Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 879
Yellowing headlights, easier to replace than repair?
Good evening all, hope you're having a merry Saturday.
I have a 2005 HSE with xenon headlights, which are functionally great. However the front of the nearside light is yellowing rather heavily, now very noticeable in the daylight. It looks naff.
I'm wondering about spending the hours flattening it back and polishing it. Has anyone here done this successfully? It looks a right faff.
Alternatively I am considering swapping them out for a decent set of Halogens instead. What do you think? I'm going to do the de-tango thing too at the same time, either way.
Separately if I do decide to swap them for Halogen, is editing the CCF a safe thing to do? I hear horror stories about damaging the CCF and making the car inoperable. Is that a real risk? I have a Gap IID tool.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Did mine today with some T cut and a drill with polishing pad then loads of wax looks good as new😎🏴
16th Oct 2021 6:50 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10364
If you are going to detango.
Get new lens from powerful or Ali express.
Wet sanding and spraying with laquer, does work. Time consuming
CCF edit. Hook a charger up. Turn roof lights off. And you should be fine.
16th Oct 2021 6:52 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 879
Alex3025 wrote:
Did mine today with some T cut and a drill with polishing pad then loads of wax looks good as new😎🏴
Fab, do you think something like this might work? BangShou 25 Pack 3" Polishing Pads, Sponge Buff Pads Set Kit with M10 Drill Adapter, Compound Auto Car Polisher https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MB21QCV/ref...K0F61YP07E2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Thank you, an easy solution! Saves messing around with the CCF too.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8103
Don’t even think about swapping xenon for halogen you will regret it full time, xenon bulbs last forever but like fluorescent lights they do degrade with time, if still on originals treat yourself to new bulbs while you’re at it, you won’t regret it It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
16th Oct 2021 7:12 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 879
Thanks, I'll look at that too 2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 03 Sep 2021
Location: Oslo
Posts: 310
Planning on doing mine shortly. Just bought Autoglyms lens kit and will buy some clear 2K paint to finish off. If it doesn't turn out ok, it'll be new lenses from Powerful.
Were they a pain to fit? Looks kinda tricky...
17th Oct 2021 5:33 pm
Bleeding knuckles
Member Since: 10 Jan 2019
Location: Kent
Posts: 114
If you open the lights up do you need new sealant when you close them together again?
Especially if you use new lenses2005 D3 SE Auto, zermatt silver
Gearbox flush by terrain vehicles
V8 brake upgrade
Will always ask silly questions
17th Oct 2021 5:53 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10364
Yes with new lens.
Black roof sealant from screw fix and mastic gun could do the trick
17th Oct 2021 6:34 pm
paul123
Member Since: 22 Mar 2020
Location: norwich
Posts: 230
I have just polished mine with a tcut headlight polish kit
2005 discovery 3 tdv6
1971 200 tdi 2 door range rover
300tdi defender 90 in bits needs lots of work
23rd Oct 2021 1:06 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 879
Looking like new 2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Toothpowder sorted my eldest's Punto and made at least part of the car smell nicer..
Dean
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2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Don’t even think about swapping xenon for halogen you will regret it full time, xenon bulbs last forever but like fluorescent lights they do degrade with time, if still on originals treat yourself to new bulbs while you’re at it, you won’t regret it 
... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
