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headlights glass refurb

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 3:39 pm
by strummer
Any tips on above?
Thanks

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 5:11 pm
by X5Sport
Assuming you mean the front lens?  Search will help you find a number of recent threads on this very thing.  Apparently even toothpaste works  :)

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 6:54 pm
by themoog
I used wet and dry paper going in grades from 400, 600, 1200, 2000 with plenty of soapy water. Then i used autosol, then tcut and final polish with auto glym. Bit of effort but well worth it. You can buy kits but i had everything in the garage.

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 7:47 pm
by graemeX5

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:44 pm
by chubbs
I'm with themoog on this one. I tried all sorts of things on mine, but the most effective was pretty much the method he described above.
Don't panic if the plastic of the lights goes opaque at first (it's not glass, it's plastic) - it will go opaque. But as you rub with finer and finer paper, then eventually T-Cut (or similar), then finally polish, the clarity of the plastic will return, bit by bit. Bear in mind that this isn't an easy or quick job - it takes time and elbow grease, but the results are worth it, if you persevere.
Don't start it unless you're prepared to see it through.

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 8:58 pm
by grumpywurzel
You can get cutting compound from Halfords etc if you don't feel too confident with wet n dry. Damp cloth and rub it in. Followed by T Cut, toothpaste does work but it just takes a while

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:05 pm
by strummer
ok great thanks for the info  ;)

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 10:13 pm
by X5Sport
There are proper kits but how good they are I don't know.  It takes a couple of hours per side.

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:41 am
by grumpywurzel
[quote="X5Sport"]
There are proper kits but how good they are I don't know.  It takes a couple of hours per side.
[/quote]

Not used them either bud, on a previous motor it was a bi-annual job to get rid of the yellow gunk off the headlights and used the cutting compound. Just pick a nice day with a brew (or other beverage!) or two and get cleaning!

Just make sure you mask off any paintwork if you are a bit cack handed like me.

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 5:35 pm
by the shreksta
i have always had mine done at the local bodyshop. they just put a cutting compound on one of their buffers and it takes 5 mins each side and a tenner in his hand

worth asking around

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:01 pm
by Pete
Whitening toothpaste works extremely well.

Re: headlights glass refurb

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2016 8:49 pm
by freddo
Newlite pro, also goes by the name glassylite works EXTREMELY well