Fixing Cloudy Headlights: A Real-World Guide to Clear Vision

Give the whole front end a good scrub. You don't want red dust or road grime getting caught in your sandpaper and deep-scratching the lens. Dry it off completely.

This is the most important prep step. Tape off the paintwork around the headlight. Use two or three layers of tape. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore once, one slip with the sandpaper and you're suddenly doing a paint repair job you didn't bargain for.

It gives you better access to the top edges of the light and stops you from scuffing the underside of the hood.

Soak your 800-grit paper in your spray bottle for 5 minutes. Spray the lens liberally and start sanding in horizontal motions. It's going to look terrifying, the water will turn milky yellow. That's the dead UV coating coming off. Keep it wet!

Wipe the lens dry. It should look uniform and frosty. If you see clear 'islands' or spots, you haven't sanded deep enough. Keep going until it's an even matte finish.

Now move to 1500 grit. This time, sand vertically. By changing direction, you can see when you've sanded out the scratches from the previous 800-grit stage. When the horizontal lines are gone, you're ready to move on.

Go back to horizontal strokes with your finest paper. Spend a good 5-10 minutes here. The smoother you get it now, the easier the polishing will be. The lens should start to look slightly translucent when wet.

Dry the lens completely. It should look like frosted glass. If there are any deep gouges left, you've rushed it. Go back a step if you have to, I've had to do this plenty of times when I've been impatient.

Apply a pea-sized amount of compound to a microfibre pad. Work it into the lens in small circular motions with a fair bit of elbow grease. If you have a cordless drill with a small polishing pad, even better, just watch the heat!

Wipe away the residue with a clean cloth. You should see that 'crystal clear' look returning. If it's still a bit hazy, hit it with the polish one more time.

Spray some IPA (diluted 50/50 with water) or a dedicated panel prep on a cloth and wipe the lens. This removes any oils from the polish so your sealant actually sticks.

Apply your UV sealant or ceramic coating. Follow the bottle's instructions to the letter. Don't do this in direct sunlight or the stuff will flash off before you can level it out.

Give it at least an hour (check the product label) before you drive. Keep it away from water and dust while it sets. No trips to the servo for a meat pie just yet.