Anyone sandpapered their headlights?

nothingness · Dec 6, 2016

Do you know what grit size I need? Conflicting info out there.

My headlights look like this and although I have ordered some from welldonehid, I plan to have a go at retrofitting a projector into these, now that if I break them, it doesn't matter. If successful I will probably sell them on, otherwise keep them for MOT if the WDH ones won't pass MOT...

I understand you sand them 3 times one with XXXX grit, once with xxx grit, and then xx grit, does anyone know the grit numbers? And then you rub toothpaste on them and they come out sparkling...

Thanks

RAF_S7 · Dec 6, 2016

Better off buying the headlight restorer kit from Halfrauds........

AlexA4Avant · Dec 7, 2016

Meguiars also do a kit but would will need to protect them afterward and as for fitting projectors in them the plastic at the front won't take the heat from the hids and they could leak of not sealed properly. I would restore them and go for a better bulb. Welldonehid asked me to sell for them but I don't know how good their products are. Never used them.

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DrEskimo · Dec 7, 2016

I wouldn't use anything lower than 1500. Probably start with 2000, refine with 3000, then polish with a DA to get them coming up new. Could compound then final polish if you want a perfect finish.

Don't use toothpaste! I mean it works, but its just a poor substitute that isn't fit for that purpose. Brushing your teeth is essentially polishing them, so the toothpaste contains micro abrasives like a polish. Good for your teeth, but not exactly meant for cars!

Can always borrow a DA and some polish off a member if you're not up for buying the whole lot for yourself. Literally takes about 30mins.

nothingness · Dec 7, 2016

DrEskimo said:
I wouldn't use anything lower than 1500. Probably start with 2000, refine with 3000, then polish with a DA to get them coming up new. Could compound then final polish if you want a perfect finish.

Don't use toothpaste! I mean it works, but its just a poor substitute that isn't fit for that purpose. Brushing your teeth is essentially polishing them, so the toothpaste contains micro abrasives like a polish. Good for your teeth, but not exactly meant for cars!

Can always borrow a DA and some polish off a member if you're not up for buying the whole lot for yourself. Literally takes about 30mins.

Thank you. I don't have a DA. I don't even have a Dremel currently. Glass polish I take it? i think I have some of that somewhere. Thanks

nothingness · Dec 7, 2016

AlexA4Avant said:
Meguiars also do a kit but would will need to protect them afterward and as for fitting projectors in them the plastic at the front won't take the heat from the hids and they could leak of not sealed properly. I would restore them and go for a better bulb. Welldonehid asked me to sell for them but I don't know how good their products are. Never used them.

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Any links to them burning? I find it hard to believe that headlight glass or plastic will melt from projectors. That's what the projector glass does right?

DrEskimo · Dec 7, 2016

thesmileyone said:
Thank you. I don't have a DA. I don't even have a Dremel currently. Glass polish I take it? i think I have some of that somewhere. Thanks

Nah just a car polish. Not many cars with glass headlight covers these days

Something like Meguiars M105 followed by Megs 205 would be good to get the sanding marks out. 3000 grit comes out very easily by DA and M105. That will look very good, but the 205 will just give that extra clarity.

Using these by hand with a microfibre...might work....might take a good bit of elbow grease!!!

GMballistic · Dec 7, 2016

On one of my old cars I used the Meguiars headlight restoration kit as that comes with everything you need to sort misted or scratched lenses.
Link: http://www.halfords.com/motoring/ca...vc:c|adp:1o1&gclid=CI20l6WX49ACFUEcGwodVH0ATA

After using it I then protected the lenses using "Turtle Wax Ice Synthetic Paste Polish" as it protects from UV rays so was hoping that would stop the headlights from misting up again. I have since learned that G-Techniq C2 is much better to use for it's longevity.
Link: http://gtechniq.com/products/auto/perfect/exterior/paint/c2-liquid-crystal-kit

nothingness · Dec 8, 2016

So I went to homebase and based off a video I watched on youtube, I got 240 grit, 400 grit and 600grit. They didn't sell any 1500 or higher.

I also got some brasso as recommeded.

Then I tried it just now and it didn't work. Just smeared, wouldn't buff off... so used a lot of colgate toothpaste, same problem..

So as it stands my headlights look the same as before except I can't use them at all now

I don't understand really, I follow this guide that works for everyone and doesn't work for me

Here is a pic of the final result, will try again tomorrow.

Original

Just sandpapered

Now at this point it feels pretty smooth...

After Brasso

After toothpaste polish and buff

It should just buff off but no matter what I try it does not. Fail.

AlexA4Avant · Dec 8, 2016

Because they are are plastic and they were to abrasive you need the proper kit and 240 to 600 is for wood not plastic the brasso has been buffed off. But that is the scratched finished you could still finish them off nicely with the megs kit from halfords

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nothingness · Dec 8, 2016

I will probably do that. Autoglym do a kit which includes a drill attachment for £25.

I just spent an hour looking on detailingworld where lots of people have had success using the sandpaper grades I have used. The only thing I forgot was to actually clean them first, which I will do tomorrow, and do them all over again.

DrEskimo · Dec 9, 2016

Yea 600 is far to corse. As I said, I wouldn't of gone lower than 1500. Can buy it cheap off Amazon.

I would order some 1500 and go over it, then follow it up with 2500/3000, then use a normal car polish with a drill attachment. You could skip the finer wet and dry paper, but it will take a while to get 600 sanding marks out with a fine polish on a drill attachment.

DrEskimo · Dec 9, 2016

A long video, but gives you all the info you need.

nothingness · Dec 9, 2016

So I attacked it again tonight.

wet and dry 250
wet and dry 600
wet and dry 1500
wet and dry 2500
brasso
hot water + cloth

Nada.

Looks a lot better...but as soon as I put the brasso on the whole things clouded over, and then the brasso would not buff off. Even with hot water and a cloth, the brasso won't come off. Not even tried toothpaste as that is super hard to get off.
I don't understand why what works for everyone else doesn't work for me???

I am loathe to go and buy a £25 kit by autoglym that does everything in case that doesn't work too. That comes with pads you attach to a drill.

Cost me £25 so far and I was only making them clear so I could sell them on ebay for ~80 quid.

DrEskimo · Dec 9, 2016

Lol sounds like you're having a bit of a mare mate!

Whereabouts are you?

nothingness · Dec 10, 2016

Near Chester, Liverpool etc

DrEskimo · Dec 10, 2016

Oh OK. Was going to offer you a hand as I have all the kit, but I'm in Herts just up from North London...!

Sorry mate.

The headlight restoration kits should tidy it up nicely.

GMballistic · Dec 10, 2016

Why are you using Brasso??

Honestly just buy the Megs headlight restoration kit from Halfords and you can't go wrong. It includes "PlastX" polish/cleaner which is the proper stuff to be used on plastics (not Brasso!).

Good luck.

AlexA4Avant · Dec 10, 2016

The light is focused and can melt it as there is a lot more light than an incandescent bulb

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Anyone sandpapered their headlights?

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