DISCLAIMER:
Wetsanding and Powertools should not be exercised on a vehicle by ANYONE but a professional. WORK AT YOUR OWN RISK
Okay, this seems to be a common problem with MK4 Jetta headlights I've noticed. The lens begins to fog up with road debris, fallout, and surface marring which really cuts down on night vision. There is a fix though and this is it.
Tools needed:
800 grit sand paper
1000 grit sand paper
1500 grit sand paper
Some sort of wet-sanding liquid (water, instant detailer, a light degreaser)
Cutting Compound of your choice
Polishing Compound of your choice
Optional tools:
Machine buffer, Rotary, or DA with pads (I used a PC7424 with 2 different levels of CCS pads)... Power tools will cut down on work time/effort required by exponential amounts
Various assortments of Torque (T25, T27) if you will be removing the headlights/bumper-cover
Some sort of paper-tape if not removing the headlights/bumper-cover
Here is a close up in detail of a lens that needs restoration. (this car only has 50,xxx miles but the headlights are subpar)
Step one: If removing the headlight is not an option, be sure to tape around the lens to protect the paint on the vehicle (we will be sanding). Save yourself some time and effort by taking this step
Step Two:
Begin wetsanding the headlights using the most course grit first (i started with 1000 grit but 800 grit would have been better). Be sure to go in a back in forth or up and down motion, DO NOT MAKE CIRCLES!
Step Three:
Progressively move towards a finer grit of sand paper until you've reached the finest grit you have (I finished with 1500). The headlights will begin to haze over. DO NOT BE ALARMED, this is good. We will buff that out later
Step Four:
Use a rubbing compound to slim down on the scratches/haze that have developed as a result of wetsanding. Again, go back and forth, DO NOT MAKE CIRCLES. (I used a PC7424 with Lake Country CCS pads (yellow and orange) and Pinnacle XMT#4)
Step Five:
Use a polishing compound to get the finished look. (I used the PC7424 with a Lake Country White CCS and 3M Finnesse-IT2 Finishing Polish)
(I opted to remove the headlights from the vehicle as I was not acheiving the results I desired while the lights were installed on the vehicle. The front bumper cover must be removed before you can remove the headlights)
Before and After:
After Pictures
After a bath and ready for customer delivery
Happy Detailing
-Dan
Wetsanding and Powertools should not be exercised on a vehicle by ANYONE but a professional. WORK AT YOUR OWN RISK
Okay, this seems to be a common problem with MK4 Jetta headlights I've noticed. The lens begins to fog up with road debris, fallout, and surface marring which really cuts down on night vision. There is a fix though and this is it.
Tools needed:
800 grit sand paper
1000 grit sand paper
1500 grit sand paper
Some sort of wet-sanding liquid (water, instant detailer, a light degreaser)
Cutting Compound of your choice
Polishing Compound of your choice
Optional tools:
Machine buffer, Rotary, or DA with pads (I used a PC7424 with 2 different levels of CCS pads)... Power tools will cut down on work time/effort required by exponential amounts
Various assortments of Torque (T25, T27) if you will be removing the headlights/bumper-cover
Some sort of paper-tape if not removing the headlights/bumper-cover
Here is a close up in detail of a lens that needs restoration. (this car only has 50,xxx miles but the headlights are subpar)
Step one: If removing the headlight is not an option, be sure to tape around the lens to protect the paint on the vehicle (we will be sanding). Save yourself some time and effort by taking this step
Step Two:
Begin wetsanding the headlights using the most course grit first (i started with 1000 grit but 800 grit would have been better). Be sure to go in a back in forth or up and down motion, DO NOT MAKE CIRCLES!
Step Three:
Progressively move towards a finer grit of sand paper until you've reached the finest grit you have (I finished with 1500). The headlights will begin to haze over. DO NOT BE ALARMED, this is good. We will buff that out later
Step Four:
Use a rubbing compound to slim down on the scratches/haze that have developed as a result of wetsanding. Again, go back and forth, DO NOT MAKE CIRCLES. (I used a PC7424 with Lake Country CCS pads (yellow and orange) and Pinnacle XMT#4)
Step Five:
Use a polishing compound to get the finished look. (I used the PC7424 with a Lake Country White CCS and 3M Finnesse-IT2 Finishing Polish)
(I opted to remove the headlights from the vehicle as I was not acheiving the results I desired while the lights were installed on the vehicle. The front bumper cover must be removed before you can remove the headlights)
Before and After:
After Pictures
After a bath and ready for customer delivery
Happy Detailing
-Dan
