Lamp lens cleaning
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Lamp lens cleaning
Hi, the top half of both of my headlamp lenses has a milky appearance. I thought it might be due to a build-up of fungus or grime on the inside of the unit and may need the lenses replacing or the lens units opening up to clean.
A colleague in the club took a look and suggested the milky colour is actually dirt engrained into the outer surface of the headlamp lenses and could be cleaned off.
Has anyone else had this problem and what would you suggest is best to restore the outer surface of the lens glass?
A colleague in the club took a look and suggested the milky colour is actually dirt engrained into the outer surface of the headlamp lenses and could be cleaned off.
Has anyone else had this problem and what would you suggest is best to restore the outer surface of the lens glass?
- ChrisHolmes
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
Meguires now do a one step lens polishing kit which I have used and now I have cleaned the outside I can see there is a coating on the inside!
The kit even includes an application mop for your drill. You see posts on here and on YouTube shoeing everything from fine wet and dry sanding through to using toothpaste as ways to polish the lenses so you have plenty of choice as each user says their method works.
It's worth a go and if it does not work out then lights from a breaker don't break the bank.
The kit even includes an application mop for your drill. You see posts on here and on YouTube shoeing everything from fine wet and dry sanding through to using toothpaste as ways to polish the lenses so you have plenty of choice as each user says their method works.
It's worth a go and if it does not work out then lights from a breaker don't break the bank.
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Sep 2005-Aug 2006 EO55 XOL VR 231 New
Oct 2014-Mar 2019 OE06 EWJ VR 231
Jan 2019-Jun 2020 T200 CAD Orange SC 231
Feb 2020-May 2023 RR54 AJR VR 231 Modified for Track
Oct 2020-Mar 2021 YA56 EUE Copper Red Nemesis
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- SeeJay
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
THIS and some elbow grease..job done
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
Brasso, T-Cut, Autoglym polish or any slight abrasive will do it but some of the actual kits contain a UV protectant than stops the lense dis-colouring.
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Del.
- SeeJay
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
PlastX being one of said products..
2008 Sparkling Black R3 ●Japspeed Sportcat & Toyo Catback ● Drilled/grooved discs ● Simota Induction Kit ● D585 Coils ● Braided S/S lines ● Polished Engine Bay ● DRL's ● 2011 Spec Gearbox ●LED Side & fogs ● Calibre GT-R rims ● Michelin Pilot Sport 3 255/35 19 ● Nissan GTR spoiler ● RacingBeat ARB's ● Tein coilovers ● BHR motor mounts ● Amemiya Grille ● CL RC5 pads
- JeradRx8
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
Mine were a bit yellow when I bought it. I used some 3m polishing compound amd a few layers of wax and they are mint like new!
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RRP MK3 coils & leads.
Daily : 2014 Midnight Black MINI R55 Clubman Cooper SD (JCW Trim) Engine Comprehensively Reconditioned by me in 2023.
Gone : 2006 Velocity Red 192
Rebuilt and street ported by Rotary Revs in March 2016.
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
I used G3 cutting compound on mine, got it from local autosmart truck that comes round garages, about 10 quid for big bottle. Took about 2 min with it, then put platinum polish over the headlights too. that was 4 months ago and stll looks like new.Theojw71 wrote:Hi, the top half of both of my headlamp lenses has a milky appearance. I thought it might be due to a build-up of fungus or grime on the inside of the unit and may need the lenses replacing or the lens units opening up to clean.
A colleague in the club took a look and suggested the milky colour is actually dirt engrained into the outer surface of the headlamp lenses and could be cleaned off.
Has anyone else had this problem and what would you suggest is best to restore the outer surface of the lens glass?
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- bunch1980
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
I need to do this, and also have like green lines under around edges, do headlights unbolt or is it bumper first off?
- DanBass
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
The choice of polishing/cleaning product is almost less important than protecting it afterwards. As mentioned above you need something with UV protection in it otherwise they just turn yellow or cloudy again after a few weeks.
Most of the dedicated headlight polishing kits are fine. Meguiars and autoglym both work well
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Most of the dedicated headlight polishing kits are fine. Meguiars and autoglym both work well
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- DanBass
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
Bunch just mask up around the lamps mate.
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'96 NA8 MX-5: MeisterR, and soon to be choo-choo'd
'56 Galaxy Grey PZ: sold
'54 Brilliant Black 192: sold
'54 Titanium Grey 192: rebuilt, sold
'53 plate Velocity Red 192: being rebuilt...still
‘67 Sunset Orange BMW 335D MSport Touring
'01 Topaz Blue BMW 330ci convertible
'56 Galaxy Grey PZ: sold
'54 Brilliant Black 192: sold
'54 Titanium Grey 192: rebuilt, sold
'53 plate Velocity Red 192: being rebuilt...still
‘67 Sunset Orange BMW 335D MSport Touring
'01 Topaz Blue BMW 330ci convertible
- bunch1980
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
DanBass wrote:Bunch just mask up around the lamps mate.
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Sorry I meant there are like water mark green lines under the edge of head lamps where they touch seals etc, will need removing to get under them, do they come off with out removing bumper?
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
Mine were definitely cloudy, and I used Colgate toothpaste Advanced Sensation White 'with micro cleansing crystals' which took very little effort by hand, and i only used about 8 pea-sized pieces to do both headlamps!
John -- ex-owner of a Winning Blue 231
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
Yes. Really. About 10-15 mins of work each lamp, no more. I surprised myself. Longer if you are more sensible than me and mask off first!
It /will/ need recoating with whatever it is that gives protection from UV.
(I dunno if it was significant that I used toothpaste with the 'with micro cleansing crystals' - - time for a visit to the chemists, maybe! )
It /will/ need recoating with whatever it is that gives protection from UV.
(I dunno if it was significant that I used toothpaste with the 'with micro cleansing crystals' - - time for a visit to the chemists, maybe! )
John -- ex-owner of a Winning Blue 231
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
Wow.. great result with the toothpaste!!!! I'll make sure my electric toothbrush is fully charged and give that a go myself!
- Shaf -
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RX-8 PZ ProDrive Edition [008/800] (lowered 15mm, Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs), 2006 Galaxy Grey
Completed: D585-R Coils●NGK Iridium plugs & Magnecor leads●N3R3 starter●Sohn adapter●Cruise control●Calliper refurb●Bonnet lifters●Climair deflectors●Cabin LEDs●2Din Metra kit
To do/Wish List: ●Mini map●20mm spacers F&R●Discs●DVR F&R●Body kit●Respray??
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
hmmm 3year old post!!!
- Shaf -
RX-8 PZ ProDrive Edition [008/800] (lowered 15mm, Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs), 2006 Galaxy Grey
Completed: D585-R Coils●NGK Iridium plugs & Magnecor leads●N3R3 starter●Sohn adapter●Cruise control●Calliper refurb●Bonnet lifters●Climair deflectors●Cabin LEDs●2Din Metra kit
To do/Wish List: ●Mini map●20mm spacers F&R●Discs●DVR F&R●Body kit●Respray??
RX-8 PZ ProDrive Edition [008/800] (lowered 15mm, Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs), 2006 Galaxy Grey
Completed: D585-R Coils●NGK Iridium plugs & Magnecor leads●N3R3 starter●Sohn adapter●Cruise control●Calliper refurb●Bonnet lifters●Climair deflectors●Cabin LEDs●2Din Metra kit
To do/Wish List: ●Mini map●20mm spacers F&R●Discs●DVR F&R●Body kit●Respray??
- squeezyphil
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning
I definitely rate the new Meguiars headlight restoration 2 step kit. It's excellent! took about 15 mins per light assy and the good thing is it comes with a protector spray. Will be interesting to see how long it lasts..
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