I live in Southern California where we get lots of bright sunshine. I have been told that the clouding of headlight lenses is the result of exposure to UV rays.
Mine are beginning to show clouding. What can be done about this?


Tom

 

You can pay some places to refinish them or replace them. I have, on a couple vehicles of mine, done the refinishing myself. The oxidizing on the lenses needs to be removed as it's ground in to the plastic. Don't believe the TV ads with the miracle wipe on/wipe off stuff. That's BS. I wet sand them with 800 grit, then 1000, then 1500, then 2000 grit. You probably don't need the 1000, but I do it anyway. Keep your surface and sandpaper thoroughly wet while doing this. Then you need to use rubbing compound with a buffer to get the surface a bit more smooth and remove the sanding marks left behind. This will take a while as well. Then on to the polishing compound. This should be damp as with the rubbing compound. After you're satisfied with the clarity, I use Turtle Wax Ice wax and add that extra layer of protection. It will take you about 20-40 mins per lens, on average. If you do not remove the lenses from the car, you must ensure you take measures to protect the paint from the sandpaper and buffing. No sense making the lenses gleam if the paint all around them is jacked up. Anyway, that's my $0.02.

PS I need to do all four of mine on this Jag. I may just take some pics when I do it. It's supposed to storm all weekend in VA, so i don't know if I will be able to get to them this weekend or not...

 

Good advice above......

 

Hi Tom,

Just to add to Jason's excellent advice, apply two layers of blue painters tape on all painted surfaces surrounding the headlamps, as well as on the bumper below the headlamps all the way to the front in case you drop anything.

I just polished the four lenses on our '04 using the 3M headlamp restoration kit, which I had previously used on my wife's van with great success. I bought the kits on sale at a local auto parts chain store but here's just one of many online sources (typical disclaimers):

Item Detail

The kit comes with almost everything you need except a power drill, the blue tape, and some water. Most of the sanding is done dry until the 3000 grit microfine sanding, which is done wet.

I was pressed for time before leaving on a trip, so I didn't have time to take photos, but there are plenty of photos and YouTube videos showing how this is done, such as this one from 3M:



In the first two sanding steps, the instructions state, "Extra sanding at this step will make the next step easier and improve the final clarity of the lens." I found this to be very important because a couple of times I began sanding with the next step finer grit only to discover that some of the remaining haze could not be easily removed with the finer grit, so I had to go back to the coarser grit again. Here's a link to the instructions in pdf format:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...69411363,d.b2U

Our headlamps were pretty badly hazed, but I did all four headlamps in about 90 minutes. The hardest part is the edges of the lenses next to the painted body. Do those last at each sanding and polishing step to preserve the condition of your sanding pads.

Cheers,

Don

 

+1 for the 3M kit.

 

Mother Nature gave me a break again. Started to sprinkle a bit when I started, but I didn't mind as I was wet sanding anyway. The pics show the initial lenses, the items used, the step-by-step from the 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, rubbing compound, polishing compound, and the final cleaner/wax from Black Magic. I only took two of the right side of the car as it was the cliche, 'rather, rinse, repeat' and there was nothing remarkable about the process aside from the results. With prep, work, pics in between, and clean-up, it took about 90 mins all together.

Remember a few things, use a swirling motion with the sandpaper, do not skimp or rush yourself on any step of the process. It will show in the finished result. Allow the buffer, if you have one, to do the work. The 800 grit is going to do most of the "heavy Lifting" so it's going to need rinsed more often. The subsequent grits will remove the previous grit's swirl marks and make it more smooth. And, once again, I cannot stress enough, DO THE PREP! All I can say is, 'the proof is in the pudding'. Without further soap-boxing, here's the pics:

 

Good job soldier, looks 100% better and would certainly pass inspection.

 

Jason,

Thanks for the help. Also, thank you for your service to your country.

Tom
USAF 1959-1963

 

I also had this problem, although nothing like as bad. Of course sunshine is much rarer here in rain-drenched England ! I only used paintwork polishing compound. I have to say using 800 grit is very bold. I would have stuck to 1200 and 1500, but then I am a cautious type. Some people have actually replaced headlamps thinking the cloudiness was internal condensation.

 

HOOAH!!! As I was the NCOIC most of the time, my gear had better set the standard! lol

 

Tom,
Glad to finally be able to give back as this forum has been so helpful to me! Well done to you as well Airman! My uncle retired from the AF after 23 years. I worked at Langley AFB for a time after I retired from the Army. One of the buildings that I would get in more trouble for my cell phone than my switch blade! lol

 

I thought so at first as well. But, after trying 1200 and 1000 a couple other times, I found that 800 cuts through the bad surface much faster. Just need to be more careful and ensure that you're continually rinsing our paper. As you can see, it has worked out well for me! lol Thanks again!!!

 

I used the 3m kit on mine when I first got the car. The kit worked very good, too bad I did not take pictures at the time, but it came out very good. Great post!

 

Here's before and after pics of my '04 XJ8 headlights I just refurbished. I used Meguiar's Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration System. Easy to do and reasonably fast. I didn't spend more than 1.5 hours total. Mine weren't as bad as some I've seen, but still a dramatic difference.

 

I refinish mine myself also, using the above methods, BUT, I have to let you all know that WIPE NEW is great too.. Saves a lot of time! I use the Wipe New tire as well (on my truck tires) & it works exactly as described on the commercials. Just thought I'd share that...

 

VERY nicely done!!!! If I may, what did the kit from Meg run you? Thanks!

R,
Rags

 

Advance Auto had it on sale for $24 +tax. Regular price $30

 

As an added comment,, last fall while prepping my sons old Subaru for some fibreglassing on the front hood, I wiped the very crazed headlight with the cloth impregnared with acetone.The light immediately went from crazed to diamond clear. Apparently the lens covers are a type of acetate. Should anyone consider trying this method, put ample protection on all exposed painted areas!!! If the lenses are a polycarbonate material, another chemical will give similar results, however it is very dangerous to use. I have not tried this method on jag lenses.
Best regards RIck.