Scratched headlights - restoration kit??

[Graham C]

My S2 elise has headlights that have a kind of yellow scratched effect on the black part of the headlamp lens. I have had a look online and have come across the 3M headlight restoration kit. Apparently you sand down the lamp with ever finer grades of sandpaper and then buff with special compound and the lamps come up as new.

Following further search, I've come across an American forum where someone had done this job on an Elise with good results.

Given the price of the lenses, I am naturally wary, but the 3M kit gets great reviews. I wondered if any of you had lamps with a similar yellowing scratched effect on the black part of the lens and whether any of you had used the 3M kit (or a similar one) to good effect or not?

Cheers,

Graham

[jj]

I've used the kit and had good results - I used the Meguiars one. They really are as good as the reviews suggest. You're basically sanding off the weathered layer and repolishing it. I didn't use it on a Lotus but the premise is the same on most cars with plastic lenses.

[mwmackenzie]

I have a detailer going to look at mine some time this week, I'll try and get pic of before and after

[Graham C]

If you have the same effect on your headlight lenses, it would be good to hear what your detailer thinks.

Graham

[mwmackenzie]

I took some before pics a wee while ago..

Are yours like this??

[111Robin]

I used the 3M kit on a BMW 5 series, the lamp covers were almost opaque. After sanding and polishing they came up like new. Takes a fair amount of time but far cheaper than new covers.

[mwmackenzie]

I see Meguires have a kit in Halfords at £22.50, I don't want to waste money on kits if they're not going to work so if a detailer doesn't get them sorted he won't get paid lol

[Graham C]

struggling to load an image but yes, mine look very similar to yours. Mine is a 2003 and I think has lived outside in years gone by. I suspect the uv does this to the lens. She's now housed in my garage! Keen to see what your detailer thinks and if other S2 owners have had similar issues....?

[Callummarshall]

It's the Uv Ray's that do the damage, eat up the plastic. As others have said these kits do work, you are just removing the damaged top layer of plastic. and you can be as pernickety as you like with them, 3m and meguires are both readily avalable and effective.

Also I'd suggest useing low tack detaling tape to mask off the rubber edges, prevents damage and saves polish/plastic build up on/under them.
Do each grade in one direction ie one grade horazontal movements then the next vertical, then the next horavontal and so fourth, when you can no longer see the marks from the previous sanding grade you can move on to the next.

[BigD]

Good tip on the directional sanding. I think I'd just take them off to do them. Less chance of damaging other surrounding bits.

[mwmackenzie]

I think I'll remove mine to clean rather than mask

[james.beaumont1]

I'm needing to do this on mine too. Do the kits come with a treatment/costing for re-protect them or just leaving them as they are? Does anyone have a before and after shot with the kit?

[james.beaumont1]

Also has anyone done the seal delete? http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f92/diy ... 010?page=1

[dewarcraig]

I've just bought some to use ob my daily and after a fair bit of research, bought the Sylvania kit from the states.

This kit has a lifetime guarantee on its replacement clearcoat UV coating - sounds great indeed, but only took delivery this week and so havent used it yet.

I bought it off this guy and it arrived within days with no import duty

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav= ... 58&alt=web

Craig.

[james.beaumont1]

I've just bought some to use ob my daily and after a fair bit of research, bought the Sylvania kit from the states.

This kit has a lifetime guarantee on its replacement clearcoat UV coating - sounds great indeed, but only took delivery this week and so havent used it yet.

I bought it off this guy and it arrived within days with no import duty

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav= ... 58&alt=web

Craig.

That looks perfect. Can you update us with how it goes?