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How To : Refresh cloudy/fogged headlights

Mindscape100

Member
Huddersfield
At the request of other fellow forum members I have created a How To guide to help those who had similar issues as me with their head lights being fogged up. I thought Id try it as a last resort before going out and spending some cash on new lights.

Anyway, this is how I did mine:

Equipment:

3M ultrafine wet/dry sand paper
Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction Compound
Meguiars DA Microfiber Cutting Pad
FinishKare 2685-Wax
Megs DA polisher
Lots of soapy water (I used a spray bottle to apply) - made up with zymol on this occasion
3M blue tape

1: 1st I washed the headlights with lots of soapy water and the wiped clean.
2: I then taped the surrounding area with the 3M tape to make sure if I did slip with the sandpaper it would not affect the panel
3: I the used the spray bottle to spray the headlights with soapy water before lightly sanding the headlights. It important here to make sure the suface is kept very wet at all times. Continue to spray the lights and continue sanding until your happy you have sanded the complete light surface.
4: Once happy, wash the headlight again as there will be a large amount of residue- now dry with a microfibre towel (at this point you will think god what have I done-as the light will look worse than ever).
5: Now I used the megs DA with the microfibre pad and the polishing compound but you could use any medium grade polish here, its just what I used when I first got the car. Apply the polish to the pad and go for it- Just keep going over the headlight until you notice the hazy apperance begins to fade will take approx 5-10 mins max.
6: When happy wash the headlight again and wipe with the towel- if it looks good (which it should) then just add a coat of your favorite wax. If not repeat step 5.

Heres my results:

Before-

DSCF0382.jpg


After-

DSCF0383.jpg


Appologies if the guide is a bit rough and ready but its my first one.

Hope it helps someone.
 
andysat said:
I could do with doing something to mine but tbh i dont fancy rubbing them with sandpaper :cry:

Honestly its not as scary as it sounds... especially with the fine grade wet/dry sand papers. The key is to follow with the polish compound.
 
Did mine on Monday, perfectly clear now and didnt use sandpaper! I used this instead:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autosol-Solvol-Chrome-Polish-Aluminium-Metal-Polish-75ml-tube-/290639325120?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item43ab7427c0
 
What grade of wet/dry was used? Will any polish do a good job?

Looks awesome, one of mine is in desperate need of doing.
 
boblez said:
Did mine on Monday, perfectly clear now and didnt use sandpaper! I used this instead:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autosol-Solvol-Chrome-Polish-Aluminium-Metal-Polish-75ml-tube-/290639325120?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item43ab7427c0
Was it just a case of wipe on, rub in, wipe off?
 
As i have just done my headlights i thought i would add to this
with pics and what i used to do it with,

Easy to follow instructions in kit and don't worry about rubbing the life out
of the lights like i did they don't scratch like i thought they would ( see pic )
before
5ee6bfd6.jpg


after
a4a2ba1b.jpg


kit from Ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Turtlewax-headlight-restorer-kit-brand-new-renovator-turtle-wax-/390467680891?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item5ae9affa7b&_uhb=1#ht_500wt_842
 
All posts suggest the lights are fogged on the outside. Is there no possibility that this is from the inside? The reason I am asking is because i don't want to buy all these equipment to find out the problem was on the inside and all efforts have gone to waste. :headbang:
 
Toothpaste will work to a degree. I have just done my headlights and it's taken years off the car.

Obviously its not a match for wet sanding, but was ideal for 15mins effort for now.
 
Am I the only one that likes the fogged look? I have just put a deposit on a 2003 model and was planning on changing the headlights for some without the orange strip but then when I saw the car in person the fogged effect actually disguises the orange on the headlight. Maybe I will do this mod but mask off the bottom of the light where the orange reflector is and just polish up the top of the lense
 
Hey Guys,

Relatively new to this forum!

I recently bought an E85 Z4 in May this year and I have been documenting my time with it on YouTube!
I made a video of the process I used to restore and defog my headlights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHotkJ9uuew&t=1s

I hope some of you guys found this video useful!
 
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