Plastic Headlight Covers
 

I have an older car with very low mileage and although it's garaged I work and it sits out in the sun all day...the headlights have yellowed and I have tried everything from nail polish remover...to headlight kits to having them sanded which worked for about a year for a cost of $125.00. I was wondering if anyone has ever had them replaced and a recommendation

Have you searched the Internet for auto parts stores and also Amazon?

I found some on Amazon but I need someone to change them or I need to know if it is possible

I had a 97 Buick I changed the headlight unit. Wasn't a big deal on that car.
Bought the lights on line.

I bought my granddaughter, an older Honda several years ago that had that problem I used automotive rubbing compound with a buffer and they came out looking like new. You could probably do it by hand the buffer just made it easier.

I think the Sam's Club automotive section sells a product to clean the plastic covers, and they may even do it for you. But, I would opt for new covers if I could.

Have you tried using toothpaste (with a little baking soda if you have it)?

Rub covers with it on a damp cloth, rinse off, polish with a dry cloth

If you then smear a bit of olive oil on them the finish should last longer, but this is optional.

I have restored the 20-year old covers on my headlights three times doing the above.

there is a buffing cream compound that is available that I've used, but I thought the toothpaste worked equally good. they won't come out like new, but quite a bit better.

Replace them, there are no other options that will work for very long. As you probably already know, these days, headlight assemblies are usually very expensive.

This would be my suggestion.

Check on you tube for replacement for different models.
Some vehicles are easier than others to replace the lenses.

If you can supply some details, make, model, etc., I may be able to help. I have rebuilt 8 cars from the ground up, but a lot depends on how the lights are mounted, how the lens are attached, etc.
Feel free to send me a PM if interested.

Another vote for toothpaste. It is a mild abrasive (use paste, not gel) and it will take off the surface oxidation that causes the yellowing.

Sanding is too extreme - and expensive!

Back in Jr high shop class made some plastic ornaments. To polish them to crystal clear used a buffer and jewelers rouge. Most toothpaste has some kind of grit in it.

Agree with toothpaste solution, it has worked for me.

Polishing kit
 

I used a "headlight lens polishing kit" that I bought at Harbor Freight. Fairly inexpensive and worked well. It's designed to work with a hand-held 3/8" drill. Took some time, but it wasn't physically demanding. Starts with a more abrasive pad and finishes with a finer one. Includes the polishing paste. Sorry, I don't know much about replacing a lens.

Headlights
 

Use bug spray, Repel, Off or Deet with an old sock or soft cloth, they will look like new for a few months

For many cars these days, the headlight assembly is a sealed unit with several lenses inside to make the light look brighter or stronger or wider. Replacing these can cost $500 or more each. Meanwhile, the plastic they are made of grows cloudy eventually in bright light, rather like cataracts. This makes headlights seem much dimmer.

I use a product called Micro Mesh. It’s a series of gradually finer sandpapers (well, they are on cloth, not paper, actually), running from 1500 grit to 12,000. (The 1500 is actually then equivalent of 400 grit sandpaper used for wood, and the 12,000 is so fine that it feels smooth.) You can buy it on Amazon or eBay, but not at local stores. This is used by airline mechanics to remove tiny scratches from airplane windshields and restore them to like-new visibility, so of course it works fine on headlights.

MicroMesh is waterproof and can be used wet or dry. For doing headlight covers, having a pan of water to rinse off the plastic powder sanded off is a good idea. The pieces of Micro mesh are small, and the set comes with a small foam pad to back up the Micro Mesh. Start with the coarsest piece and gradually work through every mesh until you get to the finest. (I also do stringed instrument repair, and I use Micro Mesh to put a glossy finish on hard woods like ebony and maple without having to use any varnish or lacquer and to shine up dull metals. I’ve also used it on old cracked varnish finishes to remove the top layer of varnish and leave behind the inner layer looking almost like new.) (note that a Micro Mesh kit costs about $24. There are similar kits available for a third that much, but they don’t have all of the grits, so they don’t work as well.
Amazon.com

Careful using a drill… needs to be one where you can lower the speed: I burnt the light covers on my Mercedes by using a high speed drill: had to have them replaced $$$$ ugh

I have restored several hundred headlights and I would not recommend changing the headlight unit. A simple headlight restoration will clear up the oxidation on the plastic and following up with a good quality coating that offers UV protection will help to keep the headlights clear and safe for driving at night and also look good during the day.
If your vehicle is in the sun most of the day, then even the new headlights will eventually have the same oxidation issue.

2 ideas
1 try cutter deep woods spray, be sure it has 25 % deet
2 check rockauto.com for headlight assemblies. They are usually have the best price

Sanding and polishing do the trick - BUT did you put a spray coat of protectant on the plastic lenses after getting the lenses clear again. Meguiars sells the product called "Headlight Coating" "3m has a product also" If you don't put the coating on the lense will yellow again. Both are good products.

I had mine "professionally" restored. Although they were better, I was disappointed in the results and the guy said the problem was inside as well as outside. He got the outside better......

Replace if Low $
 

A detailer once told me to replace since that would be cheaper than the labor to polish. The standard headlights on my minivan were $175 each so that was plausible until I discovered that I had upgraded factory lights which were $1000 each. I had them polished.

I had other cars where the headlight covers were individually replaceable for $100 each - excellent design.

If you do have them polished, make sure that a clear coat is applied afterwards to keep lenses clear longer.

I have used products by Novus to successfully clean and restore headlight covers and motorcycle windshields. They have a 3-step system that really works for removing oxidation and scratches from all types of plastics, including polycarbonate, acrylics, lexan, etc. Take your time, follow the directions, and you'll see results. The 3-step kit is available on Amazon for about 24 bucks.

Headlights
 

Any method is only temporary, and depending on the depth of damage how good the finish comes out. There are multiple outlets for replacements. Do not expect them to last forever either. They are made of subpar materials and will do the same thing in less than 5 years. One thing you can do is continually wax and apply uv protection to them

you can get these fixed they just clean them

There is a guy at Market of Marion that does this for a living - starting at $70 - we just had it done & love the result!

The 3M kit works well. I’ve used it on several cars. Make sure you apply the sealant after the sanding process. Otherwise headlights will yellow quickly. And I found it much easier to remove the headlights when doing the restoration. Removal allows you to do the necessary work without scratching any of the other car surfaces.

2 experiences
 

1. 2 methods exist in restoration kits. Sanding & filling. Had far superior results with filling using Meguiar's Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit (WalMart & Amazon).
2. replace it. Google - youtube for replacing headlight on your car's model. Generally fairly easy DIY. Purchase at local auto parts store.

Meguiars PlastX might be the thing you need - give it a try - slow and steady

Cheap fix
 

Polish the lens with toothpaste. It works!

I have & supposedly was suppose to be the best & easiest to use. But for some reason they don’t work. Anybody know why?

Yellow headlight covers. Try WD 40.
 

Try WD 40.

Headlight Covers Cleared
 

Take your car to Atlantis Car Wash. They are located in front of Beals and Lowes on hwy 441.
They have detail specialists there that do an excellent job of cleaning plastic headlight covers. Not sure what they use of put on afterwards, but I had both of my cars done more than a year ago and the results remains spectacular.
I never had any positive results with the "kits". It takes a specialist.

I ALWAYS had success using the headlight kits.

Polishing will only work for a short time. Need to replace for a long term solution. People have asked make/model of car. Supply that and someone can help with install.

Also Rockauto has good prices and usually a video for replacement parts.

I've "heard" that toothpaste will clean this up but can't speak from experience. I've also heard that it will turn yellow again after using the toothpaste but don't know how long that takes.

Yes I sure most lenes get cloudy from oxidation, but I also think when
washing your car, make sure the rag is clean from grit.
That to could these lenes cloudy.

I have gone the "toothpaste" route several times and each time the lenses have stayed clear for about two years.

It takes just one minute per lens and, for me, makes a lot more sense than buying an expensive kit, having it done professionally or replacing the lenses.