Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

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slimx
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby slimx » Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:17 pm

$40 at autboarn :)

$30 on ebay

btw. you dont have to take the hole headlight off i did myn ON thE car and had no troubles at all. :) myns an nb8b i know our lights are more .. different but eh.. just saying.

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Novice1
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby Novice1 » Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:40 pm

Just did my headlights today. They were pretty bad. Involves quite a bit of work, but the result is fantastic.
Cheers novice1

deviant
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Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby deviant » Wed Dec 28, 2011 9:50 pm

If your lights are not to bad you can use toothpaste. It just takes a generous dollop of paste on a cloth and a bit of water to get it foaming up. Go in small circles and it should take 10 minutes or so to get a good result, it does not last permanently though. You can use the same idea on windows to really get them crystal clear.

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Okibi
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby Okibi » Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:50 pm

So your headlights will be bright and white and not so yellowy?
If you had access to a car like this, would you take it back right away? Neither would I.

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NitroDann
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby NitroDann » Wed Dec 28, 2011 10:56 pm

Toothpaste is great on cds too.
Polish the scratches right out if you are patient enough.

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Hammer
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby Hammer » Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:03 pm

I use the Meguiar's heavy Duty Restoration Kit. I got mine directly from the Mequiar's showroom @ Silverwater (If you show your MX5 Club membership card, you get a further 15% or 20% off. I believe it should be available on specialist automotive retail stores now.

I did my sister's Rav4 and it went from a smokey yellowy tinge to a very clear lens (with no swirl marks and/or markings on it) using just the items supplied in the kit plus an electric drill. Below is a video of the process. I did exactly as shown in the video and the results where better than expected.

H@mmer - 1994 Clubman | 2002 SP
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deviant
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby deviant » Thu Dec 29, 2011 3:11 pm

Okibi wrote:So your headlights will be bright and white and not so yellowy?


Yep! Give it a go, doesnt take much effort at all really. Not as good as using all the grades of paper and sealing it again but you will really notice the difference.

Mr Morlock
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby Mr Morlock » Thu Dec 29, 2011 5:53 pm

toothpaste as a cleaner was around +40 years ago esp for soft top rear windows but there are better solutions. The trick to accomplish with the PC lenses is getting a coating back on them and the Philips kit seems to offer a suitable finish coat.

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Okibi
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby Okibi » Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:58 am

I know I used Ajax bathroom cleaner when I polished some of my side markers.
If you had access to a car like this, would you take it back right away? Neither would I.

Mr Morlock
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby Mr Morlock » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:24 pm

side markers are almost certainly acrylic ie pmma- you can readily polish acrylic with a light automotive polish and buff them- same applies to rear lamps.

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Okibi
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Re: Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Postby Okibi » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:37 pm

thanks
If you had access to a car like this, would you take it back right away? Neither would I.


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