Anyone ever tried polishing the headlights?

[Danny]

Both plastic headlight covers/lenses on my 3200 show some light scratching so I thought it may be a good idea to polish them. Anyone any experience with this? I have Autoglym resin polish in my garage, should I try it with that or should I better buy some other product?

 

[reservoirfrog]

Morning Danny. before you do anything with them speak to Jay at gleemingclean , one of the forum members , he will tell you what to use.

 

[conaero]

Yes second that, I have seen the issue that you talk of, and polish is the obvious route to take, but Jay does have all the inside tips and tricks on this sort of thing.

 

[NickP]

I have done this before and treated it the same as paintwork, started with a fine wet and dry 1000 +, then rubbing compound and finished with a polish. I guess it depends how deeply scratched it is to begin with, mine were pretty bad but came back very well. I would also wait for a tip from Jay as there may be a better way of doing this or products available that make it simple. I certainly don't do this for my day job!

 

[Paco]

I've used Brasso on plastic windows in hoods and it works a treat, same principle I guess, a vey fine abrasive.

 

[conaero]

Yes, I remember from school, CDT lessons, brasso to polish up plexiglass.

 

[dem maser]

dont remember anything from CDT....well done matt

 

[ENZ525]

Don't remember CDT, well done Matt & Dem

 

[reservoirfrog]

whats CDT ??

 

[dem maser]

craft design technology

 

[dem maser]

woodwork to you and me......

 

[reservoirfrog]

CDT is woodwork ???..........I never used Brasso in woodwork...........matt must have been polishing his knob

 

[dem maser]

hahahahahaha

 

[sibradbury]

I can't remember where I saw the thread (either on this forum or on another one), but I'm sure that someone had said you have to be really careful as the lens have a special coating to stop them from discolouring over time. Maybe do some more searching before giving them a buffing / mask off rest of lens and concentrate only on scuff itself?

 

[ENZ525]

I think you are right Si...seem to remember Loz posting something like that.

 

[safrane]

As above the plastic is treated to prevent milking and crazing.

 

[JayOne]

Wet sanding headlight does give some excellent results but as Safrane has pointed out they are treated with a UV coat so wet sanding will remove this coating which would result in them going cloudy/milky again.

To the OP, try machine polishing the scratch out with a machine polisher and a polish - step up to a cutting compound if needed.

 

[Danny]

Thanks all for your comments.

Jay, what do you mean with OP? I have a machine polisher, can I try to polish the headlights with Autoglym resin polish without harming the UV coat? Or should I use another product?

 

[Paco]

Danny, you are the OP - Original Poster!

Autoglym Super Resin polish is abrasive so you might want to use something else.

 

[Floon]

I have never used them, so I can't reccomend it, especially following the posts above, but in the states Wall mart sell a kit especially for this, with an attachment for a drill, some 'fluid' and a cloth!