best way to rejuvinate your cars headlight lenses ?

[ezbtr]

Got some spray off Amazon, doesn't work well, ideas?

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Spray with a good 2k urethane clear.

 

[reginaldo]

Have had decent luck buffing with a foam drill attachment and the spray, think it's usually a 2-part but been a few years. The 2k urethane sounds good but cannot vouch for it first hand

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

I haven't actually done it myself, but the same thing was recommended by a guy on s10 forum. Just prep like any other paint job, really clean and well scuffed.

 

[bruceb58]

I got tired of the temporary fixes and bit the bullet and bought new assemblies for the Lexus I used to own. I bought OEM assemblies and they were over $500 each and I had to take the bumper off to do it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you can go thru the effort of sanding with 600 grit, then 800, then 1000, then 1200, then 1500, then 2000, and polish them about 2-3 times.

by itself, its good for about a year

a clearcoat lasts about another year

after that you need to buy new headlight assemblies

arent plastic headlight assemblies wonderful.....

 

[Lou C]

Agreed polish lasts for a while but unless you coat them with the urethane clear it doesn't last more than a year.
I just replace them with aftermarket, Crown for my 2007 Jeep less than half the price of OEM.
my old 98 Jeep can use Crown aftermarket glass ECE H-4 headlights that never fade
and provide far better lighting as well.

 

[Sprig]

Mine have remained clear since I did them 5 years ago. I used Meguaires heavy duty headlight restore kit. After that I spray them with Meguairs UV protectant.My truck is outside 24/7 and they still look like new. I spray them every 6 months although the directions say once a year is fine. if you don’t put a UV protectant on them they will oxidize again in a few months. Here’s a pic of mine taken a couple months ago.

 

[redneck joe]

my ram i finally got tired of polishing so bought aftermarket pretty cheap, they are still decent (brother has truck)

my 12 year old sportwagen has one brand new one (thanks to a sucicidal deer) and one new - barely a diff unless you are looking for it.

wife's 21 year old E320 is HORRIBLE and has to be on bright to see - with fogs on. I will be replacing soon even tho we almost never drive hers at night.

 

[alldodge]

Park under cover or cover HL when parked and they stay clear

 

[jlh3rd]

Got some spray off Amazon, doesn't work well, ideas?

check out Project Farms. He runs tests on about everything.
Make your own choice.

 

[ezbtr]

Its outside 24x7 21' long F150

 

[Sprig]

I want to elaborate a little on this subject. I researched it thoroughly a few years ago , even spoke to an engineer friend. Most modern headlight lens are made of a polycarbonate. At the factory a strong coating of an anti UV coating is applied. Keep in mind that UV rays causes 90+ % of the headlight oxidation. The factory coating lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 years depending on the amount of UV exposure. Once this coating is mostly degraded the oxidation begins. Then you basically have 2 options. Restore them or replace them with new headlights. New headlights is an expensive option.
I don’t know that you can buy just the lens, I believe you have to buy the whole assembly = expensive.
When you restore lens any UV protection is completely destroyed. That is why unprotected lens oxidize so quickly. Generally less than a year and they are foggy. Even new lights should be sprayed with UV protectant annually and they will last many many more years.
So you can buy new lights for hundreds of dollars or use a restoration kit and a little elbow grease followed by UV protectant application 1 to 2 times a year and you are good for many many years. Cost - under $30.
As I said previously I restored my truck lights a little more than 5 years ago, spray them twice a year and they are still clear as new (truck lives outside 24/7). Lastly don’t use just any type of coating , use one specifically formulated for UV protection.

 

[ezbtr]

I want to elaborate a little on this subject. I researched it thoroughly a few years ago , even spoke to an engineer friend. Most modern headlight lens are made of a polycarbonate. At the factory a strong coating of an anti UV coating is applied. Keep in mind that UV rays causes 90+ % of the headlight oxidation. The factory coating lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 years depending on the amount of UV exposure. Once this coating is mostly degraded the oxidation begins. Then you basically have 2 options. Restore them or replace them with new headlights. New headlights is an expensive option.
I don’t know that you can buy just the lens, I believe you have to buy the whole assembly = expensive.
When you restore lens any UV protection is completely destroyed. That is why unprotected lens oxidize so quickly. Generally less than a year and they are foggy. Even new lights should be sprayed with UV protectant annually and they will last many many more years.
So you can buy new lights for hundreds of dollars or use a restoration kit and a little elbow grease followed by UV protectant application 1 to 2 times a year and you are good for many many years. Cost - under $30.
As I said previously I restored my truck lights a little more than 5 years ago, spray them twice a year and they are still clear as new (truck lives outside 24/7). Lastly don’t use just any type of coating , use one specifically formulated for UV protection.

what do you use?

 

[Sprig]

Ezbtr , see above pic. Meguiars headlight coating