Has anyone ever had their headlights cleaned? **Pics added PG 2**

[Disney845]

My car headlights are discolored and this has been impairing my night vision (for quite some time now). My car happens to have an internet forum devoted to it and this is a problem inherent to our headlights (as well as I am finding out to any brand of car which has plastic headlights) there were many home remedy solutions posted to try, but nothing worked. I was finally planning on biting the bullet and buying complete new headlights. I had called the dealorship and they directed me to a company that does headlight cleaning. The price is $75 per light (for a total of $150-final price, no tax or anything). This is compared to between $200-300 per light to get new headlights. The gentleman that I spoke with told me that the cleaning should keep them nice for about a year to a year-and-a-half, but because they are plastic they will continue to discolor. He also said that even if I bought new headlights they would also discolor. I went ahead and made an apt. to have this done on my car. His company is mobile so they come to my house (pretty nice of them considering I am almost 2 hours away from where this company is based).

Just wondering if anyone else has had similar problems and if they used a company to clean the headlights or if they went ahead and just bought new headlights?

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We had front-end repairs made after an accident and DH noticed the color difference in the new vs. the old. The car was three years old then. I haven't looked closely, but I'm sure by now they are the same color.

I've noticed lately that I'm having more difficulty with night-time driving. Either it's the headlights yellowing, the fact that I'm used to driving under street lights or I need a new prescription for my eyeglasses. Driving in the dark and dark and raining is becoming a chore for me and I don't enjoy it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

$200 for a headlight?? Hmmm...I think I would go to an automotive store and buy them for much less. Of course, it's been MANY years since I've bought headlights, so I don't know what they run. But $200?????????????????????? That seems impossible! Are they made of diamonds?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Wow, headlights sure have changed since last I bought one. Are these those newer, super intensity ones, that give off the blue light? I do think those are expensive. But to answer, no, never had headlights cleaned, other than just wiping exterior.

 

[Disney845]

No Dan, they aren't those bluish ones. (I think that is actually the bulb, whereas I am talking about the outside plastic casing part.)

And yes, they are ridiculously expensive.

 

[fireplug]

HMMMM, I got my clock cleaned in bar when I was younger, had something to do about a girls headlights but thats as close as I've come.

Anyway I hope it works out for you and you can see better at night!

Steve

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

The new composite style headlights are more expensive than the old plug-in types. Mine was $125 on an insurance estimate 5 years ago.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Originally posted by fireplug
HMMMM, I got my clock cleaned in bar when I was younger, had something to do about a girls headlights but thats as close as I've come.

Steve

LOL!

 

[Sleepy]

I used to have a Tempo that I wanted desperately to just fix up and use instead of going through the expense of buying a new one (which I later did...lol). Anyway, I was in the auto parts store looking at headlight assemblies since my headlight lenses were ...well......looking like they had some kind of film on them that nothing would get rid of. They did not have the left side assembly in stock, so I asked the guy behind the counter about it. He said they carried this stuff that was only $4.00 that was for cleaning plastic, etc and he swore if I put this on my lenses and took a buffer (easier to use and can apply more pressure) and worked it in the lenses, that the lenses would come clear. Well, I figured $4 was better than what the cost of the assemblies were , so I would give it a shot. It actually works!!!!!! I wish I knew what it was called, but it can be found in the area where you find wax and car wash stuff. Good luck!

 

[Pam]

HMMMM, I got my clock cleaned in bar when I was younger, had something to do about a girls headlights but thats as close as I've come.

 

[Disney845]

Originally posted by Sleepy
I used to have a Tempo that I wanted desperately to just fix up and use instead of going through the expense of buying a new one (which I later did...lol). Anyway, I was in the auto parts store looking at headlight assemblies since my headlight lenses were ...well......looking like they had some kind of film on them that nothing would get rid of. They did not have the left side assembly in stock, so I asked the guy behind the counter about it. He said they carried this stuff that was only $4.00 that was for cleaning plastic, etc and he swore if I put this on my lenses and took a buffer (easier to use and can apply more pressure) and worked it in the lenses, that the lenses would come clear. Well, I figured $4 was better than what the cost of the assemblies were , so I would give it a shot. It actually works!!!!!! I wish I knew what it was called, but it can be found in the area where you find wax and car wash stuff. Good luck!

Sleepy- Thanks. I have tried all of the home remedy type solutions, including the different pastes and polishes that can be found at places like Autozone, I have tried the sandpaper and buffing. I have tried it all. Nothing has made a significant difference.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Maybe????


http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/hl-front-lenses.htm

How do I fix scratches and pitting in my plastic glass headlight?
If your headlights is not protected they will get pitted and yellow if abused with harsh chemicals. In most cases, it is only the outer (and inner) surface that has been damaged. There are no permanent fix that will make them like new, but they can be temporarily improved. Reports shows that once you start polishing, it will last for 6-9 months and then process has to be repeated.

There are several ways to approach this:

Go to an aquarium store and purchase a plexiglass fishtank scratch remover kit. It involves a sanding process, but is relatively easy.
Meguiars #18 plastic cleaner and their polish can be used, but its only for very minor scratches. Meguiars' products are superior to turtle wax polishing compound.
Nu Life is supposed be a good professional product as well and should be able to take care of all kinds of scratches. Checkout their web site.

 

[Disney845]

Dan- Thanks...have tried the polishing creams...including Meguires actually, but none of it improved the headlights enough. Honestly, I tried every solution that could be done at home to fix this, since I wasn't looking forward to the prospect of shelling out the cash for new headlight fixtures.

 

[S. C.]

Originally posted by Sleepy
I used to have a Tempo that I wanted desperately to just fix up and use instead of going through the expense of buying a new one (which I later did...lol). Anyway, I was in the auto parts store looking at headlight assemblies since my headlight lenses were ...well......looking like they had some kind of film on them that nothing would get rid of. They did not have the left side assembly in stock, so I asked the guy behind the counter about it. He said they carried this stuff that was only $4.00 that was for cleaning plastic, etc and he swore if I put this on my lenses and took a buffer (easier to use and can apply more pressure) and worked it in the lenses, that the lenses would come clear. Well, I figured $4 was better than what the cost of the assemblies were , so I would give it a shot. It actually works!!!!!! I wish I knew what it was called, but it can be found in the area where you find wax and car wash stuff. Good luck!

My BIL used a buffer and i believe some kind of rubbing compound on the lights of my DH's jeep. One side didn't take very long the other side took more work then the first. Now they are almost good as new.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Replace the car!

Good luck.

 

[Disney845]

Originally posted by SplshMtn99
Replace the car!

Good luck.

HAHAHA!!!

Wouldn't I love to!!!

 

[Disney845]

Thought I would add some pics so everyone would get an idea of what I am talking about. I will also follow up with some "after" shots, once I have had my apt. on Friday for the cleaning process.

This is a picture of my corner light for the turn signal. You can see that it is clear and not discolored (the haze in the far right is just a glare, not discoloration).

This is a picture of a front headlight on my car, notice the scratching and extreme discoloration as compared to the turn signal light portion.

Thanks so much to Dan for pointing me in the right direction!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Wow, those really are fogged up a lot. Sure wish I could help figure out a 'cure' for you.

Well, at least you know how to post pictures now.

 

[Disney845]

Just a little "bump" for the non-weekend DISers!

 

[wdwoldtimer]

They actually look more pitted and hazy due to normal road damage than discolored. Sadly that will happen to every car that has composite lighting systems since they are often "plastic"

One thing you might consider if you're satisfied with the "cleaning" process (which I'm sure is just a professional buff job) or if you get new covers is putting the 3M film on them. This stuff is usually used to cover up portions of the hood and front end to prevent road chips in the paint. But I know they sell headlight kits too. The theory is, the film withstands more damage than the plastic. And if it does become pitted after a while, you just peel it off and replace it.

Here's one of many places that sell it:

http://mishield.com/

Here's another:

http://www.properautocare.com/headsaffil.html