protecting headlights that have a coating?

[bcwang]

Just wondering if it's safe to be using plastic polish on headlights, I heard they have a UV protective coating on them from the factory. Most plastic polishes seem to have abrasives to help with removing oxidation, but I wonder if it will also wear out the UV coating. What is everyones take on this?

 

[togwt]

~One manâ€â„¢s opinion / observations~



Like the clear coat on vehicle paint work plastic headlights have a UVR protectant within its top layer. And like paintwork as long as you donâ€â„¢t use an abrasive cleaner too often you should be fine. Once the oxidation/surface scratches have been removed clean them with a product like Plexus



~Hope this helps~



Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]

justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM

 

[imported_BretFraz]

Yep, I'd recommend Plexus or something similar that has no abrasives in it. Plexus works great on plastic convertible windows so I'm sure it'll be fine for headlights.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

you can most definitely polish them, even if you've got bad scratches/scuffs on them. I used DACP with the PC to detail one this past weekend, no negative results whatsoever:

 

[imported_Aurora40]

What kind of UV coating are you talking about? I thought most newer cars had polycarbonate headlamps. I believe polycarbonate naturally blocks UV. However, if yours has a coating I'd think polishing it might not be great. Though, I guess which is worse, some UV discoloration you have to polish out, or whatever scratches are on it now?

 

[imported_liam]

I believe polycarbonate naturally blocks UV.

this is correct in a way, it prevents UV transmission through the plastic. but i think the coating they are talking about blocks the UV on the surface of the lense, and thus any damage the UV may do to the plastic.

 

[bcwang]

Do you think the abrasives in mothers plastic polish is too harsh for constant use on the headlights? I know it leaves behind a layer of polymers for UV protection afterwards which is why I would like to use it. But at the same time I don't want to be wearing down the coating on the headlights. Maybe lightly applying and letting it dry might leave the polymer layer but not really do much polishing?

 

[andriver]

Do you think the abrasives in mothers plastic polish is too harsh for constant use on the headlights? I know it leaves behind a layer of polymers for UV protection afterwards which is why I would like to use it. But at the same time I don't want to be wearing down the coating on the headlights. Maybe lightly applying and letting it dry might leave the polymer layer but not really do much polishing?

If you are concerned with the abrasiveness of the product then I would not use it at every wash. Use it sparingly.

 

[bcwang]

My main use of it is for the protective features of it, to try and maintain the clear headlight look for as long as possible. If I use it too sparingly, it is not going to give enough protection.



Maybe forrest could chime in and answer if mothers plastic polish is safe for regular use on coated headlights.

 

[forrest@mothers]

Use of Plastic Polish on a twice monthly bass will not cause any damage.

 

[kbshadow]

A while back I was watching one of the Sunday car programs on TV.



They were detailing a red PT Cruiser and talking about the plastic head lights, they reccommend Mothers plastic polish on them to keep them looking new.



BTW it was Forrests car they were detailing, it looked great.



I started using Mothers plastic polish on mine after that and they look better now than when it was in the showroom.



Bob

Stockton Ca

 

[Don]

I've waxed mine with the rest of the car from day one. 3 years and 64,000 miles later, they are still crystal clear (other than the 64k miles worth of rock chips )