Nicole

I noticed tonight that I have a few minor scratches/scuffs in my tail light lenses. Nothing major, just on the surface. Is there a way to polish this out without creating more damage?

Wiould the lenses first have to be sanded with superfine 2000 grit paper to get them 100% smooth?

FlyingDog

I've heard of 3M plexiglass polishing products being used on taillights.

pasa

Hi Nicole

yes you can polish your rear lenses, I used a product from Meguiar's PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish it works great it cleans the plastic while removing small scratches. I believe they also sell a different two step product which a friend has used with great success, one bottle for cleaning the plastic and one for polishing out small scratches.

Regards
Dan 1990 928GT

MilesOrbell

Nicole, they polish up nicely, I used a polish for metals & it worked beaut. Just be careful what other chemicals go on the plastics.

I have an old broken light & was experimenting on it to see what would best clean out the inside, dust etc, dull reflectors. Well I put some methylated spirits in there (which usually does not react with plastic) & almost instantly the lenses started cracking & crazing ! Good old soapy water works well to flush them out if they are dirty inside. Just flush with distilled water so no water marks left inside, then blow out with compressed air.

Malibu310

When I got my body work done they took the tail lights and ground off all that small lettering and forming marks to smooth the surface, as well as polish the lenses.

bdstott

Years ago I was the general manager of a marine supply store. We sold piles of a two step product to clean and polish the plexiglass windows on boats. You may want to try a local boating store to see what they have.

6.0-928S

I used jewelers rouge. Came out perfect.
Hammer

Kevin in Atlanta

I have used 3000 grit followed Meguiers ScratchX with nice results.

Imo000

There is another way to get the same results. I’ve seen this at my friend’s body shop. He shoots the tail lights with clear coat, they always come out perfect!

IcemanG17

Nicole
I would try some plastic polish.....most of the big name companies make it....polish them up good and put a coat of Rejex on....it will be looking good!

Bill Ball

I have used my old favorite paint finishing agent, 3M Finesse-It II, to buff plastic with perfect results.

m21sniper

I use 3m scratch remover and polish on my tail lights and plastic lens covers. My cousin uses it on his 1968 Show beetle, and turned me on to it.

Really works well.

MilesOrbell

Another good tip, I have noticed a lot of the old lights start cracking from the injection molding marks on the clear reverse light lens (usually a small circle with cross hair type pattern).

If you file or sand these off, then polish, it removes the stress points & will probably not crack from there.

dr bob

The key, as pointed out above, is to find a polish that doesn't have any petroleum carriers. That pretty much eliminates most of the products that are made for paint care, including the Finesse It product line. Using a solvent-based polish can make it look OK for a short while, but then the plastic will start crazing. A mild crazing looks like scratches on the surface that are really tiny surface cracks. Some great examples are polycarbonate plastic (like 'lexan') headlight lenses that folks have waxed.

The products made specifically for plastic will be fine. Just resist the urge to use car wax or sealer intended for paint as a last procedure on your refurb'd lenses. Same goes for lenses that aren't refurb'd at all, like the ones already on the car--- NEVER wax the lenses.