Sandblasted headlights
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Sandblasted headlights
Has anyone dealt with the 2012+ headlights and trying to restore them (although I'm sure previous years were same material). My cars headlights look fairly fine until the headlights are on and at night with the headlights on it's quite noticeable. They have some super fine chips that I can just barely feel with the edge of my nail but are sandblasted looking for the most part. They aren't foggy or yellow at all. I've read good things about both the 3m and meguires heavy duty headlight kids (similar), but I'm worried about messing up what I assume are pretty expensive headlights. I'm almost wonder if some sort of self leveling coating over top might help without having to shave down the headlight until it's got a fresh layer. I'm interested in what you guys have had results with. Is it safe to just use one of the typical kits?
Here are some pics below with lights on, on a fairly sunny day, they look the same but more obvious at night.
Here are some pics below with lights on, on a fairly sunny day, they look the same but more obvious at night.
#2
Senior Member
They’re plastic lenses and what you’re seeing is normal wear/tear. My lights are wrapped in PPF which prevents this.
If you do end end up using a kit, just make sure you use PPF to to prevent pitting and yellowing. Usually when you sand down the lights it removes the UV protection and will yellow quicker next time around.
If you do end end up using a kit, just make sure you use PPF to to prevent pitting and yellowing. Usually when you sand down the lights it removes the UV protection and will yellow quicker next time around.
#3
Senior Member
There are people selling just the lenses for these now , and in the summer I will be removing my lights and completely swapping the lenses . Also while they are apart I will be blacking them out . Ebay and amazon sell these .
#4
Super Member
To fully get rid of it, the lenses will have to be replaced entirely. The amount of sanding/wet sanding you'd have to do to remove the sand blasting will end up being detrimental to the lense. The UV/scratch resistant coat will be removed; the lights will yellow, fog/haze and scatch much more easily. This can be slowed down with PPF, but it's best to buy new lenses, install them, and immediately have PPF applied to them to prevent it from happening all over again
#6
Super Member
Thread Starter
That's kind of what I was worried about I'm sure there would be plenty of thickness left and I know there is products out there to put a coating back on like opti-lens headlight coating, although it's about 100cad for a syringe. So is my only real downside losing the coating? There's got to be somehow whos tried the wetsanding/ headlight kit method that has some results/experience to share.
#7
Senior Member
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#8
MBWorld Fanatic!
http://www.headlight-headlamp.com/Me...nt-Repair.html
Have you found other sources?
#10
Super Member
That's kind of what I was worried about I'm sure there would be plenty of thickness left and I know there is products out there to put a coating back on like opti-lens headlight coating, although it's about 100cad for a syringe. So is my only real downside losing the coating? There's got to be somehow whos tried the wetsanding/ headlight kit method that has some results/experience to share.
edit: that weird mark you see on the top lense is actually a haze formed in the inner lense, that part did not come out with wet sanding/polish, both lenses in this pic have been polished/sanded
Unfortunately with the headlights on, it still illuminates a lot of the pitting. The downside of losing that UV coating is a big one - I'd keep your headlights the way they are, maybe with a minor polishing, and apply PPF now before it gets worse
#11
MBWorld Fanatic!
My suggestion once their all cleaned up, is to install Paint Protection Film (PPF) this will protect your headlights for years to come. I'm having my fog lights done tomorrow, as I've had to install two new sets due to cracked lenses in just over a years time on my E63
#12
Senior Member
Mine are weird I have stains inside the lens themselves , some imperfections on the outside but it bothers me . Plus I want to black out the inside so might as well swap the lenses .
#14
#15
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#16
Super Member
Thread Starter
I thought the original owner lived on a gravel road or something, I had no idea this was such a "thing". My car only has 50k KM on it and I've never had a car with this issue before. Weird.
#18
2. They seem original, they had the same markings as my old ones.
3. I have one but it looks terrible. I will take some more this weekend and post them up.
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Funkwagen (03-16-2018)
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Jasonoff (03-17-2018)
#20
MBWorld Fanatic!
Here are the pics. I didn't take any before pics except the ones posted. The lights on is before I replaced the lens.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4a3b4f4d5f.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...9c146ebf72.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...5e325e7484.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...def0784715.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...2ef4a2f1ee.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d20884e84d.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...98c694aab5.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4a3b4f4d5f.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...9c146ebf72.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...5e325e7484.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...def0784715.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...2ef4a2f1ee.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d20884e84d.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...98c694aab5.jpg
#21
Super Member
Thread Starter
Junaidh how hard was the process? I live in a very rainy climate and I'd be worried I wouldn't get them sealed properly again. Or ruin them when taking off the old ones for that matter.
#22
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2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
#23
It is pretty straight forward and you can use the old sealant if you wanted, just make sure to heat up the lights once you have them back together and moisture will not get in.
#24
MBWorld Fanatic!
To fully get rid of it, the lenses will have to be replaced entirely. The amount of sanding/wet sanding you'd have to do to remove the sand blasting will end up being detrimental to the lense. The UV/scratch resistant coat will be removed; the lights will yellow, fog/haze and scatch much more easily. This can be slowed down with PPF, but it's best to buy new lenses, install them, and immediately have PPF applied to them to prevent it from happening all over again
I did 2 Toyotas - 2004 and 2008 - that stumbled around in the dark the lighting was so poor and when I got done I can see the glow of a stop sign in the dark country side nearly 3/4 of a mile down the road.
I bought a $20 kit and didn't even use the drill polisher. Took about 30 minutes by hand for each car.
I would be concerned about sealing the units if replacing the lens and off gassing from a sealant MAY affect the mirrors
An easy and inexpensive way to restore the lenses.
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BLKROKT (03-22-2018)
#25
MBWorld Fanatic!
Totally disagree with your answer. As noted above you can refinish the lens and putting at PPF coating in them will help keep them fresh.
I did 2 Toyotas - 2004 and 2008 - that stumbled around in the dark the lighting was so poor and when I got done I can see the glow of a stop sign in the dark country side nearly 3/4 of a mile down the road.
I bought a $20 kit and didn't even use the drill polisher. Took about 30 minutes by hand for each car.
I would be concerned about sealing the units if replacing the lens and off gassing from a sealant MAY affect the mirrors
An easy and inexpensive way to restore the lenses.
I did 2 Toyotas - 2004 and 2008 - that stumbled around in the dark the lighting was so poor and when I got done I can see the glow of a stop sign in the dark country side nearly 3/4 of a mile down the road.
I bought a $20 kit and didn't even use the drill polisher. Took about 30 minutes by hand for each car.
I would be concerned about sealing the units if replacing the lens and off gassing from a sealant MAY affect the mirrors
An easy and inexpensive way to restore the lenses.
You'd need to sand it down to the original plastic to remove the cracked, pitted film. Since there's no easy way to control how much material you're removing, you'd likely just end up compromising the lens like was mentioned above.
So I ordered new lenses.
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Funkwagen (03-22-2018)