jovan90jovanovic
New member
- Sep 27, 2020
- 3
- 0
Hi guys, this is my first post here so I'd like to thank everyone for providing tons of valuable information. I like my machines a lot, we are friends, and I like to have them in best possible shape at all times. Question I have is about headlights on 2008 BWM X6, about polishing headlights actually, these headlights come later. It all started because previous owner had them varnished (lacquered them for protection), and that started peeling off. Of course, I went to expert asking him to remove them completely, sand that protection of, and polish headlights.
This is what I received:
View attachment 71002
I'm sure everyone can see what I want to fix. I didn't wanted to go back to that 'expert' - I just don't have nerve for arguing, I'll make it right myself.
So, I decided to test what I know on some older (also plastic) headlights. Being in Europe, I can easily get SONAX products - and from what I've seen here, they should be very good. I haven't found any special 'headlights restoration' kit or anything. Instead,
I've got 2 standard polishing products:
a) Robot Check
b) Sonax Perfect Finish, best car polish
Regarding tools with acceptable rpm, I've got 2 tools:
1) BOSCH accu drill with 2 speeds. 600rpm and 1500rpm. Light tool, does not apply too much pressure naturally.
2) BOSCH power drill with max speed of 3000rpm but I limited it to around 2000rpm. Heavy tool, easier to apply pressure.
As mentioned, I was testing everything on some older headlights - didn't jump straight onto the BMW.
a1) Using EX 03-06, with 2 passes on 600rpm and like 6 passes on 1500rpm makes the headlights very shiny, but isn't able to remove any deeper scratches, it just removes "cloudiness" and makes them shiny. I figured that won't work on BMW deep scratches.
b2) Using Perfect finish, with 2 passes slowly and then about 6 passes on 2000rpm, I managed to burn the plastic in few places. To be honest also, I didn't see much of an improvement, as if 03-06 removed more scratches than this "b2" combo
What I would like to learn here is, why did burns happen? I didn't take a picture of burns but I can, smudged plastic on few places that probably can be 'saved' with a lot of sanding. What is the main issue for that, is it the speed? is it the product? is it weight of the machine? Because, I really wasn't expecting burns, I used light SONAX foam pad (green), I wasn't applying too much of an additional pressure, I was moving, I really didn't keep the drill in one place letting it burn it. I can see that guys are recommending even higher speeds with buffing tools, like 3000rpm - so I'm also not sure that the speed was the problem.
Is it possible that the product, Perfect Finish, simply does not work well on the plastic and that it shouldn't be used for plastic?
This is what I received:
View attachment 71002
I'm sure everyone can see what I want to fix. I didn't wanted to go back to that 'expert' - I just don't have nerve for arguing, I'll make it right myself.
So, I decided to test what I know on some older (also plastic) headlights. Being in Europe, I can easily get SONAX products - and from what I've seen here, they should be very good. I haven't found any special 'headlights restoration' kit or anything. Instead,
I've got 2 standard polishing products:
a) Robot Check
b) Sonax Perfect Finish, best car polish
Regarding tools with acceptable rpm, I've got 2 tools:
1) BOSCH accu drill with 2 speeds. 600rpm and 1500rpm. Light tool, does not apply too much pressure naturally.
2) BOSCH power drill with max speed of 3000rpm but I limited it to around 2000rpm. Heavy tool, easier to apply pressure.
As mentioned, I was testing everything on some older headlights - didn't jump straight onto the BMW.
a1) Using EX 03-06, with 2 passes on 600rpm and like 6 passes on 1500rpm makes the headlights very shiny, but isn't able to remove any deeper scratches, it just removes "cloudiness" and makes them shiny. I figured that won't work on BMW deep scratches.
b2) Using Perfect finish, with 2 passes slowly and then about 6 passes on 2000rpm, I managed to burn the plastic in few places. To be honest also, I didn't see much of an improvement, as if 03-06 removed more scratches than this "b2" combo
What I would like to learn here is, why did burns happen? I didn't take a picture of burns but I can, smudged plastic on few places that probably can be 'saved' with a lot of sanding. What is the main issue for that, is it the speed? is it the product? is it weight of the machine? Because, I really wasn't expecting burns, I used light SONAX foam pad (green), I wasn't applying too much of an additional pressure, I was moving, I really didn't keep the drill in one place letting it burn it. I can see that guys are recommending even higher speeds with buffing tools, like 3000rpm - so I'm also not sure that the speed was the problem.
Is it possible that the product, Perfect Finish, simply does not work well on the plastic and that it shouldn't be used for plastic?
