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Hello all , I've posted a similar thread on another forum but I'd thougth I give it a try here. I noticed a few days ago that my R headlight looked a yellowish and cloudy.I was looking on other sources and about 90% of the people said to use "Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish" to clean yellow tainted headlights / taillights. I was wondering if anyone recommends any other cleaner/polisher? Or if they used this product and what do they think of the results. Gracias.




I thought alot of people on here liked Meguiar's PlastX
I thought alot of people on here liked Meguiar's PlastX

That's what I was going to say.

Also most auto parts store sell a product that specialized in cleaning headlights. You may want to check it out.
Believe it or not, try rubbing in some toothpaste too. Or you can try some auto polish (not wax) on it too.
I thought alot of people on here liked Meguiar's PlastX

A few peeps said Meguiar's on the Rolla forum.... I was referring to "other' sources.. Thanks guys
Mother's PowerBall Mini and some plastic polish, or even regular paint polish. (not wax)
Hello all , I've posted a similar thread on another forum but I'd thougth I give it a try here. I noticed a few days ago that my R headlight looked a yellowish and cloudy.I was looking on other sources and about 90% of the people said to use "Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish" to clean yellow tainted headlights / taillights. I was wondering if anyone recommends any other cleaner/polisher? Or if they used this product and what do they think of the results. Gracias.
I agree with the latter recommendation of Pb. Paint polish works just fine.

Marketers love to tell you you need dozens of products to do different jobs. Paint polish works awesome on headlights. If they're really trashed, start out with 1000 grit or 2000 grit sandpaper, but if not, just straight polish works great.

When you're done, wash to remove any residue and then apply your favorite wax.
The extent of yellowing can dictate the polish. If in doubt, start with least-aggressive and work your way up until you find something to your liking.

If you use mag polish, follow with Plastic Polish to add some shine and protection.
Mother's PowerBall Mini and some plastic polish, or even regular paint polish. (not wax)I concur. I used the Powerball and PlastX on my company car (battle worn 98 Maxima w/ 284k mi). Night and day difference. Put new headlights in just to make a bigger difference.
Yeah so i used the grit and polish method and that made a huge difference. Unfortuneately I noticed that the yellowed headlight needed to be replaced because of what looked like mineute cracks and streaks probably from excessive heat from light. But thanks the polish did wonders
Hello all , I've posted a similar thread on another forum but I'd thougth I give it a try here. I noticed a few days ago that my R headlight looked a yellowish and cloudy.I was looking on other sources and about 90% of the people said to use "Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish" to clean yellow tainted headlights / taillights. I was wondering if anyone recommends any other cleaner/polisher? Or if they used this product and what do they think of the results. Gracias.
OK we FINALLY shot a video using SYSTEM ONE X3 Cutting Polish (the same stuff we use on paint and the only polish we sell) on tail lights. Click the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdUXe4zZ9lQ

Use the same method for headlights and don't get hung up on the grit of sandpaper...anywhere from 1000-2000 works just fine.

Again, you DO NOT need a special polish for plastic. That is just good marketing.
Hello all , I've posted a similar thread on another forum but I'd thougth I give it a try here. I noticed a few days ago that my R headlight looked a yellowish and cloudy.I was looking on other sources and about 90% of the people said to use "Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish" to clean yellow tainted headlights / taillights. I was wondering if anyone recommends any other cleaner/polisher? Or if they used this product and what do they think of the results. Gracias.

They might have said to use mag polish because it's aggressive and can cut through the oxidation faster. I've done this on badly oxidized lenses when a plastic polish didn't cut it (think of a plastic polish as a finishing polish and wax protectant -- a cleaner wax, if you will).

Follow the mag polish with plastic polish, and use plastic polish routinely to maintain them in good condition.

If you periodically use a spray wax, be sure you hit your lights as well.

Plastic's different than paint, and sometimes you need a polish specific to plastic, and one that will protect as well.
Plastic's different than paint, and sometimes you need a polish specific to plastic
It's not, and you don't need a polish specifically for plastic.

Acrylic-urethane paint is more or less plastic, not much different than polycarbonate.

Those who sell you 'plastic polish' would love to have you continue to believe that you need a special polish for plastic...but it's just not true.

Come to our shop in Anaheim and we'll make a believer out of you.
In my experience, when this occurs it is because the lamp that fits into the rear of the headlamp housing is lose and is allowing smoke (from the tailpipes of those nice people in front of you) to deposit inside the housing. Whether or not to attempt to clean the housing is another story. I've always just lived with it after properly settting the bulb and maximizing the outside surface.
OK we finally got a donor vehicle with bad headlights, so we shot a video today.

Two minutes and 30 seconds to do one headlight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBTXr4vy3Ag (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBTXr4vy3Ag)