Headlights - UV protection

[AnthonyUK]

I've sanded and polished the headlights again and they do look OK.
Is there anything that can be applied that will stop them yellowing so quickly?

 

[daibevan]

You can buy anti UV sealer. I've used it in the past. My lights still went opaque but didn't yellow. They may have lasted longer before needing doing agai, I just don't know. It wasn't very dear, but I can't remember which make I used. I think it might have been Maguires???

 

[Mr Greedy]

If you can easily take the headlights put, after wet and dry sanding them to about 1000 grit, you can carefully clean and spray the lenses with 2k clear coat from an aerosol can. Around £25 a can on Amazon and will offer better UV protection and longevity than the headlights UV brush on kits.

 

[Jason63]

I've found the easy option is ceramic coating - if you already have some. If you don't you'll need to spend £30+ on some.

Degrease with soapy water - you are supposed to use IPA but I'm not convinced plastic is unaffected by IPA.
Wipe on, wait 60s and polish off.

No masking or headlight removal required.
Lasted a year without yellowing - then I sold the car.

 

[rifiki]

MB must use poor quality materials, had Nissan Primera for 11 years with no yellowing

 

[daibevan]

It must be where you park it. My nissan Primera's headlights looked like they had been punched in the face, they were such a dirty browny yellow. Thogh they did come up lovely with a polish.

 

[AnthonyUK]

MB must use poor quality materials, had Nissan Primera for 11 years with no yellowing

If they are plastic then I believe a chemical (Bromine) they put in plastics today for fire safety purposes causes it to yellow over time when exposed to UV.

TBH, I bought this pack of sanding discs and used three grades 800, 1200 and 2000 so have loads left and it only took around 25 mins per side so I think I'll just redo as needed.

 

[Woodleigh]

I had mine wrapped from new, saves from stone chips and yellowing. Plus easy to replace the wrapping rather than the headlight

 

[Flyinspanner]

Acrylic laquer - UV resistant,

 

[Chris-net]

I've sanded and polished the headlights again and they do look OK.
Is there anything that can be applied that will stop them yellowing so quickly?

Blimey, what car is that on and how old is it?

Stealsrship tried to fail the mot on my 2011 s213 as the insides of headlights are a bit misty, I explained it’d been like that for years with no issues but they insisted on polishing the outside. They did and charged for 1 and said the other was just about ok.

Looked no different to me.

Every year they would find extra work.

Water pump and transmission leak was the usual for ~5 years. I had 2 consecutive years where 1 rear tyre miraculously had gashes in it. Every year it was discs and pads.

Since I’ve got the mot done elsewhere they now tell me the car is fine with no issues on the vid health check, water and transmission leak miraculously fixed themselves too.

 

[Chrishazle]

A 2011 car going to a main dealer - do you not have a decent indie close enough? I've been having my MoT's on both done by F1 Autocentres (more convenient that ATS) for a few years now, they're cheap, good and have never tried to "find" additional stuff needing doing, even told me at last MoT that rather then the rear tyres being close to illegal that I actually had another 3k miles in them!

 

[LostKiwi]

I always make a point of saying to whoever does the test that the work will be done elsewhere.
Stops them trying to boost their own income with 'faults'b if they know a competitor will benefit.

 

[s5tuart]

You can buy anti UV sealer. I've used it in the past. My lights still went opaque but didn't yellow. They may have lasted longer before needing doing agai, I just don't know. It wasn't very dear, but I can't remember which make I used. I think it might have been Maguires???

Meguires do a special headlamp lacquer spray I believe.

 

[Chris-net]

A 2011 car going to a main dealer - do you not have a decent indie close enough? I've been having my MoT's on both done by F1 Autocentres (more convenient that ATS) for a few years now, they're cheap, good and have never tried to "find" additional stuff needing doing, even told me at last MoT that rather then the rear tyres being close to illegal that I actually had another 3k miles in them!

it’s actually an s212, not 213.

I do actually have a very good independent, he is a BOSCH service centre too. I’ve been thinking of selling the car since I got it in 2011 (I should have gone for the v6 diesel) so have wanted the stealership stamp for an easier sell.

last few years I had a service contract, next year it’ll go to the indie If I still have it.

 

[V6Matty]

Blimey, what car is that on and how old is it?

Stealsrship tried to fail the mot on my 2011 s213 as the insides of headlights are a bit misty, I explained it’d been like that for years with no issues but they insisted on polishing the outside. They did and charged for 1 and said the other was just about ok.

Looked no different to me.

Every year they would find extra work.

Water pump and transmission leak was the usual for ~5 years. I had 2 consecutive years where 1 rear tyre miraculously had gashes in it. Every year it was discs and pads.

Since I’ve got the mot done elsewhere they now tell me the car is fine with no issues on the vid health check, water and transmission leak miraculously fixed themselves too.

Interesting that you’ve had the inside of your lamps, mine are the same and I’ve pondered about what to do with them, i unfortunately keep coming to the same conclusion that they just need replacing

 

[AnthonyUK]

Blimey, what car is that on and how old is it?

It's a 20 year old S203 so not unexpected
It does make it look better and was an advisory on the last MoT which is due again this month.

 

[Chris-net]

Interesting that you’ve had the inside of your lamps, mine are the same and I’ve pondered about what to do with them, i unfortunately keep coming to the same conclusion that they just need replacing

You can get a kit to clean the inside, looks super fiddly so not attempted it yet.

 

[Chris-net]

It's a 20 year old S203 so not unexpected
It does make it look better and was an advisory on the last MoT which is due again this month.

Well, the ladies do enjoy a bit of sanding and moisturising as we age.

still got the looks though.

 

[Chris-net]

You can get a kit to clean the inside, looks super fiddly so not attempted it yet.

That video makes it look super easy so may yet give it a go

 

[V6Matty]

That video makes it look super easy so may yet give it a go

Almost looks too easy I’d hate to think what might happen if you drop the cloth inside though, how much of a pita would that be to retrieve