Headlights - Need suggestions/tips?

[Ash_09]

Well then, since I've had the car I've never been happy with the lights on it. I thought instead of just buying new ones ill try and save them. So I had a go by hand with the wet/dry paper etc but didn't get that far. They were still ruined. So I thought I'd bite the bullet and buy some gear and do it properly. Couple of hours spare this afternoon so out it all came?

This is what I started with:



And what they are now:



What I want to do is seal them with something to help protect them. Any ideas?
Sorry for the poor quality, iPhone pics.

 

[Billy.]

Out of curiosity - what did you use to clean them up pal?

 

[Ash_09]

I used the 3" wet/dry discs, started with 2000 then 4000, then went over that with a 3m green pad (the compound one) with scholl concepts S17+ compound. Then gave it a polish with the 3m yellow polishing pad?

 

[Billy.]

I used the 3" wet/dry discs, started with 2000 then 4000, then went over that with a 3m green pad (the compound one) with scholl concepts S17+ compound. Then gave it a polish with the 3m yellow polishing pad?

Lovely pal. May give this a go myself

 

[Ash_09]

If there really bad then obviously try a more course of disc? To start off with?

 

[Billy.]

If there really bad then obviously try a more course of disc? To start off with?

Looking at your pictures - mine are a similar condition to yours.

The lower glass on my headlight is clear - however the top half has some minor hazing.

 

[Ash_09]

Yea mine were probably worse than they look, they just feel rough and not nice? Deffently worth doing it tho. Didn't take me that long either. Makes a huge difference in my opinion, just need some new, brighter bulbs and seal the lights, then job done.

 

[Billy.]

Yea mine were probably worse than they look, they just feel rough and not nice? Deffently worth doing it tho. Didn't take me that long either. Makes a huge difference in my opinion, just need some new, brighter bulbs and seal the lights, then job done.

Get a set of silver vision bulbs for you indicators, gets rid of that orange fried egg look.

For your sidelights get some T5W 501 LED's (i use these in my non xenon headlights - they should be the same for your xenon projector headlights) in white - they give a nice glow and smarten up the front end.

For a brighter headlight - check out a 6k hid kit. 6k is the "whitest white" you can get. I had them for a while in my old projector headlights. Really improved vision and have a nice crisp white colour.

 

[Ash_09]

Hmmmm might have to look into them all? Just want to tidy everything up that's all? Got a new rear number plate bulb holder, just need a nice bulb for that too then can fit that? Any ideas for that?

 

[Billy.]

Hmmmm might have to look into them all? Just want to tidy everything up that's all? Got a new rear number plate bulb holder, just need a nice bulb for that too then can fit that? Any ideas for that?

I got my rear number plate bulb of eBay. Can't remember the exact name but it's a 7 led white bulb. Looks like this

And here's what the side light LEDs look like.

Alot smarter than the standard yellow ones pal.

Pick them up off eBay. Mine have lasted months.

The rear bulb was about £10 for 2 and the sidelights a 99p

 

[Billy.]

The photo doesn't do the rear number plate bulb any justice. It's hella bright! Plus yours would be alot clearer with your new rear bulb holder. Mines old and hazy as hell

 

[Ash_09]

Spot on, they sound good to me haha, will have a look in a bit? Cheers for the help.

 

[Ash_09]

Yea the new holder was cheap as chips, like under £10? Worth it just to tidy it all up.

 

[Billy.]

Yea the new holder was cheap as chips, like under £10? Worth it just to tidy it all up.

That's alright pal your welcome.

That's next on my tick list to get!

It's worth getting a few of those sidelight bulbs - you always get the odd crap one - plus you can replace the yellow interior light and reading light, they're the same fitment.

 

[Ash_09]

Yea I've done the interior ones, got blue ones to go with the paint but not sure if I wanna keep them or go bright white? Was gunna do the clocks and centre dash but that's a bit more involved? Will at some point tho?

 

[Billy.]

Yea I've done the interior ones, got blue ones to go with the paint but not sure if I wanna keep them or go bright white? Was gunna do the clocks and centre dash but that's a bit more involved? Will at some point tho?

Yeah I did the whole blue interior lights - got annoyed with it in the end and changed them to bright white.

Led dash conversion is alot harder on clio's. they take little smd's not the big led's. also they are soldered in. Very diddly - but if your skilled with a soldering iron then go for it! Loads of videos on YouTube on how to do it on a clio anyway so you can't go wrong. Unless you mess up your speedo and melt through the circuit board or something....

 

[Ash_09]

Yea I might do the same? Not decided yet. And yea I know, I've looked into it and it all seems relatively straight forward and my soldering isn't to bad cos i do it at work now and then. What could possibly go wrong

 

[Billy.]

I smell a dash conversion coming up for you then? Let me know if you get round to do it - I'd be interested to see how you found it.

My mate has it in his car, but his were all twist led's so it was a peice of piss for him, no soldering

 

[Ash_09]

I am tempted. Once I get everything else done first. If I do it ill let you know and put some pics up? Twist ones would be so much easier tho.

 

[Billy.]

I am tempted. Once I get everything else done first. If I do it ill let you know and put some pics up? Twist ones would be so much easier tho.

Yeah pal deffinately

 

[MWright]

A few layers of wax or some sealant should be reet. But then you may end up up restoring them in a years time.

Regarding the dash conversion give it a bash, I'm handy with a soldering iron so it was the first thing to be done.

 

[Ash_09]

Yea I was thinking just a wax of some sort but wasn't sure if there was anything better? As to the dash will have to do it soon.

 

[MWright]

Asking in one of the detailing threads will be your best bet, a few layers of wax and some autoglym EGP seems fine for me.

If you have an aftermarket headunit it's always nice to keep the same colours throughout.

 

[JD]

On a serious note, clean them up, IPA wipedown to remove oils, then seal them with GTechniq C4.

http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/exterior-coatings/c4-permanent-trim-restorer/