Headlight restoration kits?

[Dave M]

Nice work there Howdy !.

 

[Howdy Ay 2]

Thank You.

Finished the drivers side headlight too now.

Might invest in a polishing machine if I have to repeat the process in the future for faster turnaround.

 

[Robin_Cox]

Both of your efforts (Vic & Howdy) very impressive - it has given me something to aspire towards. I do have a spare set of headlights that I will swap in while this is ongoing : the actual ones on my car are pretty dull yellow and need a hard-core reworking similar to the above. Thanks again for the advice all concerned - need to buy in a series of fine & finer grit wet and dry sheets now.

 

[Vic]

So today sanded and polished headlight. Started with 400 sandpaper, then 800, 1500 and 2000. Then polished with Farecla g3 paste and finished with Menzerna 3500. Will see how long it will last. Next time will try add laquer after 800 sandpaper.

Before:

View attachment 42857View attachment 42858

After 800 sandpaper:

View attachment 42859

After 2000 sandpaper:

View attachment 42860

Final result:

View attachment 42861View attachment 42862

After 8 months no yellowish but there are small scrathes because of ice and snow cleaning, sand and other dirt from road.

There is the same headlight pictured today. As you can see there are marks from winter time in zoomed photo.
Still thinking to just polish again or also add some lacquer.

 

[A2 Louis]

wet and dry, 1000, then 2000, then 3000, all wet with a little washing up liquid in warm water, personally I would always remove the head light from the car, but to each there own.
Then dry and polish with tooth paste or cutting compound, this should result in a crystal clear 'glass', if not continue with the cutting compound until crystal clear.
Now you need to seal the 'glass' to prevent UV deterioration, a good car polish applied every couple of weeks should do the trick, however I will be trying 2K clear lacquer as this is 100% UV stable and stops paint from oxidising so I see no reason why it should not do the same trick for the lights, plus a little black paint in the lacquer will result in a nice tint to the glass (I run 55W HID's in projectors so a little light attenuation is acceptable)

Would wax work instead of cutting compound?

Thanks

 

[Vic]

No. Wax only covers/masks scratches.
Cutting compound will remove micro scrathes. Use compound.

 

[Josall]

I saw these advertised at Aldi recently and wondered if anyone had tried it?

https://www.aldi.co.uk/search?q=Headlight+restoration+kit

 

[A2 Louis]

I saw these advertised at Aldi recently and wondered if anyone had tried it?

https://www.aldi.co.uk/search?q=Headlight+restoration+kit

A2 1.6 FSI Sport purchased for my dad

Hi everyone I picked up this 86k mile Crystal blue 1.6 FSI a couple of weeks ago for my dad to replace his ageing Ford Ka. I work for Audi so was very keen to get him in a car wearing the Four Rings! First impressions are so far so good. I’d never driven an A2 before so didn’t know what to...

www.a2oc.net

Check this thread

 

[A2 Louis]

No. Wax only covers/masks scratches.
Cutting compound will remove micro scrathes. Use compound.

Will this cutting compound work ?

Thanks

 

[Vic]

Yes it will work.

Also buy polishing pad and use polishing machine. If you do not have polishing machine you can use drill. This will save a lot of time and the result will be better.

 

[Spaceframe16]

The Qixx and Autoglym kits are both ok, but you have some good advice above !

The last Audi ones I did were a mk1 TT which are notorious for fading. It takes time but wet sanding and lacquer applied in several layers with enough time between really works.

The only tip I can add to other ideas is if you warm up a can of lacquer in a bucket of water, just make sure you dry it off before shaking it near your recently sprayed light.....

 

[simes2024]

Tried Autoglym Headlight Restoration Complete Kit and am quite pleased with results for a £20 kit. Pictures in chronological order attached. Apologies if you've seen it all before and find the subject dull (which the headlights were before )

 

[A2Dreamer]

Nice - you've inspired me to pull the finger out and do mine...!!.... Or..... you could pop up to Bedford and do mine..

 

[audifan]

For headlights this is the product I use. It is easier and produces less mess. For best results use a polishing machine and after a couple of passes the headlights are pretty much good as new. Seal the "glass" with a good quality wax and reapply every few months. Do not use clear lacquer.