How to "restore" plastic headlights? (auto, best, buying)

[Boomerang]

I so miss the days of real glass headlights.

My plastic headlights are so yellowed, it's really difficult to see any distance at night. Bug & Tar remover works for a while (shines & brightens) and last year my local friendly garage buffed 'em up with a kit which they said was purchased at a local auto supply store. That lasted longer than the Bug & Tar trick, but not much.

Short of buying 2 entirely new headlights (what, $400?), any other ideas or tips?

[M3 Mitch]

NAPA, among others, has a neat little kit for doing this, uses stick-on polishing discs and a hand-held drill. Works well. This is probably what your shop used. It's not expensive and it's not hard to use.

Wax them well with something like McGuire's (a quality wax)after polishing and it should last longer.

If you can arrange to park out of the sun, that will help too.

[Steve-o]

I used to use buffing compound to remove the tarnish, and it worked well. Throw on a little carnauba wax when youre done, it repels water and other crap that yellows them.

[Katie1]

bestheadlightcleaner.com

THIS WORKS...about $20 at walmart!!

[woxyroxme]

Originally Posted by Katie1

bestheadlightcleaner.com

THIS WORKS...about $20 at walmart!!

I should try that, I once used 1500 grit and then 2000 grit wet or dry sandpaper with a lot of water and that worked but was very labor intensive to do before it made a difference.

[Boomerang]

Thanks everybody! I appreciate all the tips and will definitely wax very well after I'm done cleaning.

Unfortunately parking out of the sun is not an option....but will try to avoid where possible!

I wish I could also install some intensely bright lamps, but haven't seen anything like that.

[southernnaturelover]

You might could try the SilverStar bulbs to combat some of that yellowness at night.

[Roaddog]

You can use metal polish to clean them

[southernnaturelover]

You might could try this...

Eastwood Co. - Headlight Refinishing Kit (http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=2621&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainC at=596&iSubCat=599&iProductID=2621 - broken link)

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

You might could try this...

Eastwood Co. - Headlight Refinishing Kit (http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=2621&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainC at=596&iSubCat=599&iProductID=2621 - broken link)

Added to the list of good possibilities.
Intriguing idea of using a drill instead of elbow grease....