Facelift headlight clean....

My Left headlight 'lens' is way duller than the one on the right - which looks sparkly new in comparison.

The problem seems to be grime/micro scratches on the inside (!!)

Before I start to strip it all down polish and up the left hand one are there any gotchas/tips on how to get it apart and buff it up without scratching?

I've not taken one of the facelift h/light units apart, sorry but the best stuff I've found for polishing clear plastic is Greygate Plastic Polish.

The RAF use it for polishing the perspex cockpit canopies of their aeroplanes; if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for my headlights.

My drivers side light is much duller than the left. I stripped it down to clean the inside to find it was the outside that was the problem. A good rub with toothpaste makes an improvement but doesnt make the lens looknew,

That Greygate Polish sounds interesting! Widely available is it?

Otherwise, I've always used 'Brasso' You try it on the orange lens of a flashing beacon that has dulled.

Thanks for the advice.
I'm pretty sure the discolouration/grime/scratches are on the inside.
I'll see if I can source the raf Polish falling that I'll try brasso or maybe windolene.

But......

Can anyone tell me about dismantling the headlight to get to the lens?

TaDa said:

Thanks for the advice.
I'm pretty sure the discolouration/grime/scratches are on the inside.
I'll see if I can source the raf Polish falling that I'll try brasso or maybe windolene.

But......

Can anyone tell me about dismantling the headlight to get to the lens?

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Do they not have a very sticky sealant round that you have to heat up with a gun and prise apart like the new transit ones?? Can't remember.

Dont know about the facelift items but the 300 lights do not take kindly to being put in the dishwasher lol. I lost all the silver from them and ended up buying two new units. I felt a right idiot because I thought I was being clever lol

Perspex can be sanded with 2000 wet and dry and then buffed back up with G3 and t-cut but try an area first as different perspex reacts differently.

The RAF polish sounds the best bet.

Are they glass or polycarbonate? If poly I know that the UV coating on the outside perishes over time and gives the look your on about, happens with my xenons on my allroad, this is whats recommended for them:

Meguiars Headlight and Clear Plastic Restoration Kit - Soft top windows! | eBay

Its not a one shot and then your done though, you have to periodically apply it otherwise it goes milky again, Ive noticed autoglym bumper and trim gel seems to do the trick.

A quick way of testing if this will help you is to apply a small amount of the gel/wd40/spit! to the lense and see if the area is improved, but if it turns out to be on the inside im not sure how you take apart.

We have a van in the firm with polycarb head lamps that go yellowish but a 5min polish by hand once a month with TCut brings them up like new that stuff was only a fiver.

TaDa said:

Thanks for the advice.
I'm pretty sure the discolouration/grime/scratches are on the inside.
I'll see if I can source the raf Polish falling that I'll try brasso or maybe windolene.

But......

Can anyone tell me about dismantling the headlight to get to the lens?

Click to expand...

I'm in the process of cleaning mine as I filled them with muddy water from a ford. I didn't want to strip them down as I've heard they are massively difficult to reseal correctly. So I have filled them with brake cleaner, then petrol, then washed them with a very low set pressure washer an am going for another rinse of brake cleaner an they have come up like new. A day in the airing cupboard to throughly dry them and they'll be back on. This work great with some other lights so I thought I'd try these ones. Hope this helps.

This is the greygate polish mentioned above

GREYGATE PLASTIC POLISH 100ml EXCELLENT FOR ACRYLICS | eBay

I can vouch for this as I used it many a time on a facelift MGZS headlights which are the same style of plastic with great results

I might go buy the greygate polish - but I just used "Oral-B Pro-Expert (Sensitive + Gentle whitening)" toothpaste and it worked a treat.

I dabbed small amounts all over the light - probably about a teaspoon in total.
Then dampened (quite wet but not dripping loads) a loose wad of blue-roll about the size of my palm
Rubbed this in a circular motion all over the headlight

I didn't go at it like a loon and I didn't apply a lot of pressure.
(because I was scared of permanent scratching)

When it seemed like the wad/paste was going dry I damped the wad a bit more

Then I used a new wad of wet blue roll

Finally I rinsed it off.

In all it took at most 2 minutes!

Note: I did not mask off the surround (or even lift the bonnet) but if I were going to do it again I would.

Its not perfect - still a little yellow tinge - but its good enough for now.

As I said, I might buy the proper stuff but for now, at least, toothpaste has worked fine.

If you use different toothpaste your mileage may vary

I remain amazed that the problem was on the outside - I would have put money on the blemishes being inside.

How has the inside got scratched? U sure there just not crazed

Tooth paste is quite effective on headlamp plastics, believe it or not.
I appreciate it might sound like a stupid suggestion, but it's actually a mild abrasive!

I don't come on here very often, cos it's not D2 orinantated, & the prats you seem to get on here.
I prefer the other site,where the gentlemen are, but we're doing a server upgrade ATM, so it's off-line.
I've had my Face-lift headlights apart, it's not difficult.
You've got to heat the glue up, & remove it.
Fine electrical flat bladed screwdriver & a hot-air gun, on low, is all that is required + a lot of patience.
Don't rush it, take your time, took me about an hour for one side, but it all comes apart.
For the re-fit of the outer lens, I used Sikaflex, though Tigerseal will do too.
I wasn't spareing on it's use, & so far my "steamy-uppers" - havn't.
HTH

airhook said:

I don't come on here very often, cos it's not D2 orinantated, & the prats you seem to get on here.
I prefer the other site,where the gentlemen are, but we're doing a server upgrade ATM, so it's off-line.
I've had my Face-lift headlights apart, it's not difficult.
You've got to heat the glue up, & remove it.
Fine electrical flat bladed screwdriver & a hot-air gun, on low, is all that is required + a lot of patience.
Don't rush it, take your time, took me about an hour for one side, but it all comes apart.
For the re-fit of the outer lens, I used Sikaflex, though Tigerseal will do too.
I wasn't spareing on it's use, & so far my "steamy-uppers" - havn't.
HTH

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Best jog on then

op2:

fanatic said:

Best jog on then

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Need I say more!
Why the Mods allow this ####wit to post, belies reason, the guy should have been banned years ago.
The forum was originally set up to help other members.
I can't say either of the 2 previous posts were helpful.
Mods, do your job, moderate, get these guys banned.
You had a good forum, but it's been hyjacked by the loud-mouth prats.
If you want a new moderator, I'll take the job & clean this site up.
You have my email address, until then , bye bye.

you John Wayne or summit?

discodrivercumbria said:

you John Wayne or summit?

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YUUUUUP!
Bye.