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), some Meguiars PlastiX buffing paste, buffing wheel for the drill and some painters tape.
Tape everything off around the headlight and start wet sanding with some soapy water. Start with the lower grit sand paper around 400 and work your way to the 3000 grit for a final smooth finish. Use the PlastiX buffing paste and buffing wheel to finish it up so they look new again. You also can use some UV resistant, non-yellowing plastic clear coat spray paint to protect your headlight as well (I did this step).
Oh wow!!! The before picture is exactly how they look now. Your lights look amazing...I was hoping for something simple lol like maybe a CLR treatment but that sure worked. I had assumed that the light assembly had to be taken off so thanks for replying.
Not to 1-up here, but I just used the Sylvania restoration kit yesterday. I was expecting the lights to turn out like shwalker07’s—clear but just a tiny bit fogged, and that would’ve been fine. They’re 20-year-old lights after all. NOPE. Suckers look brand freaking new. Don’t mess around, get the Sylvania kit, it’s only like $20. You supply your own masking tape and water and the rest is included in the kit. Watch some videos to get a good sense of how each step goes.
The other important thing is the Sylvania kit includes a UV protection layer. Without it, your lights will turn yellow again in about a year.
Another vote for the Mcquiars products. I used this on my GS430 and also on my Accord. Excellent product and you save money on not buying new headlamp casings.
Another vote for the Mcquiars products. I used this on my GS430 and also on my Accord. Excellent product and you save money on not buying new headlamp casings.
"Headlamp casings"? You can buy headlamp casings separate from the entire headlight assembly?
Just ordered the Sylvania kit thanks for the tip! Did you do that by hand? The last kit I got I used my drill and they still didn't come out that good!
Does anyone know how the Sylvania kit holds up long term? I've seen people just buy sandpaper like shwalker07 linked then just spray a UV resistant clear coat on the headlights and that seems to be a long term solution that I'm aware of.
Does anyone know how the Sylvania kit holds up long term? I've seen people just buy sandpaper like shwalker07 linked then just spray a UV resistant clear coat on the headlights and that seems to be a long term solution that I'm aware of.
The first time around I used only sandpaper and 3M polish paste, they started to get a light haze again after about 1 year so I did another wet sand and this time used the UV resistant clear spray paint and a different plastic buffing polish. Now over 2 years later they are holding up good with 2 layers of that spray clear coat I did back then.
I have heard of everything from toothpaste to so many other weird chemicals other people used to clean headlights but the main thing is to protect them somehow after you sand them down so they stay clear longer.
Just use the Sylvania kit. It takes all the guesswork out of it. It includes all the sandpaper you need, cleaners for removing the old yellow plastic, and a type of polish to smooth the lense before applying the final coat.
I know this part of the forum is about the GS, but the thread is about cloudy headlights. I used soapy water in a squirt bottle with 1000 grit sandpaper, then again with 2000 grit. Wipe with alcohol. The used rustoleum uv clear non-yellowing spray. Let dry then wet sand with 3000 grit then buff and polished. Hasn't faded or anything. That was 3yrs ago. Lights still look good.
How to clean headlamps
