the restore kits work ok there like 15 bucks at the auto store but they will fog back up in less than 3 months….
Jun 5, 2015, 12:57 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
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Foggy Headlights
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
2003 Mercedes C320 Sport Sedan
Foggy Headlights
The headlights on my '03 C320 have gotten pretty foggy, but I don't want to buy new ones and/or spend a lot of money in trying to restore them. Does the headlight restoration system actually work? I've heard a lot of people say that this does not work so great, I'm not sure. Any ideas?
thanks
thanks
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Redwood City, CA
2003 C230K Sedan
I have not tried the lens restorer kits myself and I'm curious about them as well. Perhaps i'll try it after i install my new eyes when i get a clear day w/o rain. Also, my uncle owns several mercedes' (190E 2.3 16v, E320 sport wagon, 500 SL) and what he does to clean up all the buildup on the headlights is just to wet sand it with some really fine grit sandpaper and an occasional rub down of some lacquer thinner in between the sanding.
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2006 C280
You can use "FW1 CLEANING WAX WITH CARNAUBA" on your headlights/fog lights as well. It will take out the oxidation. I have used it before and it worked surprisingly well. Just spray it on, leave it for a couple minutes, and rub it out with a shammy with a little pressure.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
C230
I have not tried the lens restorer kits myself and I'm curious about them as well. Perhaps i'll try it after i install my new eyes when i get a clear day w/o rain. Also, my uncle owns several mercedes' (190E 2.3 16v, E320 sport wagon, 500 SL) and what he does to clean up all the buildup on the headlights is just to wet sand it with some really fine grit sandpaper and an occasional rub down of some lacquer thinner in between the sanding.
Wetsand with high grit sandpaper.
Use buffer and some compound.
Then follow with the buffer and some polish.
Lastly, use the buffer with some wax and you should be good for quite some time. Only thing is, few months down the line. The hazing will come back so you have to repeat. Make sure to tape and mask off the area which isn't worked on or you risk burning through your paint. Not really tedious and the results are awesome. Headlights look like when the car rolled off the assembly line.
Last edited by second2none; Apr 2, 2010 at 12:07 AM.
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Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 226
Likes: 6
From: Northern CA
CLK55 AMG, SL55 AMG, C55 AMG
Any good lightly adhesive-based polish will work and if you can apply via buffer as opposed to hand with a light cut pad like a LC White pad, you can correct most surface defects from headlight plastic very easily.
When mine get fuzzy, I hit it with a little Megs 205 or DP Glass Polish, or other similar compound with an orbital buffer on a white or black pad, then finish out with a good sealer like Duragloss 105 or Klasse, etc by hand to protect.
There is a thread on Autopia where a forum member uses a mixture of linseed oil and mineral spirits that he swears by, so there are some creative methods out there to address this.
When mine get fuzzy, I hit it with a little Megs 205 or DP Glass Polish, or other similar compound with an orbital buffer on a white or black pad, then finish out with a good sealer like Duragloss 105 or Klasse, etc by hand to protect.
There is a thread on Autopia where a forum member uses a mixture of linseed oil and mineral spirits that he swears by, so there are some creative methods out there to address this.
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
2005/ C-320
Brake fluid will work
I never tried this but one of my friends told me once that brake fluid will work just fine.
Be careful not to get that in touch with the paint since it will remove the paint of your car.
Be careful not to get that in touch with the paint since it will remove the paint of your car.
Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 226
Likes: 2
From: Toronto, Ontario
'15 C400, 03' C240, '79 240D
I've seen them do it on PowerBlock TV with toothpaste (srs), since toothpaste is a degreaser / polisher it generally works in the same way as those polishing kits but at a fraction of the cost. The results aren't as good as those kits but for pennies it actually does a decent job.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 2
From: Orlando, FL
2003 C320 4Matic
^^ can't wait!
and actually i've heard about that toothpaste trick, apparently it works pretty well
shiaatt, toothpaste makes pimples go away too, its a miracle paste lol
I was getting my alignment done the other day and the shop had the 3M headlight restoration kit, and the guy working the desk was telling me how he just did it on his car and it was amazing blah blah, not sure if he was just pushing a sale or was for real (although he seemed pretty sincere, talked to him for about an hour about cars and such and he knew his stuff)
and actually i've heard about that toothpaste trick, apparently it works pretty well
shiaatt, toothpaste makes pimples go away too, its a miracle paste lol
I was getting my alignment done the other day and the shop had the 3M headlight restoration kit, and the guy working the desk was telling me how he just did it on his car and it was amazing blah blah, not sure if he was just pushing a sale or was for real (although he seemed pretty sincere, talked to him for about an hour about cars and such and he knew his stuff)
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2006 C55 AMG
thanks so much for the help guys. i appreciate you and people like you. it's nice 2 know every1 isn't just out for themselves these days. i will do my best to pay it 4ward. the only thing is, i'm a big dummy where this stuff is concerned. i have got 2 replace the cps and don't know if i should even try. i'm afraid 2 screw something else up on top of that. but thanks again.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
2002 c230 sportcoupe kompressor
White toothpaste will work. I am actually going to do my headlights tomorrow. The white paste kind. (not gel...no whitening) Wipe on like wax to a haze, then remove with a lil water with another towel. It works pretty well for a dollar.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,657
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
2005 C230K(sold), Mk7 Jetta
To make it more or less permanent, you will need to clear coat the headlights after polishing. By polishing you are removing the factory protective coat, that's why they haze up so fast.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
From: NY, NY
2004 C240 4matic, 2009 C300 4Matic
I used the Turtle wax product, and it worked like a charm on my dads volkswagen. However i used the same product on my 230k and didn't get the same results. Try everything that they said above, it doesn't hurt
city, cleaning, find, fw1, headlight, headlights, lacquer, mercedes, powerblock, redwood, restoration, sand, thinner, toothpaste, wax, wet
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