Headlight herpes?

[gnetwerker]

My 2004 C4S has been developing a sort of rash on the headlights, as pictured below. Soap and water does not take it off. I have not wanted to try a solvent. It feels sort of mildly bumpy. It's hard to tell from the photos, but it is very slightly yellow. Any ideas?

[xxaarraa]

LOLOL rock chips?

[gnetwerker]

Not rock chips. The surface is very slightly raised, rather than depressed, or so it seems, and in an odd pattern all over the glass/plastic.

[Porsche Pilot]

The UV coating is starting to fail. Very common issue. Best fix is to wet sand then reapply a clear coat product. You can try one of the over the counter polishing kits since yours aren't too bad yet. But, it will not get better without intervention.

[gnetwerker]

Thanks, PP. Any recommended products or DIY links?

[Modded996]

I used the 3M kit from the auto store with a drill. Worked just fine. The tricky part is keeping up with a UV sealant. At the moment, I'm trying ArmorAll but it hasn't been more than a couple of weeks since I redid my headlights and they were worse off.

[Porsche Pilot]

+1 for the 3M kit. Very user friendly and yes, definitely keep up with sealant application as stated above. I would reapply it monthly. The failure point in the DIY kits is the sealant. Once you abrade off the factory UV coating they will yellow and haze over much faster.

A lot of higher end detailers like myself do offer the lens surface reconditioning. Most of us will sand the old coating off, polish and then apply actual clear coat or a specific coating available to us. Do not get suckered in to a "pro" offering the service without knowing their process. Some will use the over the counter kit and charge big bucks. 3 months later your lights look like *** again.

[PESuazo]

This past weekend I did this....I am happy with the results....I purchased the 3M kit and the Sylvania kit

1.- I used the 3M kit

2.- I finished with the Sylvania clear coat UV protectant/sealant

Edited May 22, 2013 by PESuazo

[Neb33]

Had teh same issue, the 3M kit works well, then I put a 3M paint protection film on it afterwards, hopefully it will last a little longer than reapplying UV protectant all the time.

[valfam]

On my todo List. Is the clear coat spray?

Edited July 8, 2013 by 99699

[NIKAS]

Once the "headlight herpes" starts, you'll want to lay some painter's tape around the hood and fender paint surfaces and wet sand with 2000-8000 grit until the yellow is gone, then use a polishing ball kit from 3M, Maguirs, Mothers, etc. Some old skoolers even use toothpaste or Brasso. They should look brand new at this stage. A clear coat should be reapplied asap or they will fade to yellow again. Even following all the directions, and applying 3M Protectant, I find myself having to re-do our fleet's sun-hazed headlights a couple times a year - perhaps there is something better out there?