edblor

As the title suggests, my headlights are a tad on the scratched side. Nothing major, but road grime, winter driving, and simply from use, they are showing scratches.

I just finished washing the car, and the front end looks great except for these scratches headlights.

Any thoughts on wet-sanding them with ~2000-grit sandpaper of higher?

Thanks,

Ed

Willicuddy

I would suggest waxing them first. If that doesn't work, then you could wet sand them, but spray a layer of clear coat on them afterwards. Ive done it before, it looks killer, just make sure you remove them before you work on them.

Phade2

try Brasso someone used it to remove scratches on their ipod ....that may work. Check out this link:

Brasso tutorial

Mazurfer

Search, there are threads. Search is your friend! I must not be in the mood?????

ChuLooz

if you dont want to deal with any of that stuff you can awlways put a tint over them

kgonz012

advance autoparts sells a kit thats has wet sand paper and this cream that clears everything on your head light...i just bought it for my 8...its awesome...its 20 bucks and the process is very simple.

edblor

TYVM kgonz012. I'll have to look that up. Thanks as well to the other posts in my thread that tried to be helpful!

Ed

Astral

wetsanding is a good idea.

get the right stuff for it! don't use iPod tutorials!

Here are two approaches for you to try:

Plastic Lighting Restoration

Headlight Restoration - wetsand & 7424

BigOLundh

iTrader: (1)

might want to try claybaring first

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

Mother's makes a Plastic polish that works great for our lights.

It puts a hard coating on the lens as well to protect from future scratches.

edblor

I never thought to clay them. Hmm, that's easy and today is gorgeous too

I'll tray that first, and see what I get.

Cheers again to the other suggestions (the 2 links 3 posts up show excellent results).

Ed

Johnboy

iTrader: (2)

WalMart....2000 wet sand if you actually need it.

3M scratch remover or 3m compound...both are about the same...rub, rub, rub! and that should do it without wet sanding.

cheers

Mazdaspeed 88

Try using Meguiar's Plastx (Clear plastic cleaner & polish)... This works great to remove fine scratches, oxidation & grime, haze & cloudiness...

Tayler

iTrader: (1)

That second link looks like the way to go, granted it's probably a little overkill for our newer headlights. I've had a few scratches that have been pissing me off so looks like I'll be giving that a go.

Thanks!

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Just be aware - if your headlights have a "film" that is descending over them, it is not inside or out, but in between the layers of the bezel and cannot be reached by any conventional means.

edblor

Thanks again for al of the input, and hopefully this info can be of assistance to others also!

I took the easy route (for now) and just claybar'd all the exterior lights. It clearly (pun intended) got rid of road grime and what-not, and they are quite noticeably cleaner than before. Very smooth finish and pretty good for now. Not sure if I want to go any further ATM.

While I had the clay out, I decided to do the hood of the car to see if the real clay was in fact better than the Turtle Wax Liquid Claybar.

Oh yeah....no doubt about it. I also then decided to use Mothers Wax after the clay to see if it was too, in fact, better than Turtle Wax Ice.

Ummm, yeah, about that!!!! Hands down it is a better finish than the Liquid stuff.

The Ice is good for a quick and easy gloss (if applied lightly), but as for a replacement to a real wax application there is no comparison (IMO).

Thanks again for the input everyone

Ed

shazbot28

iTrader: (2)

I think the liquid claybar is for the lazy. Nothing beats actually getting a little elbow into it and put some effort using the real thing.

ndtechie09

PlastX...works wonders.

-Brett