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[Steve Pearce]

Hi

Ive had a go with the cloudy headlight fix as given in the maintenance section but it appears to have made little to no difference. I can still see a discoloured area that the sandpaper hasnt managed to remove. I didnt have any 2500 grit sandpaper, would this make much difference?

Im beginning to suspect that the discolouration is deeper in the plastic lens, so im contemplating using a lower grit paper and seeing what that turns up. Is this likely?

If not, any suggestions as to what it could be. The lens is now as smooth as a baby's bum so im a little confused!

[duggs]

Hi Steve,

I kid you not...BY FAR one of the best methods to clean your headlights, one that I and several member use is a lot of elbow grease and "cheap" white toothpaste. Lidl's is good.

I use a circular "brush"  in the end of a drill as it's easier on the hands/arms.

Trust me....works a treat. You might have to spend 30 mins or so on each light, re-applying toothpaste/water at regular intervals (lots of water at the same time) but you'll be amazed.

ALSO you car ends up all minty fresh.

The only negative is that odds are you and the rest of the car will get covered in spits of toothpaste.

BUT honestly it works. Spend as much time on it as you think necessary...but mine were crap..30 mins later...like new.

[Steve Pearce]

Ive heard similar about repairing scratched cd's. I may well give it a go though, thanks.

Still doesnt change the fact that the plastic seems to be discoloured deep within the plastic rather than on the surface!!!

[duggs]

Thats what I thought until the toothpaste treatment.

[chuftsmv6]

hi there my headlights were really bad i used autosol and  a paint buffer they come up really well i was very surprised i have even used a meguiers plastic polish which worked just same but it wasnt that cheap but cheaper than new headlights.  they came up like new but i did get polish overspray all over the engine bay  ;Dl

[mathewst]

The lower the value of sandpaper the more coarse the paper is.
If your headlights need to be sanded more start with 500 gritt paper nad work towards 2500 or 3000 gritt

[Humpy]

Toothpaste didn't work for me  Time to break out the wet and dry

Humpy

[Steve Pearce]

It turned out i needed 250 grit to get the gunk off. Its worked, i just need to spend a bit of time polishing it up now to make them completely non-cloudy. At the moment its a little cloudy from the sandpaper induced scratches but im sure it will come out, eventually!

[mantaray]

I used G10 paint compound, works great.

[mathewst]

do not use 250 gritt cause it is to coarse thats why you have scratches residue.
Nobody recomends lower valuie than 500 gritt even that is pretty coarse.
I know it is painstaiking work but better to use 500 and little more elbow grease.
Plus when you switch sandpaper (eg 800 after 500 gritt) use it in 90 degree angle from the previous one.

[cem_devecioglu]

dont go below 800 (with soapy water).. or you will spend more time to shine it than cleaning.. also they may be dirty inside.. so must wash them inside with detergent.. :-/

ps: and if you are going to use 800, use an old one or rub it to make it old..

[Lampynoiseboy]

"cheap" white toothpaste. Lidl's is good.

Is cheap recommended because you need a lot, or is it because the h/l don't suffer from the pain of sensitive teeth, nor do 7/10 mechanics recommend it?

[Humpy]

Used 1200 grade wet, then Autosol and it's brought one of mine up a treat. Need to use something else to bring up the last bit of shine, probably cutting compound as someone else suggested otherwise mightily pleased 

Humpy