I have a 06 997 and the headlights and turn indicators look a bit weathered. Are they any recommened products/techniques for cleaning them up other than what is advertised on TV (e.g., Mother's)?

Thanks!

 

Cause
Over the years, the polycarbonate headlight lens on any vehicle are subjected to heat and humidity - high Intensity discharge (HID) bulbs also bulbs also contribute to the deterioration of the polycarbonate lens as they emit heat from inside the lens, heat from the engine bay, radiation heat and humidity from the atmosphere, depending on climate and season Ultra violet (UV) radiation degradation causes oxidation and the lens becomes hazy and yellow. Road salt is also a yellowing agent, and then there is the effect of high-speed collision abrasion from dust, road grit and insects.

Effect
All of the above will cause the lens to become opaque causing lack of available road illumination. Hazy headlights aren’t just a cosmetic issue; they’re a safety issue, too and replacing headlights can get extremely expensive, and is often unnecessary.

Remedy
Because the damage on the lenses is usually purely superficial, they can be restored to an as-new clarity with minimum time and effort with the headlights still on the vehicle. If the lights are pitted, they will have to be sanded. But if they are just dull, hazy and yellow, surface polishing will restore clarity





TOGWT® Autopia Detailing Wiki - “Headlight Restoration” - http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia-detailing-wiki/141706-headlight-restoration.html#post1506615

 

Thanks for the info. Went with the 3M kit from Suncoast.

 

Great questions...this is becoming more common now as the 996/997 generation is aging.

The OTC kits I haven't tried. Maybe I'll go test something this weekend.

But here's how we repair it at GP:

1. Remove headlights
2. Sand the topcoat with various grits of fine sandpaper...we usually finish up with 2500-3000
3. Compound or polish the headlights depending on previous step
4. Apply a clear film to protect from future yellowing or fading...we use XPEL Ultimate
5. Apply nano coating to the film

For you DIY guys, I believe once you have the yellowing and oxidation removed, you'll know you've achieved this since headlights will be crystal clear, you can purchase clear film from XPEL directly for your exact fit. Simple to apply as well.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the help!