Removing scratches from plastic headlights

mark2003 · 12-11-02, 05:00

I might be purchasing some plastic jdm headlights for my 93 prelude, but they seem to have a couple of big scratches on them, and then a bunch of real small hairline scratches. Im wondering if I would be able to remove the scratches, if so, what products would be best to get rid of the scratches, especially the bigger ones. The scratches aren't real deep from what I have seen in the pics, just big.

If I can't do this myself, is there any kind of place that is able to remove the scratches with something else?

Thanks for any advice

mzmtg · 12-11-02, 05:30

You can give this a try:

http://www.properautocare.com/plaslenclean.html

It is meant more for pitting and small scratches, but it might help you a little.

bretfraz · 12-11-02, 05:40

We had this discussion just a couple days ago. Please do a search for it.

Andre' · 12-11-02, 01:39

If you can feel the scratch with your fingernail you'll need to wetsand the scratch out. Use 1000 to 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper, than buff out the sanding marks with a fine compound like FI2. End the process with a SMR and a protectant. I like to ues Klasse AIO and SG as protectants for light lenses.

mark2003 · 12-11-02, 05:40

If the scratches aren't deep enough that you can feel it with your finger nail, what are some store bought products I can get to remove them, and polish it up and protect it etc? I don't usually like buying products off the net, I usually just run up to Canadian Tire for my car stuff.

4DSC · 12-11-02, 06:50

I don't think Canadian Tire sells any plastic polish. Meguiar's and Mothers both make a plastic polish and you can find them at a parts store or get CT to order them in. I don't think you have to use specific plastic polishes though. Try to find the recent thread Bret mentioned.

Where are you located by the way?

mark2003 · 12-11-02, 09:24

Im in Surrey, B.C. Canada. I might just get some professional place to fix them up if I can't find the right stuff to fix it, i'll have to wait and see until the headlights are mailed to me and I can see how bad it is

4DSC · 12-11-02, 09:39

Quote:

Originally posted by mark2003
Im in Surrey, B.C. Canada. I might just get some professional place to fix them up if I can't find the right stuff to fix it, i'll have to wait and see until the headlights are mailed to me and I can see how bad it is

Hi there neighbor!

No no, don't take them to some shop so they can charge you for what you can do at home.

This is polishing up some lenses (off the car yet!) not brain surgery. Have you read this thread that Bret suggested? Tail light swirls

Lordco sells Meguiar's plastic polish, but there is more than one way to skin a cat...

Also places that sell/deal with plexiglass has a line of very good stuff called Novus that has 2 grades of polish depending on how bad damage is.

mark2003 · 12-11-02, 10:05

Cool thanks for your help. I didn't realize you lived so close, I never looked at your loaction

Yeah, I'll probably try a polish and see how that fairs out, if it doesn't take out the bigger scratches then i'll have to take it up a notch I guess. I don't plan on putting them on the car for awhile so I got time to get them looking like new again.

I'll keep you posted when I get the headlights.

iceman · 12-11-02, 10:12

Hey, Mark2003 and 4DSC. I'm from the area too. Burnaby specifically. Speaking about plastics, what is the best cleaner/protectant for a new car, maybe Plexus or Zaino? Any idea where I can get some Plexus for a cheap price around the lower mainland? I was thinking maybe a Honda motorcycle dealership or something like that. I am heading to the Harley dealership for some S100 wheel cleaner which is the same as P21S gell wheel cleaner, I believe, for half the price. Otherwise, I would have had to order P21S stuff from the distributor in Hamilton and pay exorbitant shipping charges.

Jonney_boy · 12-12-02, 01:17

Just a tip...call around first before you go and buy the S100 from a Harly Davidson dealership.. I found that the HD dealer in port moody (hum.. can't remember the name.. but I can look it up) sells the stuff for $5-10 cheaper than Trev-Deely Harley Davidson in Burnaby.

As for the Meguaires plastic polish, I think KMS in coquitlam (beside the new ikea) sells both bottels (the blue and the white one)... I belive it's cheaper than lordco and you get 10% off (if you setup an account with them).

94AccordSedanEX · 12-12-02, 06:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Andre'
If you can feel the scratch with your fingernail you'll need to wetsand the scratch out. Use 1000 to 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper, than buff out the sanding marks with a fine compound like FI2. End the process with a SMR and a protectant. I like to ues Klasse AIO and SG as protectants for light lenses.

I have a scratch I can feel by fingernail. Would I just wetsand with the 2000 on the scratch only? And then use the SMR and a protectant (what kind of protectant would ya reccomend to someone who cant get Klasse?) by hand or with the machine? Want to try this, but don't want to mess up anything. Can I just use Meguiars Plastic Cleaner and Polish after I wet-sand instead of the SMR and just follow up with a good car polish/wax?