Polishing Headlights (nb8a)

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

User avatar
slimx
Fast Driver
Posts: 474
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:12 pm
Vehicle: NB8B - Turbo
Location: Sydney (Sth West)
Contact:

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.

User avatar
Novice1
Racing Driver
Posts: 1343
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:40 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Brisbane

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
Racing Driver
Posts: 1717
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:23 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Rockingham - Western Australia

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.

User avatar
Okibi
Speed Racer
Posts: 10898
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Contact:

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.

User avatar
NitroDann
Forum sponsor
Posts: 10280
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:10 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Newcastle NSW
Contact:

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.

Dann
http://www.NitroDann.com

speed wrote:If I was to do it again, I wouldn't even consider the supercharger.

User avatar
Hammer
Speed Racer
Posts: 2849
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: Sydney
Contact:

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
Image
GO TOPLESS!!!

deviant
Racing Driver
Posts: 1717
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 7:23 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Rockingham - Western Australia

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
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

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.

User avatar
Okibi
Speed Racer
Posts: 10898
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Contact:

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
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

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.

User avatar
Okibi
Speed Racer
Posts: 10898
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Contact:

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.


Return to “MX5 Audio, Electronics & Lighting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 68 guests