cleaning headlight covers

[Easyplan66]

can anyone recommend a product for cleaning the clear headlight covers so they look like new without sratching them.

 

[safrane]

J Uses a product for rear lenses, not sure if it will work on the fronts as their shape may stop you using a buffing machine

 

[Easyplan66]

cheers I will maybe give him a call

 

[lozcb]

You have to be real care ful what you use on the front headlights , they are coated in a fine film that is UV resistant or something like that ( stops the plastic yellowing over time) suggest wipe down with a detergent followed by a good polish , worst thing you could use is tcut or similar cutting compound , it will definately limit the life of the transparency

regards loz

 

[Easyplan66]

thanks loz, I was going to try that, lucky I didn't.

 

[conaero]

I use a speed detailer on them, Megs, seems good so far and no crazing as yet.

This stuff is brilliant, and brings the car up with a deep shine between waxes.

Saying that I gave mine its winter wax at the weekend, 3 coats of 3 different products ready for the France trip.

1st I use a slightly abrasive wax, Megs Gold Glass, then Harley, and then I used the Megs speed detailer worked in with a light clay bar...looks stunning!

 

[SimonM]

Matt - so do you use the Speed detailer with clay bar after the harley - last time i did mine it was the other way round? I'm doing mine after Honfleur so interested to know.......

 

[safrane]

My Swisvax book tells me not to use the car after claying as this process removes ALL protection from your car.

If you are waxing then claying you are removing all the wax, and thus wasting your time.

 

[conaero]

Agreed guys, the clay bar should come first as it is supposed to remove the wax, but it didn't. I had a little roughness that the waxing did not get off. I used a very light clay bar with the speed detailer as a lubricant. It rained down here for the past few days and I have been watching the rain trying to stay on the car, but just runs off like its being blown off, so the wax barrier is still very much there.

 

[safrane]

Matt, that will be the quick detailer making the water beed off...contaminates will start to in-grain themself into the pait until it is sealed and waxed again.

I use conditioning fluid on the bare paint, lightly polish it into the surface, then 3 coats of swisvax wax.

 

[Easyplan66]

Now I am confused, I would like to wax/clay my car for the first time over the coming weeks ready for the winter.
Any advise for a clay virgin.

 

[conaero]

Yes, wash the car, then clay the car first, using it like a sponge on the dishes sort of motion. You will need a lubricant as the clay will just stick to the car without one. Water is fine, but I use the detailer on the other page as it makes it easier.

What the clay does is remove the roughness from the paintwork, all the sap and stuck on bits that waxing does not do. Then when you wax it, it ends up silky smoother. I was dubious about it, until my car went in for the front bumper to be repainted, and it came back with overspray over the entire car. Used a clay bar as instructed and it took 100% off it off very easily.

So I am one of the converted now. The only reason I did mine last is due to the bodywork still being rough even after 2 coats of wax.....I sort of fudged it a bit but still left a perfect finish, and did not remove the 2 layers of wax I just put on fortunately.

Take a look at this:

[video=youtube;yfEfLGL59GI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfEfLGL59GI[/video]

 

[Parisien]

and it came back with overspray over the entire car.................................so what happened here Conaero........................don't name and shame...............sounds awful!!


P

 

[Easyplan66]

Thanks Matt, I will give it a go in a couple of weeks.

 

[Emtee]

Overspray presents itself increasingly with age. Initially, and for a year or more thereafter, your car will look fine, but after that the overspray will become more and more evident. If it is purely overspray, then simply polish back as Matt suggests, however if it is a partially sprayed panel, be careful, as claying will simply reveal what was being covered in the first place. Moral of the story.. If you're spraying, don't cut corners. Do the whole panel.