Cleared up my cloudy headlights [Archive] - MX5 Miata Atlanta Owners Club
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MoD_Scotty
03-13-2009, 01:36 PM
(a little bit, anyway)

I tried some Meguiars PlastX on my plastic headlights. I guess 10 years of abuse have really taken their toll, because even after 2 treatments to each side, they're still pretty ****ty. Anyway, here are the pics:

Before on right, after on left:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/newolddriver.jpg

BEFORE:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010124.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010123.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010125.jpg

AFTER:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010127.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010126.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010128.jpg

Before on top, after on bottom:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/newoldboth.jpg

The stuff I used:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i95/avatargsr/99Miata/P1010129.jpg
Synthmob
03-13-2009, 01:57 PM
I just bought some of that this past weekend at Wally World - but there's about 4 years less wear on mine that are just starting to cloud some now.
Doppelgänger
03-13-2009, 02:07 PM
Did you do it by hand or with a DA? Might need a more aggressive compound to get the initial haze out, followed by a wax and then a polish to top it off .I f you can use a high-speed buffer, your results will be more successful.
MoD_Scotty
03-13-2009, 02:15 PM
I did that by hand with some terry cloth rags. I don't have a DA, but I DO have a dremel with some polishing bits! Might take a while though.

I have some rubbing compound, and some regular polish. I've also heard that some 2000grit sandpaper might be good to use at first. Will it screw up the headlights?
RotorNutFD3S
03-13-2009, 02:25 PM
Wow, that's still a nice improvement.

As a sidenote, those are hosted on photobucket and I can see them. Weird.
iJohnnyC.
03-13-2009, 02:26 PM
Headlights look great man!
I have used the PlastX before and love it compared to a more "serious compound".
Mostly b/c it only takes like 5 min. a headlight to get to what you see above!
I love this stuff!
Doppelgänger
03-13-2009, 03:02 PM
I did that by hand with some terry cloth rags. I don't have a DA, but I DO have a dremel with some polishing bits! Might take a while though.

I have some rubbing compound, and some regular polish. I've also heard that some 2000grit sandpaper might be good to use at first. Will it screw up the headlights?

Investing in a 6" DA will help work wonders...and on your car as well.
metalman
03-13-2009, 03:14 PM
Good job.
Novus plastic polish also works wonders on those.

EDIT: this stuff... http://www.casesforcollectibles.com/plpo12and3.html
MeFryRice
03-13-2009, 03:34 PM
I used PlasticX with my PC on the headlights on the S and it made a difference but didn't last long. The body shop is going to polish them for me when it's in the shop next week. We've discussed possibly clear-coating them as well but I'm iffy on that...
Jack-MX5ATLanta.com
03-13-2009, 04:27 PM
That's a good improvement, a buffer and polish would definitely perfect it.
redrumracer
03-14-2009, 11:42 PM
yea I need to do that to mine also.