Headlight and tail light restoration preservation

Post by **ZionXIX** » 14 Jul 2019, 19:58

I acquired a parts car and will begin transferring parts soon. One of the nicest parts are the tail lights. They look almost new. How can I keep them from fading like my old ones did?

Post by **misha** » 15 Jul 2019, 00:20

All you can do is to keep the car in the garage or in a shade when you not use it.
My tail lights still looks like brand new.

To be honest....i saw just one or two of these cars with faded tail lights and i guess that they were aftermarket units.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 15 Jul 2019, 03:51

ZionXIX wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 19:58 I acquired a parts car and will begin transferring parts soon. One of the nicest parts are the tail lights. They look almost new. How can I keep them from fading like my old ones did?

A can of UV clear coat but that is difficult to spray well and you'll need to wet-sand between coats besides polishing the last coat. When I broke

the tail light on the C30 ($100.00 for a used one) the used one was newer than the original. I had Mothers do the work to clean them up. No, not mom, Mothers. Both lights look even now.

Lately I've found Magic Eraser works great on glass with water or soap. Let the eraser do the work as it can fall apart easily. Haven't try it with Mothers.
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Mothers 05101 Mag & Aluminum Polish - 10 oz
https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-05101-Ma ... 736&sr=8-3
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Post by **Clemens** » 15 Jul 2019, 04:34

the glass headlights on the 850ies never fade. the platic tail lights up to 95 fade, afzer 96 they were of better plastic and usually don't fade. no idea what the sun will do to them in soCal or Texas or somewhere else close to the Trump-wall.

Post by **ZionXIX** » 15 Jul 2019, 05:44

Now if we could find a way to restore the reflectors

Post by **MoVolvos** » 15 Jul 2019, 12:47

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All plastics on the car will respond the same way whether headlight, tail light or reflectors.

I've tried, nail-polish, tooth paste, wax, WD, so basically the majority of the Youtube methods short of painting with a clear coat. Mothers has been the easiest. It is too easy to soften and damage the plastic so it becomes hard to work with. Some plastic can almost become beyond repair but there should always be some improvement.
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How MOMMA Repairs Headlights to NEW in 3 Minutes

Can you buff your headlights with Mothers aluminium wheel polish?

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Transmission Fluid works on the black portion of bumper and trim also but you need to buff to remove any residual.
This guy says the transmission fluid is red so it helps. The reason it works is because the oil is rejuvenating/wetting the plastic besides changing the refraction of the plastic.

Post by **nickelghandi** » 15 Jul 2019, 18:46

Clemens wrote: ↑15 Jul 2019, 04:34 the glass headlights on the 850ies never fade. the platic tail lights up to 95 fade, afzer 96 they were of better plastic and usually don't fade. no idea what the sun will do to them in soCal or Texas or somewhere else close to the Trump-wall.

If in Texas or AZ, just park close to the Trump wall and it will shade from the sun.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 15 Jul 2019, 19:31

nickelghandi wrote: ↑15 Jul 2019, 18:46
Clemens wrote: ↑15 Jul 2019, 04:34 in soCal or Texas or somewhere else close to the Trump-wall.
park close to the Trump wall.

Is that legal?

crlande · Post by **crlande** » 15 Jul 2019, 19:33

Ok....or near any of the barriers built in '94 under President Clinton. Go figure.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 15 Jul 2019, 19:41

MoVolvos wrote: ↑15 Jul 2019, 19:31
nickelghandi wrote: ↑15 Jul 2019, 18:46
Clemens wrote: ↑15 Jul 2019, 04:34 in soCal or Texas or somewhere else close to the Trump-wall.
park close to the Trump wall.
Is that legal?

They might put it on ICE and fence it off in the sun and no Mother Polish enough will be able to save it

.