Cloudy headlight lenses

[SPQR1]

I have an S60, 2006 model year, built in 2005, and its headlights are getting increasingly cloudy -- the old story of UV damage to polycarbonate lenses. They have looked poor for years, but are now getting to the stage of being poor for lighting too, and are surely moving closer to an MoT failure.

Does anyone know if Volvo ever improved the lenses in these headlights to be more UV resistant, or whether any third party manufacturers use a better grade of lens? I assume that if I want to look for second hand units to fix this, lights from a P2 V70 will fit. Do those from an S80, or a P3 V70?

(I realise I could resign myself to spending several hours polishing them every couple of years, but I'd rather fix them once, permanently. The car spends much of its life parked outside, facing mostly south, and changing that would be awkward.)

[Simon Jones]

I used a Mequires restoration kit on mine which was moderately sucessful, but much of the clouding was on the inside which is not accessible unless you are prepared to have a go at splitting the unit.

[MWMan]

The lamp units on my V70 is pretty good at the moment, but on my other car, they were an advisory on the MOT for being cloudy. I used the 3M kit http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/25233...f14=122&ff19=0 which had got rave reviews on my other cars forum. And it did a terrific job. I have to admit I was a bit amazed. I didn't think you could clean plastic up like that. However, they do need a UV protector on after you have done them, to stop going back to where they were fairly quickly. I used this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[RM955I]

A lot of car body shops are able to polish and coat the lenses - may be just as easy to get a quote

[djneils98]

the home kits work well but don't last unless you clearcoat them after or similar
look at getting it done by a pro for between 60 and 100 quid.

[Cana two]

I repolished the headlights on a Laguna I used to own , and the results were good but short lived , it was easier to just replace them in the end, repolishing them takes forever.

[raleigh753]

I have searched high and low on the net re these lenses and the only solution I have found seems to be that you have to buy new headlights ! My car is a 2004 xc70 se lux with 212k miles and has already had the lights polished.As mentioned the main issue is inside the lenses where you cannot polish And make sure your sitting down when you see the price of replacement lights !

[oragex]

I see the 2004 already had the plastic headlights. My 2003 S60 still has the glass ones and are unblemished. Maybe the headlights from 2001-2003 can be swapped into 2004+ cars?

[Simon Jones]

The wiring loom is different but plenty of folk have fitted later headlamps to pre-facelift models so it could be done the other way round.

[Jack Wills]

You can wet sand the plastic, with 1500/2000/2500, Meg's 105/205
Clear coat with 2K..clear, wear a mask.
PlastiX may work with the right pad.
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