How to restore your plastic headlights

[TDCTDI]

For those of us that have later model VWs with plastic headlights have been plagued with poor light output due to hazy, yellowed lenses. We all have tried buffing, tooth paste, & even those crappy do it yourself kits at the parts stores. This is the best way that I have found to restore them & improve nighttime visibility & it lasts for 5-7 years.

First off, I like to remove the lights. Some people mask off the surrounding body work but I find it easier to work with them out of the car.

Then I wet sand the oxidized plastic off with 800 grit sand paper.

After sanding & rinsing the headlights, I wipe them down with a degreaser (test that the product you use doesn't react with the plastic.).

I had restored the cleaner headlight on the right 4-5 years ago but wanted it to match the yellowed replacement one next to it.

I use an automotive grade two part clear in a can. The clear coat that you can buy in parts & hardware stores is lacquer based & yellows within a year where this does not.

You remove the red button from the lid, put it on the pin in the base of the can & firmly push it down on a solid surface & shake the can.

Then I lightly mist the headlights with a first coat & let it dry. If you try to lay this paint on in just a few initial coats, it reacts with the plastic & causes the plastic to "craze" or cause a bunch of fine little cracks in the surface.
After it has dried, then I paint the lights with a couple more coats to "flow out" the scratches caused by the sanding.

If try to do as many lights at a time due to the cost of the clear coat & one can will do about 30 lights, a good days work at $100 for the pair.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Old n' slow]

Did you mean $100 for the can of two part clear ?

If so I see why you do a boat load at one time.....thanks for sharing.
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Currently own : 1969 Beetle w/ 1600cc, Single Port, Solex 30 PICT 2, Dist. 113 905 205 T, stock exhaust.
All my daily drivers gone but not forgotten;

1964(sunroof)1967 & (2)1968 Beetles , 1968 Squareback , 1963 (23 window )Deluxe Sunroof Bus , 1969 Westphalia camper, 1974 Dasher , 1985 Vanagon , (2) 1981 Rabbit Diesels & a 1991 Jetta Diesel .

[TDCTDI]

No sir, about $23 for the clear. You only have about 24 hours to use the whole can once you mix the activator. $100 is about the going rate to restore each pair of headlights locally.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Old n' slow]

Yes, I see now. Just did a little internet search about $25 with shipping. Thanks.
_________________
Currently own : 1969 Beetle w/ 1600cc, Single Port, Solex 30 PICT 2, Dist. 113 905 205 T, stock exhaust.
All my daily drivers gone but not forgotten;

1964(sunroof)1967 & (2)1968 Beetles , 1968 Squareback , 1963 (23 window )Deluxe Sunroof Bus , 1969 Westphalia camper, 1974 Dasher , 1985 Vanagon , (2) 1981 Rabbit Diesels & a 1991 Jetta Diesel .