H00pak

Good evening all,
I've tried to use a restoration kit on my cloudy headlight and I'm really not happy with the results. Are there any after market lens options? I have 2004 Cayenne S.
Thanks,
Robby

nodoors

What happened? Is it still hazy on the inside?

This is about all I have seen out there:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-2006-Po...pXlk3u&vxp=mtr

Lionworks Auto

Take it to a detailer who has a proper buffing wheel and try again...

7 Summits

Any jiffy lube will do it while you wait ~20 min. I had it done on a work vehicle last year. IIRC $35 per side.

Andy E.

This year, I had the GTS buffed and detailed at the dealer; since my workload this summer didn't permit me to perform my annual home detailing. The car was clay barred and waxed.

First thing I noticed when I got the car back were horizontal scratch marks on my pristine headlamp lenses; right on the perimeter just near the front fenders. It was obvious that the detailer had claybarred over the lenses without taping them up. Rack that up to sheer laziness...

I used 3000 grit wet sandpaper over the entire lense until an even haze appeared. Using an orbital buffer, I then polished the lenses with a plastic polishing compound and finished it up with Plexus. On heavily hazed and yellowed lenses, start off with 1000 grit followed by 2000 & 3000 grit. You have to be very patient and willing to start over if the end result does not meet your expectations.

CarGuyNVA

And then keep them protected with a quality UV blocker like 'Aerospace 303'.

ScootCherHienie

Note that optical plastic surfaces like headlight lenses (and motorcycle windshields) may have a "hard coating" on the surface that resists fine scratches from washing/drying, grains of sand/grit hitting the surface at speed, etc. I don't know if there is such a coating on Porsche headlights or not. The treatments that remove haze (and sanding the surface) can remove that hard coat on the surface exposing the softer raw plastic surface underneath. That will accelerate the accumulation of scratches and "hazing" from being parked outside in the sun. But... replacement cost for the headlight assembly is probably ridiculous. There may be spray-on coatings that can be applied to protect an "exposed" lens surface to help resist fine scratches and the next formation of haze on the surface. Another possibility is putting clear stone guard (usually applied to painted surfaces on the leading edge of cars/SUVs to protect from stone chips in paint) film over the headlight lenses iif that product is usable on the plastic headlight covers (I don't know if it is or isn't compatible with headlight lenses).

ubermich

The best I've ever seen come from the body shop. They properly sand down below the damaged surface then shoot clearcoat and bake it to harden.

The polish I've seen usually wears off in 1-12 months. The clearcoat lasts years and is crystal clear assuming you don't have burn damage to the inside.

As far as replacing the lens, I've only seen the headlights offered as an assembly.

nodoors

Yes, the headlight lens are very thoroughly bonded to the rest of the lamp housing. It takes great effort to separate them, but has been done by a few to paint the silver areas black like the newer models.

3rson

Replaced the lenses on my headlights this past weekend as the inside face had oxidation. The old sealant is a major PITA to remove, but worth the fight. Happy with the results.

Dr. 914

someone in china makes just the lenses, the old ones need to be sweated off in an oven, we replace them all of the time

3rson

Yep, that's where I sourced mine from as well.

Libast

what was your process for this?

3rson

I followed this guy's approach: