Hey guys, my headlamp covers are pretty foggy/scratched or something. I want to clean/replace them, but do I need to take the entire front bumper off to do it? Please let me know your thoughts. Also, I wanted to do the same thing with the fog lights. I was thinking about upgrading them to the HID lights. Any help/information on how to do so would be extremely helpful.

Thanks

 

Well if they are fogging up, this is due to oxidation occuring in the plastic. You could go to your local auto parts store and look for a Meguiars Kit for Headlight Restoration. Should be less that $20 if i remember correctly and it will improve the look of your lights quite a bit. My freind and I did this on his headlights about 6 months ago and they still look great! Replacing them is also another option but it will run you hundreds of dollars as OEM parts are not cheap.

 

the bigger issue issue is once the covers have deteriorated, so too have the plastic pieces inside and the headlight assembly is usually flopping around inside. I have some very good condition lenses for sale($50pr), to replace you heat the headlight assemblies in the oven at 170* for 10 minutes and seperate the plastic lenses from the housing, then just refit the new ones. to check the condition of your assemblies pop off the cover behind the hi beam bulb and grab the connector. if the assembly flops around you need a new headlight assembly, dont buy used unless they off a 07 otherwise the used ones will either be broken ar will break soon after

 

Hi I'm looking for headlights or covers for my 2004 xjr

 

I have 1 set pm me if youre interested( no lenses, headlight assemblies zenon only

 

There are many examples on Youtube of how to use readily available abrasives to remove the film on headlights.

I have used this simple approach ( on my daughters 2000 Toyota and was interested to see how yellow the water was when washing off the residue.

 

Well I seam not to be able to pm yet, so if you can email me at vivoauto@gmail that would be great thanks

 

I still can't pm so please email me brutal

 

My wife bought the infommercial headlight cleaner for $10 at the local Target store. AS SEEN ON TV stores have them also.

There is enough cleaner/polishing compound to clean your lights 5 times over. Ours need a second helping after 8 months. It really works well...try it out. Will give name if you really need it....It came in a Black Box.

 

I haven't tried it yet, and believe me, mine need it but I read online an article about simple tips and one of them said just use toothpaste to easily get your plastic headlights looking like new again. Might be worth a try, I hope everyone has some.

 

I have had success using a wet sanding approach starting using various grades of paper to achieve the final result. I found starting with 600 grit and then progressing to 1000, 1500, 2000 and finally 2500 will clear oxidisation from the polycarbonate lens material.

The important thing is to fully remove the 'sacrificial' or top layer completely. During the wet-sanding process, the colour of the sanding residue will progressively become whiter as the sacrificial layer is removed.

Unless you are someone rather skilled with the use of a power sander, use a hand-sanding approach and remember to completely mask the bodywork and bumper covers prior to starting out. Use plenty of water and work patiently going in diagonal patterns across the lens to begin and then changing the pattern with each progressively finer paper.

Once the lenses are clear, use a quality wax to polish them and finish with an inhibitor for ultraviolet light. If some type of inhibitor is not applied to the lenses, they will oxydise again within a few months. This last step is where most techniques fail.

 

I have used toothpaste and it works fine and takes less than 10 minuts. Gets them about 80% of new which is a lot better than not even being able to see the bulb in there.

 

Nbcat I have a body shop and we wet sand them all the time and it works great, also try adding some soap to your bucket of water makes the sanding easier.

 

The 3M kit from Pepboys rocked my world...headlights are practically new...

 

Greetings. I use Blue Magic Headlight Cleaner with a twist. The instructions tell you to apply the product then rub it off. I let the product sit until it hardens (kind of like some waxes) then I remove. My headlight covers are clear and scratch free. Good luck! Bill in Wooster OH