Just bought a polo and it filed its MOT on the headlights. would you recommend just replacing them or how would i clean them up.

Thanks Harry

Suprised it failed on them! must be bad!

1500, 2000, 3000 grit sandpaper. in stages, and go in different direction with each grit (left to right, top to bottom). Mask off the paint as you dont want to sand it LOL!

use a spray bottle to keep it nice and wet, you cant have enough water!

Finish off with some plastic polish (I used Meguiars platX)

Actually try this...

http://www.3mdirect.co.uk/p-2639-3m-headli...CFYXItAodWV8ACA

3M™ Headlight Restoration Kit

PoloD.

As above, I've always used sand paper and polish powered by elbow grease. normally I woildnt recomend using a machine on them, simply because it's easy to ruin them, but the 3m stuff seams good and has everything you would need.

The main reason they get cloudy is because the material is crap, when they heat up (switched on or in sunlight) they become tacky and any dirt that lands on it becomes stuck. Then when it cools it bonds and becomes part of the lens. As in the video it can be dangerous as it cuts down the amount of light, but this is in an extreme case.

So its the outside of the lights that get damaged, i though it was the inside that got damged.

well i will have a go next week to see what they come out like, thanks for the help.

It can well be the insides, if you can post up a pic then we can tell you.

Imo the inside is easier to clean then the outside .

The factory lights on the 6n2 are all crap and will all fail at some pint, apearently the matierial used for the lens is made of recycled plastics and isn't coated properly, so they are crap and the relflector bowls aren't lacquered, so if any moisture gets onto it the paint just flakes off. Not to mention the plastic joints inside, which shit themselves if they get hot, not the best thing to use in a light fitting. :)

It can well be the insides, if you can post up a pic then we can tell you.

Imo the inside is easier to clean then the outside .

The factory lights on the 6n2 are all crap and will all fail at some pint, apearently the matierial used for the lens is made of recycled plastics and isn't coated properly, so they are crap and the relflector bowls aren't lacquered, so if any moisture gets onto it the paint just flakes off. Not to mention the plastic joints inside, which shit themselves if they get hot, not the best thing to use in a light fitting. :)

I agree with Dixy,

The lights are shit!, I have just refurbished a set, and everything Dixy said, I had to replace! look good now though!

Also, Dixy, you fitted them tappets yet?

Jord

I tried the sanding method and using normal car polish. Was working, but much too slow as i was doing it by hand, i went and bought a kit which consisted of some polish and a drill adaptor, once some of that was done they looked mint.

I also did my girlfriends clio's which were really bad, but didnt spend much time on them.

Overall if you want a great job, spend the time sanding, otherwise there isnt that much need to, just polish with the drill and stuff.

got the stuff ordered up today today so will have a go this weekend. is this pic any good or not.

Thanks.

Jesus they are quite bad

Looks like mould on the inside of some sort, are the breather holes blocked?

As above, it's both inside and outside.

I would recomend taking them off to do them,start with the inside. Remove fromt bumper and remove the lights. Take off the covers, bulbs and adjuster motor also remove the retaining clips around the lens. Preheat yout oven for about 10 minutes and put them in for about 5 minutes. Carfeully take them out and starting at a bottom corner use a lever to prise up the lens. Fold over the top edge and remove.

On the lens side use a torx driver to remove the chrome trim and wash the lens part in the sink like the dishes with fairy liquid and hot water then let dry.

Use an old tshitt to gently wipe the reflector bowls and chrome trim tying not to scratch the dirt into the paint. I don't recomened using water on the chrome because in my experience it just washes the paint off. Once it's all dry then fit back together and put it back into the oven. Once it's cooled refit the bulbs, motor and back cover then refit onto the car. Then use the polishing kit on the outside.

Hth.

Thanks guys i looked at the fail sheet and it didn't actually fail on them it was just that the sidelight bulbs had blown. but really i need to sort them out as they are quite bad but will take the advice into consideration and have a look. thanks.

Tooth paste kind of works, mine were really bad, spent all of 3 minutes restoring them before I bought some new ones, really freshens the front end up.

Fill them up with soapy water and give them a good shake, this sorts the insides out a treat.