Fox Head Light Restoration - Any Suggestions

cdurbin

5 Year Member

Jul 27, 2012

563

109

64

North Charleston, SC

Apr 29, 2014

#1

• Apr 29, 2014

• #1

I bought some original style replacement head lights about a year or so ago and they are already hazy and yellowed. Actually the center lights are pretty good. It's the inner and outer marker lights that look like crap. I read and googled many options to try and refinish them. I was wondering if any of you have had any luck with doing this. I'm hoping to squeeze a little more time out of them.

 

Virtual

15 Year Member

Dec 19, 2013

150

72

49

Northern Virginia

Apr 29, 2014

#2

• Apr 29, 2014

• #2

Don't laugh... but I used toothpaste (the paste type not the gell type) on my wife's headlights right before she sold the car. Just wipe it on, rub it all around with a cloth, then rinse it off with water. Made them look pretty good, a major improvement over their initial color. It's a pretty low tech option, which is why I decided to give it a shot. You don't have a lot to loose in trying it other than a few minutes of your time. Just make sure you use HER toothpaste..

 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

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a van down by the river

Apr 29, 2014

#3

• Apr 29, 2014

• #3

I've used sandpaper. Start with 400 grit, then 600 grit, then 1200 grit. then use some plastic polish by Meguires or other

 

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cdurbin

5 Year Member

Jul 27, 2012

563

109

64

North Charleston, SC

Apr 29, 2014

#4

• Apr 29, 2014

• #4

Virtual said:

Don't laugh... but I used toothpaste (the paste type not the gell type) on my wife's headlights right before she sold the car. Just wipe it on, rub it all around with a cloth, then rinse it off with water. Made them look pretty good, a major improvement over their initial color. It's a pretty low tech option, which is why I decided to give it a shot. You don't have a lot to loose in trying it other than a few minutes of your time. Just make sure you use HER toothpaste..

Click to expand...

I saw the toothpaste trick on youtube.

 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

8,914

1,332

204

a van down by the river

Apr 29, 2014

#5

• Apr 29, 2014

• #5

Crest whitening paste?

 

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

Founding Member

Nov 29, 1999

8,914

1,332

204

a van down by the river

Apr 29, 2014

#6

• Apr 29, 2014

• #6

Load em up with whitestrips

 

cdurbin

5 Year Member

Jul 27, 2012

563

109

64

North Charleston, SC

Apr 29, 2014

#7

• Apr 29, 2014

• #7

It may work temporarily but I doubt it will last. But hey, your car will have minty fresh headlights

 

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Grabbin' Asphalt

10 Year Member

Jun 10, 2013

2,029

310

124

Atlanta, Ga

Apr 29, 2014

#8

• Apr 29, 2014

• #8

 

cenok is family

15 Year Member

Jun 25, 2003

1,409

69

79

Norman, Ok

Apr 29, 2014

#9

• Apr 29, 2014

• #9

i've done it numerous times on different customers' cars. i personally would never use 400 or 600 on plastic, you'll likely never get all the scratches out. i wet sand with 1000 and then 1500. don't get antsy, it will take a little bit to get all of the yellowing off. after that, finish up the sanding with 3000 on a wet DA. then use a 3" mini polisher and a good plastic polish to bring them back to new. hand polishing won't work nearly as well.

 

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