Restoring BMW headlights...

[96Lude]

I have restored many headlights, however it seems I always have an issue with BMW headlights. My restore process always including wetsanding usually with 1000, 2000 grit and then polishing. Sometimes I will go as low as 400 grit if needed. No matter what I do, with the BMW headlights there is some yellow staining I can't remove. The surface is very smooth, so this is what I don't understand.

Is it possible that the plastic is stained or discolored from the inside?

I am wondering if the HID or Xenon lights in these cars generate a lot of heat and can possibly cause this problem.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Cosmin]

Re: Restoring BMW headlights...

my golden rule when i do headlights is: the car get`s wetsand until the water get`s from yellow to milky - white , is the time when all the damage got removed.
after that polish steps.
Cosmin

[96Lude]

Re: Restoring BMW headlights...

I remember the water not being yellow anymore, it had turned white. Is it possible the damage was from the inside?

[Cosmin]

Re: Restoring BMW headlights...

I remember the water not being yellow anymore, it had turned white. Is it possible the damage was from the inside?

is possible , i found a lot of lenses that has little cracks in the plastic and only from a close look are visible.
is possible to be "stain" on inside of plastic too.
some headlights get`s moisture on inside and that may help the damage process.

[Jumper09]

Re: Restoring BMW headlights...

I have run into the same problem on a couple of different brands. I believe the staining is on the problem is staining on the inside from moisture and such on the inside of the lens. I have also run into the spider web cracks and some fogginess. I just let the customer know that there isn't anything I can do for problems on the inside of the lens and they understand.