Headlight Refurb

[STRBramley]

Decided to have a go at tidying up my headlights today as they had gone yellow and cracked.

Used 1200 & 1500 grade wet & dry sandpaper, scratch x & super resin polish.

They came up much better than I expected and it didn't take too long either.

Here are the results.

Before:

Cleaning:

After:

 

[Paddy_g46]

very nice! Guide? mine need doing as well.

 

[andywa]

Did mine the other week. It's amazing how much difference it makes.

 

[STRBramley]

very nice! Guide? mine need doing as well.

Pretty easy really mate.

Remember to tape up the surrounding bodywork so you don't scuff it.

1. Cleaned the headlights first while the 1200 grade sandpaper is soaking in warm water.

2. Use one sheet of 1200 grade paper for each headlight making sure to use plenty of water.

2. Clean the headlights to see if there are any parts you missed. (They should now look cloudy)

3. Now repeat with the 1500 grade paper and then clean them again.

4. If you are happy with the result and you cant see any cracks or yellow then you can continue to step 5, else repeat previous steps.

5. Apply scratch x using a microfibre cloth. This takes about 10 minutes and when complete the lights should look clean with no cracks.

6. If like me you are not happy with the results first time round then repeat the steps again.

7. Now apply the super resin polish and you're done!

 

[Jon.G]

There's a guide in the guide section.

 

[lee182RS]

Nice work, mine need doing, how much for the materials in total?

 

[STRBramley]

Nice work, mine need doing, how much for the materials in total?

£25 from halfords.

 

[Winged-Will]

I want to do this but I can't understand why the sandpaper doesn't scratch the headlights?!

 

[andywa]

I want to do this but I can't understand why the sandpaper doesn't scratch the headlights?!

It does scratch them but you work through te grades until you get to a point to polish out the fine scratches. In theory your scratching out the defects.

 

[ryanhavana]

Still waiting to do this, my lights look awful right now!

 

[Will.]

I neeeeed to do this to mine. I just don't have the patience.

 

[Nickson]

I neeeeed to do this to mine. I just don't have the patience.

Man up..

 

[Will.]

KNowing me I'd get halfway through 1 and then give up.

 

[Neesey]

Did mine yesterday with novus heavy scratch remover,then novus light scratch remover.Took me 20 mins a light,then you realise how crap the orange flasher bulbs are

 

[Liquid yellow 182]

Mine need doing but think I'd make it worse than better. Well done anyway!

 

[Leeshez]

Cracking results. I might try mine.

 

[Paddy_g46]

There's a guide in the guide section.

no there isn't?

 

[Scott™]

So much better. One of the best things you can do to an ageing Clio.

 

[JD]

Good results by hand. Thank god someone has the sense not to start with 800 grit.

 

[Kane.]

I need to do mine already, not even been a year.

 

[kris-182]

I need to do this as well they look awful.

Yours have come out well, great job

 

[Puguglypg]

Don't forget you will need to re-apply a UV protectant or it will happen again within a few months. I use Gtechniq C1.5

 

[Filippo]

Anybody done this in the past? Will I get away with 1200 + 2000 wet & dry? Gonna give it a shot tonight.

 

[Filippo]

Lights look at least ten times shitter than when I started

 

[JoedotwasT5phy]

Lights look at least ten times s**tter than when I started

Just lol

 

[Lawro]

Lights look at least ten times s**tter than when I started

FLOL!

 

[Filippo]

Laughing at the misfortune of others? Disgraceful.

Yeah, it didn't go well. Off to RenParts for a new light tomorrow. I was desperate to avoid getting that bumper off but it looks like I'm gonna have to bite the bullet.

 

[welsh.Z.S.]

chuck a pic up of the light mate it mite still be saveable ...

 

[matt911]

I've literally just done this and after the scratch x applied the lights are still foggy. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Loz H]

not using a high enough grade of paper maybe? i finished on a 3000 buff pad thing

 

[Krys_23]

Yeah use a finer grade, to be honest polishing with a rotary polisher instead of by hand would be better also.

 

[chaski]

I want to do this but I can't understand why the sandpaper doesn't scratch the headlights?!

It does!

You use varying grades of sand paper, going from the hasher (1200) to the finer (1500, I even used 2500). The harsher grade literally scratches away the surface with the finer grades making the scratch marks successively smaller and smaller. Once you've got down to a very fine grade of sand paper, the scratch X or equivalent then helps to smooth out the very light fine scratches that remain into a flat, smooth finish.