Headlights cleaning question.

Hi, I have ordered the 3M headlight cleaning kit with pads from Amazon. The problem is, when I washed the headlights I have noticed that each one has 3 of some sort of pimples in the triangle position. When I washed them with a sponge, those pimples tore up the sponge. I am afraid they will prevent proper headlight cleaning. How do I avoid them? Should I use file/rasp to get rid of them? I hope this all makes sense, English is not my first language.

Thanks in advance!

 

Just work around them with the 3M kit. I don't know if it would do any damage filing them down but I would risk it. Those are just the pieces of plastic left sticking up when they were formed from the factory so I don't believe they have any structural significance.

 

That is what I thought. Thanks!

 

I think those are actually used by some of the headlight alignment systems that some shops used to have. The alignment device is supposed to make contact with those. I don't think any of the newer cars have them. Like Pugga said, you can just work around them.

 

It would be very hard to work around them because of their position specially with a buffer or such. I will just get rid of them and see if the 3M kit helps, if not I will just buy new headlights. Just wanted to make sure they are not so important. Thank you

 

I used the 3m kit you are talking about on my daughter's Altima and it made them look like new.

 

When I restored my headlights I accidentally sanded those plastic pimples down to nothing.

It causes no harm to your headlights. It does however eat up the pads. Which isn't such a big deal except for the polishing pad. Just be careful with that last step

 

This is a reminder to keep those lights clean at every other wash to avoid build up and degredation. I use Meguiars Plast-X

 

Great videos! Thank you all! It my order delivered by the weekend, I will get working this Sat.

 

x2...used it on my wife's Jetta. I was really surprised at how good it turned out.

and x2...I use the same!

 

I have been using Plastix polish to keep the headlights and tail lights clear on my truck and former mazda, also had the clear headlight / tail light housing, the stuff works great, acts as a wax / polish for the plastic, does a nice job keeping them looking new, especially for me with the northeastern US winters, not a bad product to try out. Im not sure who makes the product but I bought it at an automotive supply shop, I'm sure its available at the big box stores, worth checking out.

 

I use a wool pad on a rotary buffer with just about anyone's polish (System 51 Perfect Cut, CSI Cut N Polish, Meguiar's M205, etc.) and headlights come out great. The pimples don't bother the wool pad.

You don't need a special headlight kit to take care of headlights, but if you don't already have a buffer and wool pad, they are are a good purchase.

 

Here's mine half way through

Passenger side done, driver's not done yet

 

I hope you have that backwards.

 

lol

Dyslexia FTW

 

Agreed. Don't know exactly how they're used but I also heard that's what they were meant for. On new headlights they don't use those nipples anymore, they rely on the horizontal lines & the dot/circle in the middle.