How to polish headlights - clean & restore without sanding! Mothers
This how2everystep guide shows you how to clean & restore cloudy car or motorbike headlights using only Mothers Mag and Aluminium polish and without sanding.... in 10 easy to follow steps....
EVERY STEP SUMMARY
Step 1: Clean the Headlight
Step 2: Mask around the Headlight
Step 3: Apply Polish to the Headlight
Step 4: Apply Polish to the Polishing Wheel
Step 5: Drill Polish the Headlight
Step 6: Wipe down the Headlight
Repeat Step 3,5,6
Step 7: Apply light coat of Polish
Step 8: Apply Polish to Drill Buffer
Step 9: Drill Polish with Buffer Wheel
Step 10: Wipe Clean & Remove Masking Tape
TOOLS / MATERIALS REQUIRED
1: Mothers Mag and Aluminium Polish
2: Wet Wipe or Bodyshop wipe
3: Microfibre cloth
4: 10mm & 50mm Bodyshop Masking Tape
5: Drill polishing wheel + foam & buff pad attachment
6: Electric Drill
7: PPE: Safety glasses
8: Scissors
AMAZON LINKS
1: Mothers Mag and Aluminium Polish 10 OZ
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0009H519...
Mothers Mag and Aluminium Polish 5 OZ
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00068GEJ...
2: Drill polishing wheel + foam & buff pad attachment
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074M3CQ4...
3: Microfibre cloths
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M09VYA...
4: 10mm Bodyshop Masking Tape
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07TJH8T6...
50mm Bodyshop Masking Tape
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KM3EP7...
This video literally couldn’t of came at a better time I just picked up some mother’s aluminum polish and going to definitely use this method thanks for all the help!
Hi there. No problem! Let me know how you get on following the method. Thanks Col
Yes I use this , works great for $ 4.59 No masking needing and it polishes . The end !
Hi there. Yes the metal polish works really well at cleaning headlights. Personally I would always mask the paintwork to avoid thinning the lacquer... thanks Col
Great tutorial step by step guide on doing your vehicle headlights.
Thanks very much. Glad you liked it. Funnily enough I just did my 15 year old audi a6 headlights and they came up brand new...
Will try it thanks for video!!! Love itb
Glad you liked it! I just used the same technique on a 15 year old faded Audi A6 headlight and it made the headlight look brand new :)
This video has really helped me,my headlights look new. Should I buy some uv protectant? Thanks for your help.
Hi Paul. I am really glad you found it useful! I was really pleased with the results on my car. You could spay the headlights with a UV protective laquer. But all I do is give my headlights a quick buff each year as per the video and it keep them looking new. Regards Colin
It's better if you use a wool buffing pad on a variable speed buffer about 600 rpm to 1000 rpm an then put a ceramic coat on it. I restored my Harley Windshield back to normal with this method.
Hi - Great vid - very useful. Can you let me know how long do the headlights stay clear for?
Hi Jon. Thanks - i'm glad you found it useful. I have done this on previous cars and found you only notice dulling again after a couple year or so. I normally give my headlights a quick annual buff with the metal polish to keep them looking new. Have you polished up your headlights yet?
How2 EveryStep cheers - i haven’t done them yet but going to give it a try soon
It's nice I'm gonna do my G35 coupe
Good stuff - let me know how you get on :)
Can this also be done on the tail lights?
Yes can be done exactly the same on the tail lights...
Thanks for the detailed video! Does any metal polish work for polishing headlights?
Hi Kevin. I'm glad you liked it. I have only ever used Mothers Mag and Aluminium to polish up headlights - so I can only say this brand does the job well. See the Amazon links for it in the description to the video. What car headlights are you polishing? Thanks Col
How2 EveryStep Thanks I’ll take a look on Amazon
What will you use for UV protection?
Hi there. I use a carnauba wax. Apply 2 coats, buffing the headlight lens inbetween and this provide really good UV protection. I will upload a video on this shortly. Thanks Col
I just used this method and while it doesn't restore to clear factory it does restore.
If you find you don't achieve a factory clear finish you will either need to do further polishing or buffing or the inside of the headlight lens may have discolour....
Hi, can you use regular decorators maskin tape? Or has it got to be a particular kind?
Hi KJ. Yes you can use decorators masking tape if needs be. I prefer the bodyshop masking taps as you can stretch it slightly to curve around the headlight.... Hope the headlight restoration goes well! Thanks Col
My Mothers Mag has separated. It has some brown stuff that rises to the top. Is that OK?
Hi William, to be honest I am not sure. Is it a really old pot of Mothers? I would buy a new one to be on the safe side... cheers Col
Good tube very informative, potential to save a load of money on replacement headlights m8.
Thanks Barry! Glad you liked the video
How long does this fix last for?
@@barryhughes1612 Hi Barry. In my experience it will last a couple of years before you need to do it again. But really depends on how much exposure the lights get to the suns UV rays. I normally give my headlights a quick buff polish once a year to keep them looking brand new. Let me know how you get on following the guide. Thanks Col
Does this also work on coloured lights
Hi Kevin. Yes this method works on all colours of plastic headlights, rear lights, side repeaters etc. Let me know how you get on.... thanks Col
How2 EveryStep great I’ll give it a try
I then spray a layer of UV-blocking clear paint that is 'SAFE' for use on plastics, not the type of clear paint that dissolves plastics. I use Rustoleum's 'Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Gloss Clear Paint' as it sticks to plastics and it does not harm the plastic itself.
Thanks for the tip. I just give my headlights a quick polish each year to keep them looking new. I will look into the rustoleum product - it sounds good...
Don’t you find the clear coat then comes off as the paint usually needs the object to be scuffed with 2000 grit sandpaper to hold on?
Great video, but now you need to clean you're engine.
Glad you liked the video - thanks. Ah ah fair shout - in future I would cover the engine bay with an old blanket :) Better metal polish over a blanket than the bonnet...
Wares step 11-18?
I simply do the steps 1 to 10 to give the headlights a good polish and then a light buff polish every year after that to keep looking new...
But now there is no UV protection.. this won’t last long at all.
Hi Peter. Indeed there is no UV protection. After the full polish as per the video, I lightly buff (with the metal polish) the headlights once a year and this keeps them looking new. It's worked for me for the last 4 years on my 15 year old passat...