Print

[ChrisN]

My headlight broke on my Forfour. So I got a new one from the internet. 
I fitted it yesterday and it looks great. But my problem is with my other light.
It is all scratched and looks really bad.

Is there anything i can do to my old light cover, to make it look as new as the new one?
polish, buffer or something else. it's the outside of the plastic.

I do remember someone saying they did something to the plastic roof.

[Brabs]

Depends how deep the scratches are. It is possible to restore them back to new using very fine wet & dry paper followed by a good polish. If only light (no pun intended!) scratches then you could try a T Cut followed by a polish. I would recommed masking off a small area first and giving it a go. Probably better with the light off the car. Good luck.

 

[basilbrush]

There's lots of things you can do, but it depends on how bad the scratches are. You can use toothpaste, brasso, wet and dry or regular kits specially made for the job. There are plenty of youtube videos on the subject so you'll probably find one that suits the level of degradation to your headlight.

[wh666]

Toothpaste and other kind of soft grit cleaners will do a good job on very fine scratches.

However I use a restorer kit for plastic window for soft top cars , about £8 off ebay.  Comes with a plastic cleaner, pads and a head that fits in your drill.  You wipe the cleaner over the pad on the drill head and keep it soaking wet at all times with additional water.

I restored my radio that way.  You know how some plastic looks like diseased skin and goes so thick and scratched, you can't see through it?   That's what my radio was like and now the plastic is clear and glossy, looks like a new radio.  I used that cleaner/restorer a lot on old plastic windows when I had an MX5.

[ChrisN]

Cheers guys.
The sctatches aren't to bad. Just small ones. but lots and lots of them.
I will try the toothpaste first. if that doesnt work i will buy the one off ebay.

[kanapa1]

Cheers guys.
The sctatches aren't to bad. Just small ones. but lots and lots of them.
I will try the toothpaste first. if that doesnt work i will buy the one off ebay.

Toothpaste? 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUTOSOL-PLASTIC-SCRATCH-REMOVER-Helmet-Visor-Watch-glass-Motorcycle-screen-/190683507361?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item2c659f6aa1

[CrazyG]

A very good find kanapa1...
I think I may just make a 'HowTo' from all the suggestions and ideas put forward
as I am certain that as time goes on that there may well be more of us who end
up with scuffed/scratched headlight covers.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions...

[Problemchild]

...and obviously there are video guides on YouTube for this

A plastic polish will be fine though

JJ

[kanapa1]

...and obviously there are video guides on YouTube for this

A plastic polish will be fine though

JJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sZg9cj2hxI&feature=related

[ChrisN]

I wonder if this would work like it does in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4uBggEBZZg&feature=related

[CrazyG]

There are quite a few products around that can be used to restore your headlight lens covers.

There's - Meguiars Plast RX Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish
And      - Xerapol Plastic Polish and Acrylic Scratch Removal Kit
And      - Novus Plastic Polish (a pack of 3 grades of 'restorer')
              video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qvGnFecVDs  (see from 5:16)

And possibly many many more, but I would recommend sticking to the products of the most
well known companies in vehicle detailing. 

BE AWARE.....
Nearly every headlight lens cover is treated with an anti UV protector. Use of any of the above
will remove/strip this layer off, so you must use the polish recommended, or any good quality
polish to replace what you have removed.  And remember, you must re-apply this every time
you clean the car, or your headlight covers will go hazy very very quickly !