Headlights
08-05-2011, 10:28 AM
#11
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 525i M54 2005 Alpine White
Sport/Cold/Premiun Sound/Active Steering
Navigation/PDC/sport seats/6 CD Changer
If you open your lights, do it for the Orion, but not for cleaning the lens. The clouding on your lights is surely on the outside and all of the off the shelf kits out there suck.
What you need is to wetland with fine grit sandpaper, starting rough and getting more fine as you progress like 400-600-800 (if memory serves) and up. Then move on to a good plastic or metal polish. I have used Mothers chrome polish with great results. I have tried doing this by hand and with orbital polishers and the best results come from doing it by hand. Expect to spend at least 2 hours on each light depending on how bad the fading and chipping is. My first E60 a few years ago was in really rough shape when I bought it. The headlights were basically a translucent yellow and using this technique I managed to get them very clear, not perfect- but really good.
What you need is to wetland with fine grit sandpaper, starting rough and getting more fine as you progress like 400-600-800 (if memory serves) and up. Then move on to a good plastic or metal polish. I have used Mothers chrome polish with great results. I have tried doing this by hand and with orbital polishers and the best results come from doing it by hand. Expect to spend at least 2 hours on each light depending on how bad the fading and chipping is. My first E60 a few years ago was in really rough shape when I bought it. The headlights were basically a translucent yellow and using this technique I managed to get them very clear, not perfect- but really good.
scratch this!@#$%
08-05-2011, 10:39 AM
#12
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 525i M54 2005 Alpine White
Sport/Cold/Premiun Sound/Active Steering
Navigation/PDC/sport seats/6 CD Changer
I've been looking around. at AutoZone they sell the 3M sandpaper (400,600,800,1000). Should I get one of each or just one (highest or lowest) ??
08-05-2011, 11:13 AM
#13
Contributors
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 5,781
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: BMW E60
Model Year: 2016
And actually, it might be overkill, but I went up to 2000 and 2200 as well. From 1000 -> 2000 jump I mean.
08-06-2011, 01:27 PM
#14
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 525i M54 2005 Alpine White
Sport/Cold/Premiun Sound/Active Steering
Navigation/PDC/sport seats/6 CD Changer
Hey, I think I read this kind of late 
. I was cleaning my headlights today (just one) with 3M 600/800 sandpaper, and instead of making it look better, it looks worse 
I was looking at this video on youtube on how to do it, I even purchased a Meguiars plasticX. When I only used the Meguiars on the other side, it looked way much better. Actually if I would've known, I just use the PlasticX instead of the sandpaper....Any advice please???
I am trying to get the headlight plastic cover replaced but I would like to try to clean it first. Any ideas
<--------------------desperate
The first two pics are after using the sandpaper 600/800 and PlasticX. The last two I only used the PlasticX
. I was cleaning my headlights today (just one) with 3M 600/800 sandpaper, and instead of making it look better, it looks worse I was looking at this video on youtube on how to do it, I even purchased a Meguiars plasticX. When I only used the Meguiars on the other side, it looked way much better. Actually if I would've known, I just use the PlasticX instead of the sandpaper....Any advice please??? I am trying to get the headlight plastic cover replaced but I would like to try to clean it first. Any ideas
<--------------------desperateThe first two pics are after using the sandpaper 600/800 and PlasticX. The last two I only used the PlasticX
08-06-2011, 01:35 PM
#15
Contributors
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 5,781
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: BMW E60
Model Year: 2016
That's normal dude, and you're on the right track. The last step is to use a polisher or orbiter. It's not possible to do the last step by hand unless you're a freaking machine.
08-06-2011, 02:03 PM
#16
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 525i M54 2005 Alpine White
Sport/Cold/Premiun Sound/Active Steering
Navigation/PDC/sport seats/6 CD Changer
really? man, I hope you are right. I don't want to spend $400 on headlights just because. So Just get a polisher and use it with PlasticX? or should I get a different product?
08-06-2011, 02:12 PM
#17
Senior Members
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
either get those healight polishing kit from Mothers with orbital polisher or cordless drill...or you can wetsand it, the higher grit the better to get rid of the minor scratches on the plastic cover then what Simon said, use the polisher and plastic X to clear it up. You can also use a thin coat of wax to protect it.
GL
GL
08-06-2011, 02:17 PM
#18
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Queens, New York
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 525i M54 2005 Alpine White
Sport/Cold/Premiun Sound/Active Steering
Navigation/PDC/sport seats/6 CD Changer
Thanks guys. I will get the polisher and post results.
is this a good one to get?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...questid=575997
is this a good one to get?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...questid=575997
