Lamp lens cleaning

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Theojw71
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Lamp lens cleaning

Post by Theojw71 »

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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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by Matt8 »

Try the meguiars headlight cleaner - works great & really easy
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by ChrisHolmes »

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.
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by SeeJay »

THIS and some elbow grease..job done ;)
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by Delanor »

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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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by SeeJay »

:whathesaid:

PlastX being one of said products..
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by JeradRx8 »

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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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by DrewR3 »

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?
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.
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by bunch1980 »

I need to do this, and also have like green lines under around edges, do headlights unbolt or is it bumper first off?
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by DanBass »

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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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by DanBass »

Bunch just mask up around the lamps mate.


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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by bunch1980 »

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

Post by johnbb99 »

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!
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by Leefuss »

What that done using solely toothpaste??
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by johnbb99 »

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! )
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by Leefuss »

For the sake of a tube of toothpaste I might give this a crack myself
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by WaferShaf »

Wow.. great result with the toothpaste!!!! I'll make sure my electric toothbrush is fully charged and give that a go myself!
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by WaferShaf »

hmmm 3year old post!!! :p
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Re: Lamp lens cleaning

Post by squeezyphil »

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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