Detailing thread- Q&A Welcome!

[seanmau5]

So I keep getting blemishes & hazing on my headlights - its all external. No matter how much I clean it, it keeps coming back.

Apologies for the eye fone quality


I tried my dad's cream polishing wax (which I will assume is run of the mill 'Kitten' stuff) and they came up looking über.
Once again apologies for quality.


If it keeps coming back what is the best method of ridding it for good?

[Rome_BRZ]

Buy a new headlight

[hamish_023]

If it keeps coming back what is the best method of ridding it for good?

Protecting it! Use a durable sealant ontop of it to help against the UV

[hamish_023]

Buy a new headlight

At about $600ea that's the other option

[seanmau5]

I don't think new headlights would be the optimal choice for some reason..

So because there isn't a sealant on there the sun keeps damaging it? Any suggestions for brands?

[hamish_023]

I don't think new headlights would be the optimal choice for some reason..

So because there isn't a sealant on there the sun keeps damaging it? Any suggestions for brands?

Buying new headlights ultimately would be the best choice. But no one wants to throw away $1200. Take it to a proffesional to put a coating on it if your really worried about it.

They come with a UV coating from new. This is then destroyed over a time frame of the past 6/7 years the car has been out in the eliminates being damaged by Ultra violet light, minerals in the water, polish compounds from detailers not taping up etc etc. When I bought my car the headlights were fecked!

What paint sealant/wax do you use? Try using that every time you do your car.

[seanmau5]

I'm not worried about it as such, it's just looks shithouse! So slowly build the protection back up every time I wash? Sounds easy enough

[hamish_023]

I'm not worried about it as such, it's just looks shithouse! So slowly build the protection back up every time I wash? Sounds easy enough

Agreed, It looks horrible! It won't be as good as a thick coating but most sealants have some UV protectants in them

[mynameisdaniel]

So I keep getting blemishes & hazing on my headlights - its all external. No matter how much I clean it, it keeps coming back.

If it keeps coming back what is the best method of ridding it for good?

I used some meguiars Plast X on a mate's headlights. Not sure if it's the same problem but his looks similar, he said when the headlights are wet after washing the car the cloudiness seemed to go away a bit, but would come straight back.
It's only been about 2 months but he says they've stayed nice and clear.

All I did was polish it until the surface felt really smooth and started squeaking, a bit of effort but seems to have done the trick. I also sanded back some headlights for my old car and polished them with this so all original UV coating would've been gone. Didn't have any problems, but ended up selling the lights after 3 months so not a great test...

Worth a shot for $20

[hamish_023]

Try not to sand headlights with any courser then 2000g and finish with 3000g sand paper and then machine polish.

Like example below. The UV coating was gone from 50% of the headlight. I didn't sand the rest of it off just created a smooth flat surface and the recoated with a clear resin.





These headlights shouldn't be sanded as a hand polish or even better a machine polish will have enough bite to restore them and keep what's left of the UV coating





ALWAYS mask up around the headlight so you don't get abrasive polish on the rubber around the headlight.

[seanmau5]

I won't be sanding!! I'll try the Plast X first. My brother in law had a diesel Astra sitting in his backyard with stuffed injectors, was there that long that the headlights went sooooo cloudy & lost all transparency. Used a headlight restoration kit and it came up looking nice.. I'll try one of those if the Plast X fails too

[hamish_023]

I won't be sanding!! I'll try the Plast X first. My brother in law had a diesel Astra sitting in his backyard with stuffed injectors, was there that long that the headlights went sooooo cloudy & lost all transparency. Used a headlight restoration kit and it came up looking nice.. I'll try one of those if the Plast X fails too

Just don't go using the sand paper in the kit!

[augo]

Gday guys I've had a car sitting in the garage for couple of years, bit neglected, gave it a wash the other day it cleaned up ok but the paint feels rough as hell and you can even see tiny black garage grime all over it. Should I be using Clay bar to get this better? Or a cutting compound?

[hamish_023]

Definitely a clay bar. Maybe some tar remover on the grime spots so your not dragging it over the paint. After that use some paint cleaner (work it in like a polish)

[augo]

Cheers. I don't think it's actual tar, it's more saw dust and general crap that flies around the garage.
Will see how I go. Never clayed before so hop I dont make it worse.