question about painted headlights

[JGdetailing]

My daughter bought a car and the person before her painted the headlights. What is the best way to remove the paint. I heard you can wet sand it but wasn't sure if that's a good idea.

[GuessWho530]

Re: question about painted headlights

The Best Way Is to just go ahead and wet sand it, almost everyone who wants their headlight restored to clarity wet sands it anyway. If you try paint remover or acetone, you're running the risk of the chemicals eating the plastic and possibly running down onto the paint.

[GuessWho530]

Re: question about painted headlights

Wet Sand it with a low grit number like around 300 then step it up to 500 then 800 and continue on until you reach to the 2000-3000 grit and polish it out with some compound and not only is the paint removed, the headlights are now restored to new. Make sure you also put the UV Protecting Coating on it like for example Opti-Lens so that oxidation doesn't come through to the top layer and pores of the plastic.

[The Guz]

Re: question about painted headlights

Is it paint or clear?

[JGdetailing]

Paint. Guess the guy tried to tint them.

[GuessWho530]

Re: question about painted headlights

I was gonna say, it sounded like the previous owner tried to ghost them out. But in any matters, as I would wet sand it anyway, unless the car has cheap aftermarket parts, you can opt in for that as well.

[GuessWho530]

Re: question about painted headlights

May I ask what make the car is? If it is Lexus, BMW, Mercedes the aftermarket will be most likely $50+, but if it is Honda, Toyota, some Acura and so on, you can get them for cheap or visit your local pick n pull to see if they carry your daughter's make and model car and hopefully the headlights are still there.

[JGdetailing]

They got the paint off. But now there is a haze.

[JGdetailing]

She has a 94 honda accord lx.

[GuessWho530]

Re: question about painted headlights

Keep on sanding it, but it looks like you need to start aggressively and then step it up to less aggressive and finish with compound.

[GuessWho530]

Re: question about painted headlights

94 Accord LX most likely can be found in any pick n pull but its best to just go ahead and buy a new aftermarket instead.

[GuessWho530]

Re: question about painted headlights

Looks like the previous owner is into racing or ricing up the car, I can see the carbon fiber vinyl wrap sticking out near the fender. Must of been owned previously by a teen or someone around in their 20s. Hopefully the car hasn't ever been in an accident beforehand.

[JGdetailing]

To be honest it was an older guy that sold it. He did put a new engine in it thou.

[Scott's 62]

Re: question about painted headlights

looks like more heavy sanding looks to be In order. I was just rear ended in mine month ago and it was totaled with 285 thousand miles on it, I was really hoping to get to 300 thousand. they are good cars.

[GuessWho530]

Re: question about painted headlights

If it is an old man, that would most likely mean that the guy is a dealer.