Cloudy headlight, not the usual fault

[Gt6-Jonesy]

My recently acquired Z4 fitted with Xenons has cloudy patches that look like they are on the inside of the lens. I have polished the lenses from the outside and they came up lovely. I don’t think it looks to be condensation. Anyone had this issue with their old original lenses and come up with a fix, or is it a case of splitting them and polishing the inside
Cheers Chris

 

[MalNCH]

Mine looked like that, they were on the outside (even though they look to be on the inside), you can get polishing kits but as I'm too lazy I paid a headlight restoration guy to do mine, it cost £35 and they look like new.

I did the lights on my other half's Peugeot with this kit https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0078IHJ1K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 it worked really well.

 

[synthedup]

Get some 1500/2000/2500 and some compound on a DA/Rotary and they should come out.

 

[Ewazix]

I did mine with the Holts kit which worked very well and comes with protector spray as well. Just go steady and lube and move the polisher around to prevent heat haze in the actual material which can look like sparkly lines.

I also started to notice some interior condensation that looked like your picture, so removed the lamp back plates inside the wheelarches which is just about possible with wheels on. Then ran a small hairdryer on the inside (not too hot) simultaneously with one on the exterior of the lens. Let them cool off, before cleaning and refreshing the backplate seals with some non-setting silicone grease.
No more haze inside or out

 

[Gt6-Jonesy]

Cheers gentlemen, that’s on the to do list this weekend

 

[spazmochad]

Be super careful if you're sanding them on the car with any sort of drill or rotary tool. It's easy to miss the lens and burn through the masking tape and cut into your paintwork.

 

[Sgub]

The cracking on the left bottom of your photo (appears to be) from overheating the plastic using a drill or otherwise powered polishing tool. So there is a slim chance the cloudy patches you want to clear up are heat damage as well, in which case further polishing might not clear it up.

*edit: will not clear it up

 

[Gt6-Jonesy]

Looks like I might have to get the dremel out. Anyone know a good place to get replacement lenses, dealer ? and the best sealant to stick them back together.