Headlight restoration

bryan · Post by **bryan** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:16 am

Some gal backed into me and caused minor damage to my car a while back. I got it fixed, and now one headlight is noticably nicer than the other.

I polished the old one's lens, and it looks A LOT better, but there is still a big difference.

Has anyone had any luck taking them apart to polish the reflective material with something, or will it rub right off? Am I just SOL?

Any tips would be appreciated. I hate to buy a new one.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:59 am

On another board that I used to be on, many people got like new results (Ford Product) with a toothbtush & toothpaste, noteably Pepsident. Putting the toothpaste on a brush and scrubbing it in a small setion at a time and then rinsing ot off. (Or at least they so reported....) Get yourself a FIRM bristle toothbrush & some Pepsident......give it a go.

Euro#13 · Post by **Euro#13** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:25 pm

If the polishing technique doesn't give you the results you want, you can purchase reproduction headlights from the various Mustang restoration companies out there.

Depending on your budget, you can purchase reproduction headlight assemblies (housing, seal, adjusting plate, adjusting screw, light socket & bulb) for about $100 per side.

Or you can purchase just the headlight housing only for about $40 per side.

Of course there is a chance that the O.E. housings are still available directly from Ford, but expect to pay more for an original part.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 6:32 pm

Try the toothpaste. The folks over on a Mark 7 board I used to go to had dingy brownish-grey headlight covers, and one guy who was a jeweler took one off and began playing with it, and used several different things (including the polishers they use on different items found within a jewelry store,) and somehow came to the toothpaste. I saw (he posted) pictures and they were looking like 1-year old afterward. They way they actually were, was almost non-transparent. Most you have to lose is the cost of a no-frills firm toothbrush and a little time.

bryan · Post by **bryan** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:22 pm

Thanks, Sandy. I'll try that. I had initial good results with some plastic polish. I'd heard toothpaste is a good mild abrasive, but I didn't think to try it. I'll let you know how it works out.

svo413 · Post by **svo413** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:56 pm

One or two things usually happens to the head lights. The plastic breaks down on the outside and the previously listed polishing works. The other thing that happens is yellowing which is often on the inside. I've heard soaking them in Tang (breakfast drink) mixture removes the yellowing.

You may have to get a bit more aggressive on the polishing. Maybe start with wet sanding and finishing off with a buffing wheel designed for plastics.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:12 am

This is silly, but it popped into my head.

First I brush my teeth and then I drink a glass of Tang. Ummmmm.
Bryan, if neither of those work..>>>>>>>> Try a cup of COFFEE