Plastic headlights haze over from UV and road sandblasting: less light, an older-looking car. You don't need new lights — acrylic glass (PMMA) polishes back, and the result lasts years when protected.
What you need
- HLP 1 Headlight Polish — the cutting stage;
- HLP 2 Headlight Polish 2 — the finishing stage;
- a medium polishing pad and microfiber;
- masking tape for the hood and bumper edges.
The process
1. Wash and mask. Clean the light and tape off the surrounding panels — HLP 1 is aggressive enough to mar clear coat.
2. HLP 1. Work at low RPM (1200–1500) in cross-hatch passes with light pressure. The hazed layer comes off in 2–4 passes. Hand application with a pad works too — slower but safer for a first-timer.
3. HLP 2. Switch to a soft pad and refine to full clarity. Wipe down with clean microfiber.
4. Protect. Polished acrylic without protection hazes again within six months. Apply a protective coating — ceramic or a sealant.
When polishing won't help
If the haze is inside the housing (condensation, burnt reflector) or there are deep cracks, exterior polishing won't fix it. In every other case an hour of work returns 90–95% of clarity.
Both compounds are in stock in Chișinău in Polishing compounds.
