Make a donation

Author Topic: Headlight refurb woes  (Read 921 times)

Offline Stevepd

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 49
  • -Receive: 4
  • Posts: 139
Headlight refurb woes
« on: July 31, 2015, 08:05:09 pm »
So I've done one headlight with various grades of micro mesh and the a micro mesh polish. They looked clear as a bell, then within a few minutes they've gone patchy :fighting:again. Anybody else had the same?.
Standard 5 Door Shadow blue.

Offline gtivirgin

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 0
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 51
Re: Headlight refurb woes
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2015, 09:55:03 pm »
In the process of doing mine so would like to know about this. From what I've read you need to use a sealant or wax or something to coat the plastic after sanding it down otherwise it will just end up like it was before. Not sure on exactly what is best to protect them with though, seen some sealants for sale on Amazon with good reviews referencing headlight restoration but think I've read others say wax will work too?

Offline MateyGuv

  • Won't Shut up.
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 32
  • -Receive: 67
  • Posts: 679
  • Instagram & YouTube - mateyguv
    • Email
  • My Ride: http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,69555.0.html
Re: Headlight refurb woes
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2015, 12:27:07 am »
Just done my daily - not a golf but same plastic lens. I worked from 600 - 3000 grit wet and dry using plenty of water then used T-cut polish then a fine correcting polish to get the plastic scratch free and topped it off with carbon collectives glass sealer to keep it fresh. I put a video on YouTube of the process I used (mateyguv is my username on YouTube too) if you want to see what I did. The end result was near enough as new. From what youv said it sounds like it's only the polish step that needs finessing and you'll be right. If the lens is cloudy when dry but clear when wet you need to using a correcting compound/polish to get it clear. The haze is basically loads of scratches left from the sanding  :happy2:

Offline KernowGTI

  • Can't Read PM's Yet!
  • *
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 3
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 9
Re: Headlight refurb woes
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2015, 11:07:30 pm »
Just done mine with the 3M restoration kit, worked well took about 2 hours to work through the grades and finish with the cutting compound. Great finish, considering this to seal it

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Surface-Sealant-Coating-Repellent-Glass/dp/B00A3S1RGU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438898620&sr=8-1&keywords=headlight+lens+sealer

Offline Rampage

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 16
  • -Receive: 6
  • Posts: 190
Re: Headlight refurb woes
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2015, 09:46:22 am »
Done the 3M kit a few years back and sealed it with G1 or G3 I can't remember. Gradually the cloudiness came back.
A few months ago, I smeared autosol over the headlights, left for a few minutes and then rubbed it off. The results were great, didn't use sealant this time, just wax. Wish I did it before going to the extremes of the 3M kit.