W210 lights 2002 model polishing possible?

[cellarmerc]

Hi, how can I make the lens's on the 2002 w210 look better by polishing them effectively without damage , as I saw on Youtube a video saying they were actually plastic and could be damaged by machine polishing (not that I have a polisher though).

Thanks for any advice on making them look better.
Tony

 

[adam87]

Have they gone dull and cloudy like pictured?


If so then then they'd need wetsanding, something I wouldn't advise unless experienced. But can save having to buy new lights.












After wetsanding, compounding and polishing they can end up looking new...

 

[fuzzer]

never done it myself , but its all the rage over on detailingworld.

heres a vid for you. YouTube - Headlight Restoration - Wetsanding and Polishing HD

 

[adam87]

It is do able with not much experience. If you were going to buy new lights if you can't get them looking nice again then it would be a great time to have ago. If new lights arn't an option then I'd leave them or get them done professionally.

 

[gkerr4]

I agree with the above - it can be hard work and require wet-sanding.

I would say, though, that if that puts you off then it would be worth a few quid on a tub of meguiars plastx product - clear plastics are exactly what it is aimed at - it's good stuff - I use it on front and both light clusters on both our cars and my motorcycles - makes a real difference but I guess it depends on how bad they are to start!

 

[AANDYY]

I did mine . I need to do them again, as I won't be as timid next time.

 

[adam87]

I did mine . I need to do them again, as I won't be as timid next time.

Came up well Andy, nice one

 

[R1der]

Having followed a couple of links on You Tube ref headlight polishing i came across one that recommended using toothpaste and in the video it did look like it worked on the plastic headlights they cleaned. As i do not think i will get anywhere to buy one of the "real" cleaning kits over the next few days I will try the toothpaste method and report back.
Having used toothpaste as a cleaner on diving mask lens in the past to great effect maybe it will work

 

[jefrs]

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/95665-polishing-headlamps-s210-yes.html
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/94591-w210-headlight-misting.html
i.e. You can DIY the job with a cordless drill and a small polishing sponge with some G3 paste. Doing it by hand hardy touched it.

The DA polisher does a better job but most folks have a cordless drill (imo a rotary sander would be better again but they are big, heavy and viscious).

The G3 paste is a fairly coarse cutting compound, so I did not use wet'n'dry. I have used wet'n'dry 1200-2000 grit wet on Perspex in the past and it can leave the surface opaque and needing a polishing compound. I finished off with a polish of Meguiars PlastX (sp?)

The pad I found in MDS was a Farelca Smart backing plate for the cordless drill (3-in?). I was able to do the job on the car, it is messy so threw a sheet over the exposed engine and wing. If I have another go with the rotary sander I will remove the fillet between the lamps and mask up the surrounding paintwork.