Since the 1980s, most headlights are made of polycarbonate which has a lot of the same properties as plastic but stronger (think bullet-proof glass). When cars leave the factory the headlights are coated with a UV cured hard coat. This coating from the factory wears off and the sun鈥檚 UV rays (and road debris) cause the lens to develop micro-cracks and pitting. This traps the light inside and makes the outside look cloudy. After extended periods of exposure the unprotected lens can become scorched causing it to yellow. 99% of headlight damage is on the outside of the lens.
There are many buffing compounds and polishes on the market that will temporarily restore most of the clarity to you headlights. However almost every product will need to be re-done every 4-6 months when polishing which adds up for total cost.
Your best option for headlight restoration is a UV-cured hard coat - just like from the factory when new. However there aren't many DIY kits available and the process takes some skill to get it correct. And most people are afraid of it as it involves sanding with progressively finer grits of sandpaper before reapplication of the coating. (The purpose of sanding is to remove the old coating, the fine layer of oxidization, and to smooth-out the pits and small imperfections). The best coatings will have a hardener and a high UV protection (much more than a can of clear spray paint will have).
Be wary of anyone selling ';snake oils'; that will clear up the headlights - they are temporary. And any coating that is applied with a sponge/rag will not give you the uniformity that you need for headlights. You need the coating to have the same index of refraction as the polycarbonate that it is protecting which usually involves a ';flow-out'; process. This way the light goes where it is supposed to.
BTW - I've been restoring headlights for years now as a professional and have tried all the products available - I KNOW what works and what doesn't. Unfortunately the product I use isn't available to the general public. I actually restored an 05 Pontiac GXP yesterday and the result was excellent.
If you check the sources below you will find some decent DIY coatings.What is the best way to clear up my headlights?
Sorry, the plastic in some car head lights just breaks down after awhile. The only real solution is new headlights. There are relatively cheap a/m headlights out there though.
Meguiars headlight restoration kit, only like 25 bucks at advance autoparts stores.
WET SAND THEM WITH 2000 GRIT SAND PAPER USING LOTS OF WATER. POLISH OUT ANY MINOR SCRATCHES AND CLOUDINESS WITH REGULAR OLD TURTLE WAX POLISHING COMPOUND . TOTAL $15.00
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