Need help on headlight housing

[Jack B]

My headlight housing (97) has what appears to be small stress marks across the entire housing. What is interesting is there are some areas where the clear-coat is missing, there are no marks in those areas. It almost seems that the clear-coat caused the marks.

I tried to clean it up with plastic polishing compound and a buffing wheel, no luck the outside cleans up, however, the marks seem to go all the way thru the plastic. My question is, has anyone succeeded in polishing the marks out. Secondly, what do these units cost.

 

[GR8_ASP]

What clear coat? I tried topolish out the pebble like marks you accumulate over time to no avail. No stress type cracks though. Yes the headlight is expensive and a real treat to replace.

 

[Doug Supercharged Vipers]

My question is, has anyone succeeded in polishing the marks out. Secondly, what do these units cost.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the best of luck removing imperfections from the plastic housings. IMHO; The cost to replace them far exceeds justification for replacement.

Regards,
Doug

 

[cgmaster]

Sunlight deteriorates them and will cause what you are talking about. If you buff your car alot and go over the headlights it will remove the UV protective coating that is on it.

 

[Jack B]

Viper SRT10:

these are definitely not road marks, they appear to be small check marks throughout the lens. When you turn the lights on and view them they appear to have depth.

What is strange, there are areas where the clear-coat is missing and those areas are free of the marks. I have plastic refinishing compounds, however, all that I accomplish is polish the surface and marks are still under the surface. It is very difficult to get below the clear-coat is have sufficient depth