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[zirk]

Sounds daft but it's worth trying old fashioned "brasso" to polish up the lights as well as solvo autosol chrome polish .

Probably but they,do need roughing up first, so probably easier with wet and dry.

[Nick W]

Sounds daft but it's worth trying old fashioned "brasso" to polish up the lights as well as solvo autosol chrome polish .

Any sort of reasonably abrasive polish will restore the finish, but you need to remove the worst of the grot with wet&dry paper first. The key to any sort of polishing is to start with an abrasive just coarse enough to start the process, beginning with a fine grit doesn't give satisfactory results.


I don't consider a clear coat necessary; if you do a good enough job of refinishing the lens it will last for years.

[TheBoy]

I don't consider a clear coat necessary; if you do a good enough job of refinishing the lens it will last for years.

That's my experience

I probably spent too much time on mine TBH, but it was worth it.

[Gaffers]

The problem I have found is that once you have used the 3M / sandpaper kits is that the headlight will yellow again extremely quickly as there is no UV protection at all.

Apparently clear coating them, applying some UV barrier polish or some form of protective film are supposed short term answers.

this stuff might work http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382100459169

Have you tried it?

Unless UV stable, traditional epoxy will degrade quite quickly and will likely be worse than it was originally.  Plus you would have to have a physical key to the plastic lens for it to adhere properly which means there is no way of getting a decent result.

[TheBoy]

The problem I have found is that once you have used the 3M / sandpaper kits is that the headlight will yellow again extremely quickly as there is no UV protection at all.

Apparently clear coating them, applying some UV barrier polish or some form of protective film are supposed short term answers.

this stuff might work http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/382100459169

Have you tried it?

Unless UV stable, traditional epoxy will degrade quite quickly and will likely be worse than it was originally.  Plus you would have to have a physical key to the plastic lens for it to adhere properly which means there is no way of getting a decent result.

And it needs to be applied perfectly, as any unevenness could cause glare to oncoming traffic.

[Gaffers]

Has anyone tried the Autoglym headlight restoration kit?  I fancy giving it a go on the jaaag headlights but if it a waste of twenty notes then I will just do the wet'n'dry + brasso trick.

[raywilb]

My 03 saloon has just failed it's annual medical on the headlights not letting enough light out! They are rough and the coating has come off.
I need both sides.
It's an 03 Saloon CD

Cheers

Mike

  I did mine last week  auto-glym  plastic headlamp restoration kit. restored mine to a bright shiny finish. Halfords price £24.99. (I got a discount using an abs card .paid £21.24p ) I needed to borrow a decent drill as mine is not holding enough battery life. 

[Mike1962]

Hi,
Thanks for all the advice.
I got new lights for the B series here:
https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/opel/omega-b-25-26-27/13647/10533/headlight-insert
The site says .co.uk
But they're coming from Germany.
Let's see if they point the right way!

Mike

[VXL V6]

Good find that, let us know how you get on. 

[TheBoy]

My 03 saloon has just failed it's annual medical on the headlights not letting enough light out! They are rough and the coating has come off.
I need both sides.
It's an 03 Saloon CD

Cheers

Mike

  I did mine last week  auto-glym  plastic headlamp restoration kit. restored mine to a bright shiny finish. Halfords price £24.99. (I got a discount using an abs card .paid £21.24p ) I needed to borrow a decent drill as mine is not holding enough battery life. 

Just under £19 on Halfords Trade .  Looks pretty similar, but not quite same, as the 3M kit

[omega2018]

Hi,
Thanks for all the advice.
I got new lights for the B series here:
https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/opel/omega-b-25-26-27/13647/10533/headlight-insert
The site says .co.uk
But they're coming from Germany.
Let's see if they point the right way!

Mike

have they arrived yet?  are yours HID lights?