Hey Guys-- I polished my headlights today because there are rock chips all over them. Below are simple steps on how to DIY...maybe the admin can STICKY this write.
It is much easier to do them when the headlights are removed from the car.
1) I got some 600, 1500 and 2000 grit wet sandpaper, a bucket of very warm water mixed with dish washing soap, and a car wash sponge.
NOTE: Use dish washing soap. You don't want to use car soap because it contains waxes that hinder what you are trying to do.
2) I got the headlight wet with the sponge and got the 600 grit sandpaper wet in the bucket and started sanding... always going in straight lines (don't swirl!!!)
3) After doing this till I felt that I had gotten the majority of little dings out, I followed it up with the 1500, and then 2000 grit sand paper in the same fashion to make the plastic smooth. The plastic at this point is very cloudy.
4) I used 3M rubbing compound which I poured onto the headlights and then took an air buffer and buffed it out.
***At this point you will be saying WOW!!!!
5) When I got home later I realized that I could still see just a few tiny tiny tiny scratches when the lights were on, so I decided to wip out my Clear Plastic Collection from Meguiars which I got for like $25.
6) I just applied the plastic cleaner as directed which filled in the scratch marks
7) Then I applied the plastic polisher as directed and wooohooooo!
Before
After:
It is much easier to do them when the headlights are removed from the car.
1) I got some 600, 1500 and 2000 grit wet sandpaper, a bucket of very warm water mixed with dish washing soap, and a car wash sponge.
NOTE: Use dish washing soap. You don't want to use car soap because it contains waxes that hinder what you are trying to do.
2) I got the headlight wet with the sponge and got the 600 grit sandpaper wet in the bucket and started sanding... always going in straight lines (don't swirl!!!)
3) After doing this till I felt that I had gotten the majority of little dings out, I followed it up with the 1500, and then 2000 grit sand paper in the same fashion to make the plastic smooth. The plastic at this point is very cloudy.
4) I used 3M rubbing compound which I poured onto the headlights and then took an air buffer and buffed it out.
***At this point you will be saying WOW!!!!
5) When I got home later I realized that I could still see just a few tiny tiny tiny scratches when the lights were on, so I decided to wip out my Clear Plastic Collection from Meguiars which I got for like $25.
6) I just applied the plastic cleaner as directed which filled in the scratch marks
7) Then I applied the plastic polisher as directed and wooohooooo!
Before
After: