Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: Headlight Restoration - Subaru Forester

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Hobart, Tas
    Posts
    273
    Total Downloaded
    0

    Headlight Restoration - Subaru Forester

    Hi,

    Our 2010 Forester has some pretty yellowed headlights from UV. Whats the best way to get them back to clear? I've seen a few kits for the job. Some need a rubbing (some have a drill attachment) and some use an application of a solvent and a sealer with minimal rubbing. I figure I'll remove the lights to do the job to stop having a blue on blue with the surrounding body works. Thankfully the defender has glass lenses.

    Cheers

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    193
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Search YouTube, only thousands of videos on this subject

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Hobart, Tas
    Posts
    273
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by filcar View Post
    Search YouTube, only thousands of videos on this subject
    Oh. Cheers - didn't think of that. Any helpful advice?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    193
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by 4xsama View Post
    Oh. Cheers - didn't think of that. Any helpful advice?
    Depends how bad the discolouration is, on my Peugeot I was able to clean the lights up fine by hand, use a buff if severe, Mothers works well, if really really bad the hand sanding works but lots of work

  5. #5
    Homestar's Avatar
    Homestar is offline Super Moderator & CA manager Subscriber
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Sunbury, VIC
    Posts
    20,105
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Cheapest way of improving them is toothpaste or some very light cutting compound, then polishing them. Removal makes it easier. I've never seen a 100% effective method short of replacing them - did this on our old X trail with some cheap aftermarket items - made a huge difference to the looks of the car.

    Ebay has some good items, but not sure about your model or year.
    If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1,317
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by 4xsama View Post
    Oh. Cheers - didn't think of that. Any helpful advice?
    To stop them oxidising again a uv stablised clear coating needs to go on. I don't know which brand works well though. I just polish the old Honda Jazz ones with Meguiar Plastix every so often.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Wantabadgery, N.S.W.
    Posts
    2,742
    Total Downloaded
    0
    I've used fibreglass restorer on our D22 Navara headlights with good effect. I used Brasso on another occasion. Very fine sandpaper (400 grade)will also work. You've got to get the outer oxidised layer off. As has already been said, a coat of UV stabilised lacquer afterwards makes the job last longer.
    You can pay big money for special kits. Not sure it's worth it.
    Don.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Godwin Beach 4511
    Posts
    20,689
    Total Downloaded
    32.38 MB
    anything with DEET in it does a fairly good job

    2007 Discovery 3 SE7 TDV6 2.7
    2012 SZ Territory TX 2.7 TDCi

    "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." -- a warning from Adolf Hitler
    "If you don't have a sense of humour, you probably don't have any sense at all!" -- a wise observation by someone else
    'If everyone colludes in believing that war is the norm, nobody will recognize the imperative of peace." -- Anne Deveson
    “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” - Pericles
    "We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.” – Ayn Rand
    "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." Marcus Aurelius

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Perth, WA
    Posts
    2,479
    Total Downloaded
    37.36 MB
    Just did the toothpaste method on my niece's 'new' $700 banger she is learning to drive in. Now the LHS headlight is as clear as the RHS headlight. Cheap at 20c worth of toothpaste and a bit of elbow grease!

  10. #10
    DEF130TdiTT Guest

    Keep it simple - try Olive Oil first

    No scrubbing, grinding, buffing. Just wipe it on with a rag.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Search AULRO.com ONLY!
Search All the Web!