Notices

DIY: repairing faded/foggy headlights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-14-2010, 07:24 PM
  #41  
Voboy
New Member
iTrader: (58)
 
Voboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2,995
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

dang... can't believe 06+ owners are already having these problems! but im glad there's a simple fix.
Old 03-14-2010, 08:15 PM
  #42  
kno
Registered User
iTrader: (22)
 
kno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MIAMI, Florida
Posts: 3,427
Received 120 Likes on 87 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Voboy
dang... can't believe 06+ owners are already having these problems! but im glad there's a simple fix.
miami's heat is killler
Old 05-23-2010, 12:50 PM
  #43  
GARYMM1187
Registered User
 
GARYMM1187's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Houston
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

kno, thanks for posting up your method and results, I think I may try that.
Old 05-23-2010, 02:26 PM
  #44  
kno
Registered User
iTrader: (22)
 
kno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MIAMI, Florida
Posts: 3,427
Received 120 Likes on 87 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by GARYMM1187
kno, thanks for posting up your method and results, I think I may try that.
np pm me if you have any questions.
Old 05-24-2010, 06:28 PM
  #45  
GARYMM1187
Registered User
 
GARYMM1187's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Houston
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Ok, so I went at it a bit tonight on one light and got decent results...
I used some plastic polish I had at my work and attached a foam pad to the drill and went crazy....

btw sorry for the crappy cell phone pics...thats all I can do for now...

Old 05-25-2010, 04:25 PM
  #46  
HEYROBI1001
Registered User
 
HEYROBI1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SUN DIEGO
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Recomend not to do the sandpaper unless you know what you are doing. i messed up on my old bmw years ago on that one. The sand paper leves swirl marks. I had the same problem with my 06 and with the heat in san diego my lights where becoming yellow. I went to Walmart and bought Meguiars PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish worked like a charm and instanly cleared it up. I also noticed small crackes in the plastic lens dont know what to do with that
?? it cst about 8 bucks . Try it out you will not regret it.

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/produc...?T1=MEG+G12310

Last edited by HEYROBI1001; 05-25-2010 at 04:28 PM.
Old 05-25-2010, 04:33 PM
  #47  
phreaktor
¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯
iTrader: (22)
 
phreaktor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: The Marketplace
Posts: 28,233
Received 32 Likes on 24 Posts
Default

I would reccomend spreading some car wash over the lights while wetsanding to help carry away debris and keep the paper lubricated.... Don't forget to rinse the paper OFTEN...
Old 05-26-2010, 07:17 AM
  #48  
GARYMM1187
Registered User
 
GARYMM1187's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Houston
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

HEYROB, How did you apply the plastX? I have a drill and buffing pad. That might work better than the stuff I used...
Old 05-26-2010, 07:19 AM
  #49  
kno
Registered User
iTrader: (22)
 
kno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MIAMI, Florida
Posts: 3,427
Received 120 Likes on 87 Posts
Default

read my post on page 2, i used my fingers and rubbed it all over the headlight first. if not your gonna splatter the cream everywhere
Old 05-26-2010, 07:24 AM
  #50  
GARYMM1187
Registered User
 
GARYMM1187's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Houston
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by kno
read my post on page 2, i used my fingers and rubbed it all over the headlight first. if not your gonna splatter the cream everywhere
I saw it said that you used the powerball, but I was trying to avoid buying that...I'm thinking maybe the foam buffing pad I have will work...
Old 05-26-2010, 07:48 AM
  #51  
kno
Registered User
iTrader: (22)
 
kno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MIAMI, Florida
Posts: 3,427
Received 120 Likes on 87 Posts
Default

give it a try its all about trial and error. if your gonna experiment try using product from less abrasive and work your way up to more abrasive products. be careful tho, those headlights are expensive.
Old 05-26-2010, 02:44 PM
  #52  
HEYROBI1001
Registered User
 
HEYROBI1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SUN DIEGO
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by GARYMM1187
HEYROB, How did you apply the plastX? I have a drill and buffing pad. That might work better than the stuff I used...
i would apply it with round those microfiber pads for waxing(buy at walmart for like 2bucks) then do it buy hand. away from direct sun. it first takes the yellow haze and will see it in the pad. you might want to turn it over to buff it out or use a buffer.

Last edited by HEYROBI1001; 05-26-2010 at 02:46 PM.
Old 11-17-2010, 04:00 PM
  #53  
GARYMM1187
Registered User
 
GARYMM1187's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Houston
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I ended up using the 2000 grit wetdry, plastx, and powerball.
Did it the way kno suggested minus the wax and it turned out pretty good.
Old 11-17-2010, 08:02 PM
  #54  
kno
Registered User
iTrader: (22)
 
kno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MIAMI, Florida
Posts: 3,427
Received 120 Likes on 87 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by GARYMM1187
I ended up using the 2000 grit wetdry, plastx, and powerball.
Did it the way kno suggested minus the wax and it turned out pretty good.
Old 11-30-2010, 06:28 PM
  #55  
HEYROBI1001
Registered User
 
HEYROBI1001's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: SUN DIEGO
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

great can anyone point me to where or how or why does my car light get water inside. how can i fix it?
Old 01-07-2011, 12:35 PM
  #56  
yomike007
New Member
iTrader: (1)
 
yomike007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I used some Plastx, a paper towel, and a little elbow grease and it made the world of a difference. Proper sanding would have made it looked perfect, but mine seem to re-fade every three or four months or so and Im too lazy to keep busting out the electric sander.
Old 01-09-2011, 11:26 AM
  #57  
BoomerZ33
Registered User
iTrader: (23)
 
BoomerZ33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: North Jersey
Posts: 9,714
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by HEYROBI1001
great can anyone point me to where or how or why does my car light get water inside. how can i fix it?
that's condensation buildup. it's probably cracked somewhere where it's hard to see or it's not sealed correctly.
Old 02-02-2011, 04:48 PM
  #58  
sssmasss
Registered User
iTrader: (13)
 
sssmasss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: CALIFORNIA
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

how often do you guys do this. i did this 3 times already within a year!!!
Old 02-13-2011, 11:27 PM
  #59  
shakalaka
New Member
iTrader: (2)
 
shakalaka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Calgary/Canada
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

So does applying a regular wax and rubbing the **** out of it help clear the light out somewhat? I kind of don't want to risk it with the sanding.
Old 02-14-2011, 05:43 AM
  #60  
kno
Registered User
iTrader: (22)
 
kno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MIAMI, Florida
Posts: 3,427
Received 120 Likes on 87 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by shakalaka
So does applying a regular wax and rubbing the **** out of it help clear the light out somewhat? I kind of don't want to risk it with the sanding.
it just hides it till you wash your car or the wax fades off.


Quick Reply: DIY: repairing faded/foggy headlights



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:45 AM.