DIY: Cleaned my headlamps

[Bilaltq]

Note- the entire process from start (making the decision to not be waila and clean my headlamps, and going to the store to get the kit) to finish (when I started typing the word "Note-") took 50 minutes.

The pack I got was for $22.99. It seemed simpler and.. well cheaper than @haider99's solution (@haider99's solution). Plus all the materials were used up and there was no excess, so that was good.

Before I begin, here's my projector cutoff the night before. I wanted to see if cleaning the headlamps would improve it.

Starting with the project.

Before starting:

Step 1:
Use a spray bottle or a paper towel to wet the headlight and sand paper. This was 1000 grit. Wet sand for 3 minutes. Keep spraying the headlight so that the area remains wet while sanding.

Wipe off the residue completely with a paper towel:

I'll continue below...

[Bilaltq]

Step 2:
Using 2500 grit sand paper, wet sand the headlight again:

Then wipe off with a paper towel (From the right headlight. I forgot to take pictures of the left because I was trying not to screw up):

[dr3vil]

sanding them might be help full keep em coming my car's head light has a big scrach hope i clean it with ur process

[Storm]

discolouration is common on the vitz and the W210 E-class. i used car polish, mixed with a little brasso liquid (could have used cutting creme and polish mix as well). when finished i hit it with pure polish and the results were similar.

plastic lenses can only be treated 1-2 times and then they will become weak.

@all
do make sure you keep the headlight wet when sanding otherwise you'll form hotspots which can cause the lamp cover to warp.

[Bilaltq]

Step 3:
The kit came with a "CV-1" and "CV-2" pack... I have no idea what it was.

It also came with a microfiber sort of cloth to wipe the solutions with.

• I put the CV-1 solution on first.
• Use the other side of the cloth to take the solution off.

Then,

• CV-2 solution goes on. It's viscous like water, so it soaks into the applicator.
• Just put it on like a coat of paint.
• Wait for it to dry, then the second coat of the same CV-2 goes on.

Here's the result for the left side:

...yes I screwed it up a little bit.

[963]

nyc.....did the light increse

[MominHaq]

Excellent stuff bilal, waiting for the cutoff pictures.

If you can get your hands on a clear coat spray bottle, then that will keep your work preserved for a longer period.

[iLLDuDe786]

you should have also done this on the foglamps

[daniyalahmad]

well well well
There is a visible difference (Y)
waiting for the night time view to see the improvement

[Bilaltq]

Now on the left side:

1000 grit saned:

2500 grit sanded:

[JuGnO]

nice work
probably will help a lot of ppl
also mention the alternate coating materials if any...

[Bilaltq]

After using and polishing the CV-1 solution on the left light:

First coat of the CV-2 Solution:

Second coat of the CV-2 Solution:

[Bilaltq]

sanding them might be help full keep em coming my car's head light has a big scrach hope i clean it with ur process

While sanding my right headlight, I saw there was a pretty deep scratch on a corner. After finishing the sanding, the scratch was still there...

[Bilaltq]

nice work
probably will help a lot of ppl
also mention the alternate coating materials if any...

I honestly wish I knew. I'll see if I can find some solution on the market that might work in the same way.
Read haider99's thread to see what he used- it was by Meguiars.

[Bilaltq]

nyc.....did the light increse

Excellent stuff bilal, waiting for the cutoff pictures.

If you can get your hands on a clear coat spray bottle, then that will keep your work preserved for a longer period.

Let's wait and see what happens tonight, then!

[Bilaltq]

you should have also done this on the foglamps

The fog lamps both burnt out a couple of months ago. I'll probably clean them when I replace the bulbs.

well well well
There is a visible difference (Y)
waiting for the night time view to see the improvement

I was surprised myself! But it really made a difference.
Let's see how it is tonight.

[daniyalahmad]

^ Okaye!
waiting for tonight

[Bilaltq]

And here's the cutoff:

The cutoff hasn't improved dramatically, but the visibility is AMAZING on low and high ranges.

[PWSHURTAH]

I see more lumens being put on the road!

Where did you get this kit exactly?

[Bilaltq]

I see more lumens being put on the road!

Where did you get this kit exactly?

Advance auto parts for $22.99. It's available at Kmart too... apparently. Plus it's locally made (in my town!), so that was a bit of a plus (i'm a sucker for supporting small business).
The second choice was the 3M kit.