Can Scratches on Car Headlight Covers Be Repaired?
2 Answers
Whether scratches on car headlights can be repaired depends on the material type: 1. If the headlight lens is made of glass: In this case, scratches can often be easily removed by simple wiping or using specific grades of sandpaper. 2. If the headlight lens is made of special plastic material: It can also be treated with specialized sandpaper or cloth wiping. If the scratches still cannot be removed, it is recommended to replace the headlight. 3. If the headlight is made of ABS engineering plastic: Specialized sandpaper or polishing compounds can be used to restore its original appearance.
I recently dealt with minor scratches on my car light covers myself and found that household polishing paste and a soft cloth worked quite well. First, clean the surface thoroughly, then apply the polish in circular motions to buff out the fine scratches. The key is not to press too hard to avoid damaging the plastic layer. The tools can be easily found in supermarkets or auto parts stores. That time, I only spent a few dozen bucks to fix it, and the result was almost like new, with the brightness fully restored. If the scratches are too deep, like exposing the underlying material, it might be better to have a professional use fine sandpaper for polishing and then apply a protective coating—doing it yourself could easily make things worse. Parking in safe spots can also help avoid scratches from branches and such, a handy tip to save both money and effort.
