Foggy golf Gti headlights

[Chris340gti]

So I’ve got foggy headlights…as I’ve done before I’ve used wet and dry with plenty of soapy water. Going up in grades.. horizontal and vertical etc then used compound .. now either I’m not doing it long enough ??? Or well I don’t know….

First time did 300 600 then 1200. Didn’t work so then did 800 1200 then 2400. Used the restorer kit ( forgot the brand)

Nothing is working … please see pics and give me any thoughts …. Cheers

[Kuwahara]

Sounds like you’re not doing it long enough like you said, the headlight will look really bad at one point but trust the process and it will come good.

Were they really bad to start with..

Sorry just looked at the pics,is that residue on the inside…!!!

[Chris340gti]

I mean it could be ??? It’s had thick end of 30 mins sanding with various grades of wet and dry … they weren’t even that bad !!!

Maybe it is inside ? Surely it’s a sealed unit

It does feel rough on outside though .. maybe I just need to keep going

[E-bmw]

It is hard to see from the pic, so only you can tell if that "mottling" is inside or outside.

I would say (this is just from the pic that I said I can't really tell) that if that is on the outside, it looks like possibly somebody has previously lacquered the headlight.

If that is the case (or if it is definitely on the outside and you can tell) then you have a long way to go yet.

If it were me & it is on the outside I would be doing 400/600 until you have a completely "sanded" surface, then go 1200 until it is completely smoother across the grain, then 2000 until once again it is completely smoothed across the grain, then 3000 until it is all flat and then use compound to finish off.

If however it is inside you need to open them up and get the inside done first.

[Alfa Pete]

That residue is likely in the inside. I had a new GTD and I’d see water droplets in the lenses even when it was brand new.
I’d post this on the VW forum .

[mike9009]

Alfa Pete said:

That residue is likely in the inside. I had a new GTD and I’d see water droplets in the lenses even when it was brand new.
I’d post this on the VW forum .

I agree, it looks like it is on the inside. The 'drips' towards the bottom left where is gathers on the bottom edge are indicative. Unless that is something else??

[dingg]

Mine only last a few weeks before they go cloudy again when I do them myself, got a paint shop to do them and 2 pack uv resistant clear coat them, look brand spanking new and should last a few years, well worth it....

[Chris340gti]

I’ve given them a good going over with various degrees of wet and dry paper.. it’s a lot better but still not what I’d call crystal clear , I’ll add a pic when I get back…

[Robertb]

You've got to be absolutely brutal with it, and get all of the old coating off, don't move on to the next stage til you've got a uniform finish. The 3M kit was really good.

You will need to 'seal' the finish with a UV filter afterwards... I've found that Carpro Dlux works very well, topped up occasionally. Lacquer will work too, but I'd imagine is tricky to apply properly.