Cleaning Headlights

[sntaylor2005]

Sorry if there is already a post on this, but my poor beetle looks like she has cataracts. Just fogged over not yellow thankfully. I can put up a pic if you need it but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Is there an inexpensive way to fix this?

[Ghostride]

I think there is a how to either here or on the vortex (might have to look under the MKIV forum) but here is what I did last week.

Products needed:

blue painters tape
spray bottle with water and couple drops of soap
1000, 2000, and 3000 grit wet sand paper
meguars plastic polish
polishing pads or cloth
towel

How I did it:

-Taped off the lights - I guess I could have removed them but I did not want to drop them while working on them.
-spray ilght with water and soap, repeat with 1k paper.
-sand like you mean it in one direction, spraying water as needed to keep things moving.
-after you get the rough layer off, switch paper to 2k and sand in alternate direction
- after any grooves from the 1k sanding are gone and light feels smooth switch to the 3k paper and wet sand in same direction as 1k. You dont need to press very hard here, should be smooth
- spray clean the light of all sanding residue
- dry light
-apply polish to the rag or cloth and polish until your arm falls off, re-applying polish as needed.
- remove tape and stand in awe at the difference
- do it all over again on the other light.

The way I look at it total cost for do it yourself is about $15 and some work(2hrs at most). New headlights run minimum 180 for ebay or 250 for oem replacement.

[CoriBug]

Are the seals around the headlights ok? My driver side headlight fogged up because the seal was starting to slip so I pulled it out gently with a baby spoon and it's stayed in place for a month or so.

[sntaylor2005]

Originally Posted by CoriBug

Are the seals around the headlights ok? My driver side headlight fogged up because the seal was starting to slip so I pulled it out gently with a baby spoon and it's stayed in place for a month or so.

It's not actually foggy, it's just that the outside is worn so it kind of gives a foggy appearance.

[sntaylor2005]

Originally Posted by Ghostride

I think there is a how to either here or on the vortex (might have to look under the MKIV forum) but here is what I did last week.

Products needed:

blue painters tape
spray bottle with water and couple drops of soap
1000, 2000, and 3000 grit wet sand paper
meguars plastic polish
polishing pads or cloth
towel

How I did it:

-Taped off the lights - I guess I could have removed them but I did not want to drop them while working on them.
-spray ilght with water and soap, repeat with 1k paper.
-sand like you mean it in one direction, spraying water as needed to keep things moving.
-after you get the rough layer off, switch paper to 2k and sand in alternate direction
- after any grooves from the 1k sanding are gone and light feels smooth switch to the 3k paper and wet sand in same direction as 1k. You dont need to press very hard here, should be smooth
- spray clean the light of all sanding residue
- dry light
-apply polish to the rag or cloth and polish until your arm falls off, re-applying polish as needed.
- remove tape and stand in awe at the difference
- do it all over again on the other light.

The way I look at it total cost for do it yourself is about $15 and some work(2hrs at most). New headlights run minimum 180 for ebay or 250 for oem replacement.

Hmmmm I'll give it a try. I just hope I don't mess it up.

[CoriBug]

Originally Posted by sntaylor2005

It's not actually foggy, it's just that the outside is worn so it kind of gives a foggy appearance.

Gotcha. Good luck if you decide to try it!

[Papa Gino]

There are also several good polishes that do the same thing (provided that your lights aren't REALLY oxidized. I used some Meguiar's on Waldo's lights. The initial polish took the yellow off and then the second and third got a lot of the pitting (I think it was what remained of the clearcoat on the lens). He's bright eyed and bushy tailed again.

I do recommend masking off the light to avoid swirls on the paint. These polishes are liquid rubbing compound.

You may want to include some bug and tar remover after the cleaning and then a good washing. After that, a shot or two of clear coat to hold off the oxidation for a while longer.