Have your car’s headlights gone cloudy, yellow, or dull? You’re not alone. Over time, headlights lose their shine due to the sun, dirt, and oxidation buildup. Once the oxidation builds up, it quickly degrades the visibility, and there is no way around it.
But the good news is, you don’t always need to replace the headlights. Car body shops in London can restore your car’s headlights and make them look like new. Here’s a simple guide on headlight restoration, how it works, and when it might be the right option for your car.
What Causes Car Headlights to Fade?
Modern headlights are made from polycarbonate plastic, which is durable but vulnerable to UV damage. Long exposure to sunlight, pollution, and chemicals can make them cloudy, yellowed, or dull.
In addition, light bumps or scuffs can damage the headlight cover. Once moisture seeps through those cracks into the headlight unit, fogging could occur over time, affecting visibility during nighttime or inclement weather. Headlight restoration is only possible if the plastic casing is still intact.
Need Car Body Repair?
Get a free assessment and quote from our certified technicians today!
How Does the Headlight Restoration Process Work?
Different auto body shops use different methods to restore headlights. Here’s how the process normally goes:
Cleaning and Assessment
Cleaning the headlight thoroughly is the first stage since dirt or perhaps any waxy build-up could cloud the lenses. The next step is checking for cracks, chips, or other damages that may need any repairs before proceeding.
Masking Around the Headlight
The area around the headlights is meticulously masked with tape and film to protect the vehicle’s paintwork and trim. This step helps prevent chipping or scuffing on the car’s body paint during sanding and polishing.
Wet Sanding
Wet sanding is the first step in removing the oxidised outer layer of the plastic lens. The technician uses an orbital sander with water to remove any scratches, oxidation, and other marks. The rapid circular motion of orbital sander helps produce a smooth finish.
Dual-Action Sanders
Next, the headlight’s outer surface where the oxidized layer has been removed will undergo a dual-action sander for further refinement. The gentle and controlled motion helps even the plastic case without creating too much heat or swirl marks and prepare the headlight for the next phase, which is compounding.
Plastic-Safe Compound
After wet sanding, a rotary polisher is used to apply a plastic-safe compound. The soft polishing paste is made especially for use on headlights. It smooths out the fine sanding lines, restoring your headlights’ original clarity. Your shiny headlight is now scratch-free and ready for the polishing stage.
For quick fixes and spot repairs, learn more about SMART Repair services in this detailed blog.
Need Car Body Repair?
Get a free assessment and quote from our certified technicians today!
Polishing
The lenses will be polished with a fine finishing paste using a rotary polisher after compounding. Various buffing pads are used in combination with the rotary polisher to restore the plastic surface to its original shine and clarity. It’s an ideal solution to restore headlight transparency affected by oxidation, haze, and swirl marks without replacing the complete unit.
UV Coating
This helps prevent cloudiness in the headlights. The process of UV coating involves mixing a UV-resistant clear coat with a hardener or activator and then applying the mixture in even layers on headlights. It’s usually done in two coats: one for bonding the surface and the second for a smooth and shiny top finish. The coating also restores optical clarity of the headlights.
Finishing Up
Once all the basic steps are complete, the masking is removed and the headlights are given a final wipedown. The technicians will lastly check for beam alignment and clarity to ensure everything works correctly. If the headlights seem clear but the light is still too dim, then maybe it’s time to replace the bulbs. A reputable auto body shop should be able to find and fit the right replacements quickly.
Need Car Body Repair?
Get a free assessment and quote from our certified technicians today!
When Might Headlight Restoration Not Be Enough?
If your car’s headlight lenses have deep cracks, water trapped inside, or internal damage, replacing them might be the best option. Technicians will usually let you know after the initial inspection and will simply replace your car’s lenses if that’s the case.
However, it’s not always the lens that needs to be fixed because headlight bulbs can lose brightness over time. Halogen ones usually last 500 to 1,000 hours, Xenon ones up to 10,000 hours, and LEDs can go as far as 30,000 hours. If things still seem dim after restoring the lens, try a night drive on an unlit road. If you struggle to see clearly 100 metres ahead while driving, that’s your cue to change your car’s headlight bulbs
Frequently Asked Questions
When your headlights are cracked, cloudy, or yellowed, it’s time for them to be restored or replaced by an expert to improve visibility at night.
The restored headlights can last between 1-3 years, depending on the quality of materials used. DIY methods are usually less durable and their results may only last for a few months.
Car owners normally replace both headlights even if only one is faulty. This is because an older headlight and a brand-new headlight can provide an uneven beam of light ahead of you, affecting your visibility.
Contact AVX Repairs for Headlight Restoration Services
Our friendly team doesn’t just fix headlights, we carefully restore them to their original clarity using the right tools and expert techniques. Whether your headlights’ lenses are foggy, yellowed, or slightly damaged, our team at AVX Repairs, located in London, will bring them back to life with lasting results. Get in touch today for professional car body repair services.
