Sun and road grit break down the outer layer of a plastic headlight lens. It turns cloudy, then yellow, and less light gets through. Restoration removes that damaged layer and leaves the lens clear, so the lamps you already have can do their job.
What this covers
- Cloudy, yellowed and oxidised lenses
- Done on the car or with the lamp removed, depending on its condition
- A good first step before deciding whether you need an upgrade
Is this for you?
Signs you need it
- 01The lenses look cloudy, milky or yellow in daylight
- 02The surface feels rough when you run a hand over it
- 03Night light has slowly got worse over a few years
- 04The car looks older than it is from the front
In detail
What you should know before you decide
Why lenses haze
Headlight lenses are polycarbonate plastic with a thin protective coating from the factory. Sun, heat and road grit wear the coating away, and the bare plastic then oxidises. It goes cloudy first, then yellow.
The haze scatters and blocks light. The bulbs can be perfect and the road still poorly lit.
What restoration involves
The damaged layer is sanded off in stages, from coarse to very fine, until the surface is even. The lens is then polished until it is clear.
A lens that has only been polished, without removing the damaged layer first, looks better for a few weeks and then hazes again. Doing the sanding stages properly is what makes the result last.
What it cannot fix
Restoration works on the outside of the lens. Cracks, deep crazing, haze on the inside, moisture in the lamp and a dulled reflector are different problems. We check for them first and tell you if restoration alone will not give you the result you want.
Restoration or upgrade?
If the lens is the problem, restoration is the right first step and costs far less than an upgrade. If the lens is clear and the light is still weak, the light source is the limit and a projector upgrade is the answer. Many cars need both, and the lens is done as part of the upgrade.
Photos
Work like this, from our bay
Process
How the job goes
- 1
Assess
We look at how deep the oxidation goes and whether the damage is outside or inside the lens.
- 2
Cut back
The damaged surface is sanded away in stages until the haze is gone.
- 3
Polish
The lens is polished until it is clear.
- 4
Check the light
We switch the lamps on and compare the beam with how the car came in.
Questions
Asked often
- My headlights are yellow. Do I need new ones?
- Usually not. If the haze is on the outside of the lens, restoration clears it. If the lens is cracked or the damage is inside, we will tell you before any work starts.
- Is restoration enough to fix dim lights?
- It helps when the lens is the cause. If the lens is clear and the beam is still weak, a projector upgrade is the next step.
Tell us the car. We will tell you what it needs.
Send the make, model and year, and whether you want a restoration or an upgrade. You will get a price before any work starts.