Cleaning up the headlamps.

[Grumps]

Hi all, my mate Iain who some of you met last weekend at "Just Jane" has attacked his wife's XC90 headlamps with sandpaper. I have to say he's done a superb job and the lamps look as good as new. It scares me bloody witless thinking about scratching the hell out of them with 400 grit! He starting with 400 running up in 200's finishing off with 1200 keeping the paper soaking wet at all times.
Has anyone else done this? If I get a bit more positive feedback I'm going to do the 75 before I take it for MOT then if successful I will dare to tackle the Zed . There not too bad on the Zed but If I can make them look better then all good and well.

 

[Low Rider]

I believe you can buy a kit from Halfords or online

Have a look on YouTube to watch it done

 

[Grumps]

Yeah seen them Steve. But Iains way cost £3 and he says it's a lot more effective.

 

[Low Rider]

 

[andyglym]

Hi all, my mate Iain who some of you met last weekend at "Just Jane" has attacked his wife's XC90 headlamps with sandpaper. I have to say he's done a superb job and the lamps look as good as new. It scares me bloody witless thinking about scratching the hell out of them with 400 grit! He starting with 400 running up in 200's finishing off with 1200 keeping the paper soaking wet at all times.
Has anyone else done this? If I get a bit more positive feedback I'm going to do the 75 before I take it for MOT then if successful I will dare to tackle the Zed . There not too bad on the Zed but If I can make them look better then all good and well.

I believe that this is the method they use on fighter jet canopies when doing a refurb Dave. If it's good for a £65 million jet ...........

 

[t-tony]

They must've been well bad to need starting with 400 grit mate. I would start with 800 and finish with 1200. Greygate plastic polish is quoted as being used on aeroplane canopies too.

Tony.

 

[Grumps]

I believe that this is the method they use on fighter jet canopies when doing a refurb Dave. If it's good for a £65 million jet ...........

Thanks mate.

 

[Grumps]

They must've been well bad to need starting with 400 grit mate. I would start with 800 and finish with 1200. Greygate plastic polish is quoted as being used on aeroplane canopies too.

Tony.

The rovers headlights are really yellow Tony. I got them better with t-cut but there quite away of good. I'll start with 800 as advised mate and see how it goes.

 

[t-tony]

You need to get rid of the scratches mate or such as T-Cut will sit in the bottom of the scratches and make them look worse than they are. Plenty of water is all you need.

Tony.

 

[Antm72]

Will bring the DA saturday @Grumpy and give them a polish ?

 

[andyglym]

They must've been well bad to need starting with 400 grit mate. I would start with 800 and finish with 1200. Greygate plastic polish is quoted as being used on aeroplane canopies too.

Tony.

I have some, good stuff.

 

[t-tony]

Smells like embrocation, wonder if it's any good for footy on cold days?

Tony.

 

[Grumps]

Will bring the DA saturday @Grumpy and give them a polish ?

Can do mate if you don't mind. Thanks.

 

[Paul Rice]

Can do mate if you don't mind. Thanks.

Don't worry Grumpy if your not happy with them when you've done them on the Z i have a set of front lights you can have.

 

[Redline]

It seems counter-intuitive to use sandpaper to polish something, especially soft plastic, but thats the way to go. As Tony says - plenty of lubrication needed. There's several You-tube vids on doing this. Watch a few before you start if it worries you. If it goes wrong then blame them

Going up from 400 to 1200 in 200 steps is a lot of work though - That's five times you've got to do them . Hope you've got nothing to do for a weekend.

 

[Stevo7682]

Once you've done your sanding get yourself a bottle of this . I use it on my headlight lenses and my rear screen. Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251455645154
This is the same stuff that you get a tiny bottle of in the original meguiars headlight cleaning kit along with 2000 / 3000 and 4000 grit sanding blocks

 

[Dino D]

If it's for the Rover then this:

 

[Grumps]

Don't worry Grumpy if your not happy with them when you've done them on the Z i have a set of front lights you can have.

Back up, I like it! Maybe in touch lol!!

 

[Mint]

Dave, I did mine with the Meguires kit. You use an ordinary electric drill which makes it easy. I'll have a look see if there's enough stuff left for you...

 

[5harp3y]

its works fine, i've done it loads of time.

you need to start course to really get them going.

i polished up my rear light as it was crusty