Keeping (plastic) headlamp/turn signal covers clea

[mjoekingz28]

Hey, my new to me truck has new lenses and i want to keep them clear for many years. Some of my waxes say to avoid use on plastic, some do not. Would it be safe to assume those that have no warnings will keep them in new condition?


They are made in Taiwan, fwiw.

 

[CharBaby]

I may be wrong but, I don't think that lense plastic is what they're talking about on the container of wax. It's more along the lines of plastic molding or interior materials.

Lots of folks wax their light lenses(headlight, taillight, directional markers). In 45 years of waxing vehicles, I have never had issues from waxing lenses.

 

[tinmanSC]

Both 3M and Meguiars make headlight wax with UV protectant. It's the UV that causes yellowing. Not really sure what is different about it, if anything.

 

[3800Series]

I can't figure out why everyone went to plastic everything. Would gladly pay extra for glass headlight lenses the last virtually indefinitely. My old Volvo had the originals from 95 and they as clear as a glass cup.

Personally I feel if someone was to open a business making glass headlights to OEM spec they could make quite a lot of money.

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: 3800Series
I can't figure out why everyone went to plastic everything. Would gladly pay extra for glass headlight lenses the last virtually indefinitely. My old Volvo had the originals from 95 and they as clear as a glass cup.

Personally I feel if someone was to open a business making glass headlights to OEM spec they could make quite a lot of money.


they changed for 2 simple reasons, $$, and weight.
Plastic is cheaper, weighs less, and since it does degrade with UV exposure, and get pitted by debris in the air(sandblasting), you will eventually have to buy new light assemblies (more $$ for them)

personally i've placed protective films over the headlamps of my last 2 cars. there are several brands, and companies selling them, so google is your friend in this instance.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: 3800Series
I can't figure out why everyone went to plastic everything. Would gladly pay extra for glass headlight lenses the last virtually indefinitely. My old Volvo had the originals from 95 and they as clear as a glass cup.

Personally I feel if someone was to open a business making glass headlights to OEM spec they could make quite a lot of money.


I agree!! My car has glass headlights and after 20 years still look brand new. Putting cheap plastic headlights especially on high end/high dollar cars is shameful.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: 3800Series
Personally I feel if someone was to open a business making glass headlights to OEM spec they could make quite a lot of money.

Yep, that's been discussed here before. If someone were to offer such a product for my G, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

 

[buck91]

Meguairs and Bluemagic both make headlight sealants and I've heard of people using clear polyurethane to good effect. I have used the bluemagic sealer on headlights that I polishes and it seemed to work well. Usually use car wax though- megs ultimate or whatever quality sealant i have on hand.

 

[raytseng]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
Originally Posted By: 3800Series
I can't figure out why everyone went to plastic everything. Would gladly pay extra for glass headlight lenses the last virtually indefinitely. My old Volvo had the originals from 95 and they as clear as a glass cup.

Personally I feel if someone was to open a business making glass headlights to OEM spec they could make quite a lot of money.


they changed for 2 simple reasons, $$, and weight.
Plastic is cheaper, weighs less, and since it does degrade with UV exposure, and get pitted by debris in the air(sandblasting), you will eventually have to buy new light assemblies (more $$ for them)

personally i've placed protective films over the headlamps of my last 2 cars. there are several brands, and companies selling them, so google is your friend in this instance.


+1
If this is something you're worried about, you need to go with PPF on your headlights (ideally when it's new and before it got bad and you had to restore/refinished it).

If you don't trust your google fu or your own skills, start calling any reputable tint shop, or ppf/clear bra specialist shops around you, and see what PPF they carry and if they'll do your headlights.

Even if it's not "headlight-specific" film but meant for the body, and not strictly "legal", all the computer film plotters have the headlight patterns, and it's fine (results depend more on the skill of the operator).
By the same token, many window tints aren't strictly legal anyway.

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: raytseng
Originally Posted By: earlyre
Originally Posted By: 3800Series
I can't figure out why everyone went to plastic everything. Would gladly pay extra for glass headlight lenses the last virtually indefinitely. My old Volvo had the originals from 95 and they as clear as a glass cup.

Personally I feel if someone was to open a business making glass headlights to OEM spec they could make quite a lot of money.


they changed for 2 simple reasons, $$, and weight.
Plastic is cheaper, weighs less, and since it does degrade with UV exposure, and get pitted by debris in the air(sandblasting), you will eventually have to buy new light assemblies (more $$ for them)

personally i've placed protective films over the headlamps of my last 2 cars. there are several brands, and companies selling them, so google is your friend in this instance.


+1
If this is something you're worried about, you need to go with PPF on your headlights (ideally when it's new and before it got bad and you had to restore/refinished it).

If you don't trust your google fu or your own skills, start calling any reputable tint shop, or ppf/clear bra specialist shops around you, and see what PPF they carry and if they'll do your headlights.

Even if it's not "headlight-specific" film but meant for the body, and not strictly "legal", all the computer film plotters have the headlight patterns, and it's fine (results depend more on the skill of the operator).
By the same token, many window tints aren't strictly legal anyway.



this is the film/kits i have used on both cars. (not a Headlight Specific Film, it's from 3M's Aerospace Division Intended for Wing Tip lights, landing gear lights, and Radar nose cones on Jets)
http://www.clearmask.com/lightgard.php

on the Neon, i was replacing nasty, cataract-like assemblies, so it was relatively easy to put the film on BEFORE i installed them in the car.

then when i bought my sable last Jan, I ordered them for it's lights. Luckily, for a 5 year old car, they Looked really good, gave them a good polish before applying the film.

I know Weathertech also sells films along with the super-duper floor liners.(which i have a full set of in the Sable)

 

[Unicorn01]

Most of the waxes say to avoid plastic because if they are the cleaner waxes they might cause scratching and can remove the hard coating put on my the maker. That coating is what keeps them from yellowing and hazing as quickly.
There are plastic specific protectants don't use any of the polishes or cleaners that remove minor scratches as they are slightly abrasive and can actually cause more damage and faster wear. Plexus works well for cleaning. A UV protectant sealer used regularly, as in weekly, can help delay the inevitable hazing and yellowing.
I like the clear films to protect mine from gravel and the grit from just driving around. At least I can avoid some of the pitting.

 

[silvercivicsi]

I use 303 products aerospace protectant and it's worked well on my vehicles or about 4 years. Both my truck and civic are parked outside 24/7 in southern California and get plenty of sun. Plastics look good but not brand new.

 

[RRich]

Originally Posted By: silvercivicsi
I use 303 products aerospace protectant and it's worked well on my vehicles or about 4 years. Both my truck and civic are parked outside 24/7 in southern California and get plenty of sun. Plastics look good but not brand new.

How often do you apply it?