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[Mister Rog]

The headlights on my Volvo XC70 are incredibly dim, at night on unlit roads I use the spotlights.

The covers/lenses seem to be plastic not glass and are opaque and rough to the touch. I've read about various methods of cleaning, polishing etc, some of them using sandpaper which sounds a bit scary to me with a risk of ruining them. Sandpaper, toothpase, bicarb, specific kits, brasso, God knows what else

Any sensible suggestions ?

And is the opaqueness actually the cause of the dimness ?

[STEMO]

I noticed, while I was in ECP last week, that 3M do a kit for cleaning them. But someone will be along to rubbish that in a minute.

[tunnie]

Try the 3M kit, use a drill to speed things up. Basically sanding the lens down with rough then smooth and smoother paper, comes up really well!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

The headlights on my Volvo XC70 are incredibly dim, at night on unlit roads I use the spotlights.

The covers/lenses seem to be plastic not glass and are opaque and rough to the touch. I've read about various methods of cleaning, polishing etc, some of them using sandpaper which sounds a bit scary to me with a risk of ruining them. Sandpaper, toothpase, bicarb, specific kits, brasso, God knows what else

Any sensible suggestions ?

And is the opaqueness actually the cause of the dimness ?

If HIDS or LED they should work reasonably well once sorted.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

The headlights on my Volvo XC70 are incredibly dim, at night on unlit roads I use the spotlights.

The covers/lenses seem to be plastic not glass and are opaque and rough to the touch. I've read about various methods of cleaning, polishing etc, some of them using sandpaper which sounds a bit scary to me with a risk of ruining them. Sandpaper, toothpase, bicarb, specific kits, brasso, God knows what else

Any sensible suggestions ?

And is the opaqueness actually the cause of the dimness ?

Your car has cataracts.

[Mister Rog]

The headlights on my Volvo XC70 are incredibly dim, at night on unlit roads I use the spotlights.

The covers/lenses seem to be plastic not glass and are opaque and rough to the touch. I've read about various methods of cleaning, polishing etc, some of them using sandpaper which sounds a bit scary to me with a risk of ruining them. Sandpaper, toothpase, bicarb, specific kits, brasso, God knows what else

Any sensible suggestions ?

And is the opaqueness actually the cause of the dimness ?

Your car has cataracts.

The ride is also a little soft and the engine lacks real poke   

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

The headlights on my Volvo XC70 are incredibly dim, at night on unlit roads I use the spotlights.

The covers/lenses seem to be plastic not glass and are opaque and rough to the touch. I've read about various methods of cleaning, polishing etc, some of them using sandpaper which sounds a bit scary to me with a risk of ruining them. Sandpaper, toothpase, bicarb, specific kits, brasso, God knows what else

Any sensible suggestions ?

And is the opaqueness actually the cause of the dimness ?

Your car has cataracts.

The ride is also a little soft and the engine lacks real poke   

If it also runs on canal boat fuel perhaps a scrappage scheme would be appropriate. 

[shyboy]

The opaqueness is due chiefly to oxidisation of the top surface of the plastic, which has to be removed.The guide on here looks very drastic but it works. The lenses will go very opaque before eventually coming back to clear condition.
Assuming the roughness to touch doesn't mean exceptionally bad deterioration of the surfaces, the results will astound you.
It's hard work, but you've just got to be brave, (and use plenty [copious amounts] of liquid/paste). If using a drill with a pad from a kit, take care not to overheat the plastic. ie. keep it moving.
Take care with adjacent paintwork also.

[omegod]

I noticed, while I was in ECP last week, that 3M do a kit for cleaning them. But someone will be along to rubbish that in a minute.

What the hell were you doing there, got lost???

[Doctor Gollum]

The headlights on my Volvo XC70 are incredibly dim, at night on unlit roads I use the spotlights.

The covers/lenses seem to be plastic not glass and are opaque and rough to the touch. I've read about various methods of cleaning, polishing etc, some of them using sandpaper which sounds a bit scary to me with a risk of ruining them. Sandpaper, toothpase, bicarb, specific kits, brasso, God knows what else

Any sensible suggestions ? SAME AS THE OMEGA... TRY G3 compound and elbow grease before digging out the wer and dry.

And is the opaqueness actually the cause of the dimness ?ON A VOLVO, Yes.

Apologies for shouting, but it's a bit noisy here

[TheBoy]

which sounds a bit scary to me with a risk of ruining them.

They're breaked anyway

[Mister Rog]

The opaqueness is due chiefly to oxidisation of the top surface of the plastic, which has to be removed.The guide on here looks very drastic but it works. The lenses will go very opaque before eventually coming back to clear condition.
Assuming the roughness to touch doesn't mean exceptionally bad deterioration of the surfaces, the results will astound you.
It's hard work, but you've just got to be brave, (and use plenty [copious amounts] of liquid/paste). If using a drill with a pad from a kit, take care not to overheat the plastic. ie. keep it moving.
Take care with adjacent paintwork also.

Ah, something helpful and constructive ! 

Well went along and got one of these to see how it goes. Even if it doesn't work it's not an arm & a leg and not too drastic. Just need the rain to stop so I can use it.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/clay-bars-detailing-products/meguiars-one-step-headlight-restoration-kit

[Mister Rog]

which sounds a bit scary to me with a risk of ruining them.

They're breaked anyway

 . . . ever the optimist   

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Meguiars products are usually very good quality. 

[Nick W]

Having done loads of headlamps, I can't agree with using compound before wet&dry to save elbow grease.


A few strokes of 1000grit paper with soapy water actually moves the grot off the lens, and then you can use the compound to do what it is designed for: making a smooth, clear finish. It's no work at all to refinish by hand a small plastic surface like a headlamp. 10 minutes tops. Still attached to the car, in the dark.