Hello,

The headlight plastic covers in my '03 max have discolored a bit and are becoming opaque and cloudy. Glass cleaner doesn't do the trick. Someone suggested 1500-2000 sandpaper but I am not sure of the results.

Is there anything I can use to restore the covers?

I tried finding just the plastic covers but it looks like you have to purchase the entire assembly. Does anyone know of a place that sells just the cover?

Thanks,

Mike

 

just buy some plastic polish. I use this stuff called Blue Magic plastic polish that I bought from Pep Boys for about $5. Works great.

 

A good plastic polish will work. I personally use Novus #2 plastic polish. I've used many others for lenses and instrument panel lens, but none have performed like Novus. Novus has the #1 cleaner, #2 polish for medium scratches/haze, and #3 for heavy scratches. #3 is very aggressive, and creates its own haze that needs removed by #2. But, it will remove scratches you wouldn't think possible. #2 is probably what you need for the yellowing you described.
A relatively unknown trick I learned one day on autopia.org, is to use Mother's Mag & Aluminum polish. I use it on my headlights ('97 if it makes any difference) as an "everyday" polish (to clean, not remove scratches), and after polishing out scratches with Novus #2. It works AMAZINGLY well. It, too, will remove yellowing from them. It leaves them with a sparkle that other polishes lack. I believe the sparkle is from the protection it leaves behind. Oh, did I forget to say that it leaves a protective layer to help prevent yellowing/hazing? Just use it as any other polish (and the directions are on the tub), and you'll be amazed at the yellow that comes off.
If you can't tell by the length of my post on polishing headlights, I am very picky about my plastic. These are the products (Novus-especially #2, and Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish) that I use exclusively now for plastic.

Post back with your amazement if you try the Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish.

Dave

 

I use the Mothers Mag and Polish on my wheels, so I decided to give it a try on my lights. I am impressed. Miner scratches are gone and the plastic is clear with no yellow. It looks nice. Thanks for the tip.

Pedro

 

However, the '02-'03s were known for a headlight "haze" that actually came from inside the housing.

But I treated the outside of my '02's plastic housing with Plexus and there was a difference.

However, I will pick up some Mother's Polish since I like using that for metal anyway.

 

plexus i use every time i wash my car on all exterior light houings still clear and shiny

 

Novus #2 will polish the discoloration and some of the light pitting out. Plexus is good to follow up with when you clean the car.

 

the blue magic polish works great. haze is now gone but now i can see some stains on the inside of the light. anyone else have this problem?

 

Where do they sell the "Novus" or "Plexus" product at???...

 

plexus at properautocare.com

 

http://store.yahoo.com/classic-motor...slenclean.html