i dont know if this has been asked or not, but how do i clean the headlight the plastic cover, mine just looks like crap, here are some pics so you know what iam talking about http://www.uploadimages.com/myalbum/20671

thx

 

Removing Oxidation[/b] or scratches from vehicle headlights, or brake lights (polycarbonate) ‑
In the late 1980’s, vehicle manufacturers changed the lighting lens system materials used for head lights from glass to Lexan (plastic) The lens starts to exhibit an opaque appearance and then a yellow hue on the outside of the lenses due to ultra violet radiation (UVR) and / or surface scratches this can severely restrict the amount of light reaching the road. Original equipment material (OEM) suppliers started to add a UVR protection to the surface of the lens in an attempt to reduce this condition and prolong the usable life of the lens.

Use these products for finishing plastics, acrylics, Lexan polycarbonates, Bakelite, urethanes, composites, and more. Abrasive colours of this product range from dark grey to light grey. This material can be used wet or dry, is made with a flexible cotton backing with polymer emulsion cushioning layer and large micron graded silicon carbide crystals suspended in an ultra flexible resin bond. Grades 8000 and 12000 are made with aluminium oxide crystals.

This material is available in the following nine grades, from course to fine: 1500, 1800, 2400, 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, and 8000, and 12000 regular. 1500 micro-mesh is equivalent to a scratch pattern left using 400-wet/dry, but is much more consistent.

Product specific -[/i][/b] Scientific Instrument Services, Inc. - http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/headlight_kits.htm

Application Methodology:[/b]

Use a solvent type cleaner (Klasse All-In-One) if this does not remove the oxidation use a plastic polish
Meguiar’s PlastX contains a microscopic diminishing abrasive, which requires a little pressure when applying it to enable these abrasives to remove the discoloured plastic and expose new plastic. Or Renovo Plastic Cleaner
Plastic Cleaners can be used to clean and condition Perspex as well as flexible plastic but is not suitable for use on glass.
Prior to application of a plastic polish ensure that the window is clean and free from dust particles by washing with a soft cloth and warm water.
It is not advisable to use cleaning detergents on plastic.
Shake the bottle thoroughly. Plastic polish can be hand or machine applied
Using a random orbital buffer with a 3.5-inch backing plate and a 4-inch (LC White) polishing pad or a terry cloth applicator
Place a small dab (about ½-inch diameter) of plastic polish on the foam pad or applicator.
Place the pad on the lens surface and turn on the machine (speed #4)
Polish the lens repeatedly in a left-to-right and an up and down pattern.
Continue polishing until all the polish is gone
Wipe the lens with a damp Microfiber towel
Inspect the lens, repeat the polishing process 2-3 times as necessary
Plastic polish will not remove clarity defects that are within the plastic but it will remove external/surface scratching and oxidation (yellowing)[/ul]
Wet-sanding- some OEM headlights have a coating applied this coating does not respond well to sanding test a small inconspicuous area. If the plastic starts to turn white, do not sand the lenses. Use a plastic polish (see Plastic Polishing)

When sanding the lens ensure that you sand in one direction only. It's important to keep the lines as straight and uniform as possible as they are often still slightly visible even after polishing. Providing the lines are in one direction you’ll never notice them once the acrylic coating is evenly applied. Otherwise random sanding lines will distort the light beam and become a distraction

Alternative products - [/i][/b]
a)[/b] Novus 1 2 3 - http://www.modernplastics.com
Novus 1 - gently cleans all plastics without scratching, leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static.
Novus 2 - removes fine scratches, haziness, and abrasions from most plastics (exceptional for removing scratches from Plexiglas). Use repeatedly and restore faded and discoloured plastics.
Novus 3 -removes heavy scratches and abrasions from most acrylic surfaces. Contains abrasives, not for use on eyeglasses, polycarbonate, or coated plastics, final finishing also requires the use of Novus 2

b)[/b] Lensrenew - http://www.lensrenew.com/plastic_hea...estoration.htm

 

thx alot man for that info

 

You can use just about any paint polish to clean them up a bit. There is also a few speciality kits out there for really bad ones.

http://classic-motoring.stores.yahoo...apllepoki.html