Fixed Yellow Haze on Headlights Today
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Joined: Jun 2007
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01 e430
Fixed Yellow Haze on Headlights Today
I have about 115k miles, and can't bring myself to buy another car since this one is still running tops. But was wondering what I could do to freshen up it's looks. Those yellow headlights (kinda like yellow teeth - ewww) could use some brightening up.
Well, I finally took some time to clean up my headlights. Just did a quick search on google and found this simple proceedure.
1. Sand with 600, then 1000, then 2000 wet sand paper.
2. polish with mother's mag metal polish (rub it in good then wipe off)
3. use sponge to rub in rubbing compound then wipe off.(I bought turtlewax)
I did everything by hand, no power tools (which would have been easier). 2 hours later and I'm really proud of the results!
Still need to do the fog lights, maybe later. They are pitted pretty bad.
Here are some pics. Whatcha think? Pretty nice, eh?
Well, I finally took some time to clean up my headlights. Just did a quick search on google and found this simple proceedure.
1. Sand with 600, then 1000, then 2000 wet sand paper.
2. polish with mother's mag metal polish (rub it in good then wipe off)
3. use sponge to rub in rubbing compound then wipe off.(I bought turtlewax)
I did everything by hand, no power tools (which would have been easier). 2 hours later and I'm really proud of the results!
Still need to do the fog lights, maybe later. They are pitted pretty bad.
Here are some pics. Whatcha think? Pretty nice, eh?
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 259
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From: COSTA MESA
99' E320 4MATIC ESTATE / 92' 190E 2.6
I have read all the ways that people have used this or that grit with special polish whatever. I fixed my 99 e320 headlights with the "over the counter" product available at any autoparts chain. Worked perfectly.
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Nice job
diy on benzworld.org w210 diy section if anyone wants to see the diy pictorial.
Now install www.danielsternlighting.com H7 65watt rally bulbs in the high and low sockets and really show off the new clarity.
ohlord
wet sand by hand and menzerna intensive polish on a rotary buffer at 1000 rpm takes about 15 minutes,you must have really worked up a sweat doing it all by
hand
Now install www.danielsternlighting.com H7 65watt rally bulbs in the high and low sockets and really show off the new clarity.
ohlordwet sand by hand and menzerna intensive polish on a rotary buffer at 1000 rpm takes about 15 minutes,you must have really worked up a sweat doing it all by
hand
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2007
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01 e430
Yeah, I sweat a lot! I live in an apartment, so I couldn't run an extension cord out. I don't have any power tools anyway.
I just noticed, if you look at the bottom two pictures, you can use the mercedes hood ornament like a sun dial and estimate how long it took me to do the left side headlights.
I just noticed, if you look at the bottom two pictures, you can use the mercedes hood ornament like a sun dial and estimate how long it took me to do the left side headlights.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,219
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From: MD
w210 AMG or S213
I have also heard that wet newsprint (newspaper) and white toothpaste also work well. I have tried the newspaper thing on my Altima with turtle wax and it does a good job but they have back over pretty quickly.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2007
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01 e430
I just drove it out tonight, and the lights are much brighter now too!
Also, I now have sunburn on my forearms and my whole upper body is sore down to my finger tips. Don't have much left of fingerprints right now either.
So be sure to add some suntan block to the list above.
Last edited by Robert Rogers; Aug 9, 2008 at 11:04 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,856
Likes: 7
From: Socal
07E63, 12E350, 08997TT, 16SiennaSE
I have about 115k miles, and can't bring myself to buy another car since this one is still running tops. But was wondering what I could do to freshen up it's looks. Those yellow headlights (kinda like yellow teeth - ewww) could use some brightening up.
Well, I finally took some time to clean up my headlights. Just did a quick search on google and found this simple proceedure.
1. Sand with 600, then 1000, then 2000 wet sand paper.
2. polish with mother's mag metal polish (rub it in good then wipe off)
3. use sponge to rub in rubbing compound then wipe off.(I bought turtlewax)
I did everything by hand, no power tools (which would have been easier). 2 hours later and I'm really proud of the results!
Still need to do the fog lights, maybe later. They are pitted pretty bad.
Here are some pics. Whatcha think? Pretty nice, eh?
Well, I finally took some time to clean up my headlights. Just did a quick search on google and found this simple proceedure.
1. Sand with 600, then 1000, then 2000 wet sand paper.
2. polish with mother's mag metal polish (rub it in good then wipe off)
3. use sponge to rub in rubbing compound then wipe off.(I bought turtlewax)
I did everything by hand, no power tools (which would have been easier). 2 hours later and I'm really proud of the results!
Still need to do the fog lights, maybe later. They are pitted pretty bad.
Here are some pics. Whatcha think? Pretty nice, eh?
NICE!! I'm going to try it on my fog light.
thanks
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: CA BayArea
1997 C36AMG
way to go
i did this to my car as well...be sure to seal those lights with something on the top, like 3m film, cuz over time it will start to get all orange again. thanks lighting me up a bit Ohlord. it's fun talkin with all the w210 owners, i miss the days of being one!
Thread Starter
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01 e430
I got to the fog lights this morning. They are real GLASS. They were pitted so bad, I actually started with some 80grit sandpaper I found. Didn't make much difference as you can see in the close up. You can see where the glass was behind the bumper verses exposed to the road. Still, they look better now.
One light was broken, so I tried some glue, but it didn't hold. Given the badly pitted glass and the other broken, I should have just bought new lenses.
Anyway, off to the carwash!
After the car wash
One light was broken, so I tried some glue, but it didn't hold. Given the badly pitted glass and the other broken, I should have just bought new lenses.
Anyway, off to the carwash!
After the car wash
Last edited by Robert Rogers; Aug 10, 2008 at 02:59 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 416
Likes: 6
From: Reno 911
2008 S63 AMG Designo Edition
Toopaste is a mild abraisive. It's also good for rubbing out paint blemishes too. It's basically just like rubbing compound.
Has anyone used Brasso? Have a cop friend who says that's what they use to keep their lights on top of their cars nice and clear and clean.
Has anyone used Brasso? Have a cop friend who says that's what they use to keep their lights on top of their cars nice and clear and clean.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5
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w210 e320 wagon
3M project - last weekend
I bought the 3M headlight restorer kit for $17 at Autozone. Attach to power drill. Start with 500 grit, then 800 grit, then wet sand with 3000 grit. Put on the foam applicator with the supplied polish, and voila. It took me one hour total to do all four lights. Makes the headlights look brand-new!
I would post pics, but my before and after looked identical to the pics above.
I would post pics, but my before and after looked identical to the pics above.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,171
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Home made kit
any body shop supply or local auto parts store 1000 grit wet paper and 2000 grit wet paper,soak each in a bucket with a few drops of dish soap for 1/2 hour,tape off the chrome rings and body around the lights.Sand with the 1000 grit in a vertical motion and rinse then repeat until lightly hazed.Rinse and dry repeat with 2000 grit repeat and dry.Get a buffing wheel for a drill at lowes and some plastx by meguires from autozone and buff till polished,always keeping the drill moving.Or if you like the workout do it by hand per above.
then throw in the super rally H7 65 watt bulbs from
www.danielsternlighting.com
and light up the night
then throw in the super rally H7 65 watt bulbs from
www.danielsternlighting.com
and light up the night
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 180
Likes: 2
From: Georgia
2020 S560, 2020 SLC43, 2022 RAM Longhorn Limited, 2025 Genesis GV80 Prestige
Mine are not yellow, but are rock-pitted. Can I fix that the same way? I'm not sure if the material is the same for my 02 430 SE
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 355
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2007 S-550, 2001 E-430 & 1997 E-420
It is if you have ramp or some thing to lift the front end of car. Once you remove both oil pan belly pan and front belly pan, you can see the fog light.
There is one 8 mm Torx screw holding it to bumper. Once you remove the light from bumper then you can remove the lense by removing the 3 small clips.
I just orderded 2 new lenses from AutohouseAZ for $12 each and swaped it.
It took me about an hour to raise the front end of car and then go under it and remove the fog light assembly.
One hint don't undo the wiring connector from housing. It is easier to do it with wiring still intake. The connector is pretty rusty and may break the wires.
There is one 8 mm Torx screw holding it to bumper. Once you remove the light from bumper then you can remove the lense by removing the 3 small clips.
I just orderded 2 new lenses from AutohouseAZ for $12 each and swaped it.
It took me about an hour to raise the front end of car and then go under it and remove the fog light assembly.
One hint don't undo the wiring connector from housing. It is easier to do it with wiring still intake. The connector is pretty rusty and may break the wires.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 53
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
E430
Hi,
I apologize for asking so many questions. It is that i would like to clean or fix all of my head/fog lights before the winter season.
How would like to remove all of those pans, how would i do so?
Thanks.
I apologize for asking so many questions. It is that i would like to clean or fix all of my head/fog lights before the winter season.
How would like to remove all of those pans, how would i do so?
Thanks.
