clear cost in the early 2000s - you will see lots of pre 2000 cars have clear coat issues but few post 2000 cars have clear coat problems - except I guess for Range Rover Sports. Thankfully this is a plastic panel separate from the main body which is still holding up OK.

I went to get a pic of my headlamp covers but it is too dark but you can now feel the cracks and some of the poly carbonate is starting to peel away.

[Tombie]

The near horizontal sections at the top of the covers are starting to go crazy on my RRS - I am finding like most Brit vehicles the RRS does not like the Aussie sunlight.

They should have really sorted this out by now.

garry



Brit, Jap, Korean, Australian.... they all do it...

[101RRS]

Yes but the RR and its variants is targeted at the middle to upper end of the market not the bottom.

[Rok_Dr]

This is the rear spoiler/wind deflector and as can be seen the clear cost is breaking down in the UV - I thought consumer authorities forced car companies to fix the low UV resistance clear cost in the early 2000s - you will see lots of pre 2000 cars have clear coat issues but few post 2000 cars have clear coat problems - except I guess for Range Rover Sports. Thankfully this is a plastic panel separate from the main body which is still holding up OK.

I went to get a pic of my headlamp covers but it is too dark but you can now feel the cracks and some of the poly carbonate is starting to peel away.

Nope there are plenty of mid 2000's cars around with peeling clear coat. Darker colours are worse. The roof of my Pulsar is well on its way now and Charlie's roof started going a couple of years ago before I had it repainted. I suspect his bonnet will go in the next couple of years and headlights are now polished annually as are the pulsar's.

Cheers

Steve

[discorevy]

Yes but the RR and its variants is targeted at the middle to upper end of the market not the bottom.

might I suggest a restorer targeted to the same market then :p

[crawal]

You can use a block of clay putty .

[shanegtr]

Gave the meguiars product that I linked in the OP a go on my spot light covers as a test. Not real impressed as the clarity of the final outcome depends on how well you spray on the coating. I've had a couple of goes and the clarity is ok, but looking through them things are on the blurry side so not as clear as I'd like. Not going to be using that one on the disco lights. Might give that turtle wax product a go