Landshandy

Landshandy

Active Member
Hi,

Just sat at work and thinking when I get home I'm going to remove my headlights and finally try and get rid of the condensation/clean the clear plastic lenses. Has anyone done this before (the lens) and does the lens come off easy?

I've already removed the light before and had the heads pop off the bolts so it's just the lens removal. Didn't want to try it and end up snapping something
 
I have had mine off, resealed, off, resealed with different sealer and still got condensation - my advice just take them off the disco, remove the rear caps and leave in the airing cupboard or something similar over night and that will dry them out.
 
I'm also curious how to get the plastic lenses off. I tried a while back but sensed it was all going to end in tears and backed off. In the meantime, milky lenses are a common problem out here in Australia with all the UV. I would say that if the insides of your lights are OK then leave well alone. I have had a go at the outsides of the lenses with a product called Polywatch. It is a paste formulated to polish watch crystals made of plastic (eg the Omega Speedmaster). I had a go at my headlights and it made a significant difference, the snag is that it comes in 5ml tubes so it doesn't go far.
 
From memory there are 2 Philips screws that need removing, then I just used a paint stripper gun to warm up the glue to peal off the plastic lense. Other people have put them in the oven to warm them up, but cannot image my better half would appreciate seeing a couple of headlights in the kitchen oven :eek:
 
DaisyDriver said:
I'm also curious how to get the plastic lenses off. I tried a while back but sensed it was all going to end in tears and backed off. In the meantime, milky lenses are a common problem out here in Australia with all the UV. I would say that if the insides of your lights are OK then leave well alone. I have had a go at the outsides of the lenses with a product called Polywatch. It is a paste formulated to polish watch crystals made of plastic (eg the Omega Speedmaster). I had a go at my headlights and it made a significant difference, the snag is that it comes in 5ml tubes so it doesn't go far.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's my worry. The inside of the headlights could do with a clean but I fear damaging them. I'll give that stuff a go
 
StuRox said:
From memory there are 2 Philips screws that need removing, then I just used a paint stripper gun to warm up the glue to peal off the plastic lense. Other people have put them in the oven to warm them up, but cannot image my better half would appreciate seeing a couple of headlights in the kitchen oven :eek:
Click to expand...
I'll take it out and have a look
 
DaisyDriver said:
I'm also curious how to get the plastic lenses off. I tried a while back but sensed it was all going to end in tears and backed off. In the meantime, milky lenses are a common problem out here in Australia with all the UV. I would say that if the insides of your lights are OK then leave well alone. I have had a go at the outsides of the lenses with a product called Polywatch. It is a paste formulated to polish watch crystals made of plastic (eg the Omega Speedmaster). I had a go at my headlights and it made a significant difference, the snag is that it comes in 5ml tubes so it doesn't go far.
Click to expand...
Instead of your Polywatch, use Greygate Plastic Polish. It's the stuff that the RAF use to polish the Perspex (Plexiglass) on their aircraft canopies.
 
Quite a lot of threads on Youtube for cleaning plastic lights.
Ive used toothpaste as plastic polish, works quite well on CD/DVDs but poss a bit harsh.
Mark
 
defenderdog said:
I need to do this too. Anyone got any pics of there's as there doing it as I don't want to feck them up.
Click to expand...
I'm tempted to give it a go this weekend as the top inside of the light is grubby due to the effects of water and sunlight. There must be a way to do it as what happens when the bulb needs to be changed?
 
Having a look on other forums it seems like it's going to be a ball ache. As some of the chaps above have stated it could just be dirty on the outside accumulated over the years. A good scrub could help. I'll also take the offending light out and put it in the airing cupboard.
 
My drivers side headlight was noticeably cloudy compared to the other one. I polished the outside but eventually realised this wasn't the issue. I guess water had got inside at some point and a film had formed on the inside. I managed to gradually lever the lens away using a pair of screw drivers. Take it slowly and the two parts can eventually be separated. A bit of hot air can help loosen the bond. I the used a plastic polishing compound with a pad on my drill to clean up the inside. Reassemble and reseal using a good silicone sealant and the cloudy lens was almost as clear as the other, you'd have be looking hard to notice the difference.
BUT once the light had been subject to an overnight temperature drop there was now condensation on the inside. I solved this by popping a big bag of Silica crystals into the headlight. With the high price of these lights it is well worth giving this a go before buying new.
 
I've not had a good look at mine yet, but is the inside of the headlight not open to the air when you change the bulbs?
 
they don't split, you will have to dry them with a fan heater, the breather grommets need changing, they did a mod kit for these to stop them condensating, i got a set and changed mine, been ok since and that was 2-3 year ago, if they are wet inside give em a lite spray of a bleach cleaner inside, this will kill the algea or mould if you have any, then dry em out,
http://www.brit-car.co.uk/product.php/103482/2529/headlamp_vent_tube_discovery_2__3a_
 
Took off the light and there was half a pint of water in. I'm going to pore some light bleach in and swish it round where the mould is and leave for a while. Then get one of those moisture fell packs you get in shoe boxes (as mentioned) and put it inside. Hopefully solve the issue
 
if there is half a pint of water in, there is something serious somewhere, since i bought and changed the vent tubes, ive had nothing! a cheap fix!
 
DaisyDriver said:
I'm also curious how to get the plastic lenses off. I tried a while back but sensed it was all going to end in tears and backed off. In the meantime, milky lenses are a common problem out here in Australia with all the UV. I would say that if the insides of your lights are OK then leave well alone. I have had a go at the outsides of the lenses with a product called Polywatch. It is a paste formulated to polish watch crystals made of plastic (eg the Omega Speedmaster). I had a go at my headlights and it made a significant difference, the snag is that it comes in 5ml tubes so it doesn't go far.
Click to expand...

I put "Protectant 303" on all my lenses and external trim - seems to protect well against UV oxidation.
 
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