Yellow, foggy headlights

[Morris Minor]

In my day, we had this stuff called "glass." It did not oxidize, or turn yellow, or become opaque, no matter how many years of use it had. Light from the filament could pass through the material relatively unmolested. In other words, it did not becomes useless with age.

So I think car manufacturers have some 'splainin' to do. Headlights that stylishly sweep back halfway along the fenders may look great, but are worthless if they become ineffective after a few years outdoors.

How to fix yellowed headlights:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2242304_remove-oxidation-oxidized-plastic-headlights.html
(no mention in the article on why the hell anyone should ever have do this in the first place)

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I think every 300M and Grand Cherokee of the same era are the kings of oxidized headlights.

[ifcar]

What is that second car:




And I'd take a bit of fogging to get lights that don't easily scratch or shatter, especially when they offer extra styling leeway.

[heelntoe]

What is that second car:

Swift?

[2o6]

Camry?

[Vinsanity]

it's definitely not a Camry. I'm thinking it's a 1st-gen Mercedes ML.

[ifcar]

it's definitely not a Camry. I'm thinking it's a 1st-gen Mercedes ML.

Ooh, I think you're on it. I see those faded all the time, too.

[Northlands]

I've had to grind down my headlight lenses already once. Took about 1/2hr, but it's annoying that we have to do it nowadays.

[SVT666]

I have to do the driver's side headlight on my Focus. The passenger side light is new so it's nice.  It looks really funny having one clear and one yellow.

[MX793]

Not sure if the author realizes it, but many polishes are actually just very fine abrasive compounds (like a super-fine grit sandpaper) that, if your lens isn't too bad, will work to remove cloudiness.

[ifcar]

I have to do the driver's side headlight on my Focus. The passenger side light is new so it's nice.  It looks really funny having one clear and one yellow.

Mine match perfectly.

[Vinsanity]

I don't think I can recall a make/model where I haven't seen an example with badly fogged headlights. IIRC, though, my 1995 Infiniti had glass lenses, so that was probably the reason it stayed clear.

About a year ago, the dealer I bought my car from offered to replace my headlight lenses under warranty due to moderate fogging (probably to keep themselves busy in the wake of GM dealer closings), so now I have nice clear lenses again. I gotta find out how to get me some of that UV coating/sealer stuff, though.

[Cookie Monster]

Do Hondas use glass instead? The Accord and MDX both don't have foggy lenses and I don't recall seeing many mid '90's and up Hondas with foggy lights (maybe a few Civics?).

[Vinsanity]

I know the S2000's always used plastic. It took consistent application of plastic polish over a long period of time to get most of the fogginess out, on my brother's s2k.

[thewizard16]

Do Hondas use glass instead? The Accord and MDX both don't have foggy lenses and I don't recall seeing many mid '90's and up Hondas with foggy lights (maybe a few Civics?).

Nope. A good friend of mine has a late 90s CL with really fogged headlights he recently sanded/polished.

[Madman]

Many years ago, I got a brand new set of headlights for my Peugeot 405, courtesy of Peugeot Motors of America.  PMA issued a recall because of plastic headlight yellowing.  I sure wish Volvo did, too, because both the 240 and 740 (especially the 240) are notorious for yellowing headlights.  Funny thing was my 405's headlights really weren't yellowing that badly, but one of them was cracked so the new headlights were greatly appreciated.

I'm with you, Morris.  BRING BACK GLASS!!!    I can't believe plastic headlights are even legal.  The very concept just sounds like a bad idea.  Surely, they must have known this was going to be a serious problem?

[hotrodalex]

Many years ago, I got a brand new set of headlights for my Peugeot 405, courtesy of Peugeot Motors of America.  PMA issued a recall because of plastic headlight yellowing.  I sure wish Volvo did, too, because both the 240 and 740 (especially the 240) are notorious for yellowing headlights.  Funny thing was my 405's headlights really weren't yellowing that badly, but one of them was cracked so the new headlights were greatly appreciated.

I'm with you, Morris.  BRING BACK GLASS!!!    I can't believe plastic headlights are even legal.  The very concept just sounds like a bad idea.  Surely, they must have known this was going to be a serious problem?

Yes, I love square headlights. Bring back the boring designs of the 80s!

[Madman]

Yes, I love square headlights. Bring back the boring designs of the 80s!

They don't have to be square, just make the damn things from glass so they don't turn yellow!

[AutobahnSHO]

They don't have to be square, just make the damn things from glass so they don't turn yellow!

Haha that would be awesomely dangerous. And expensive.

I don't understand why they just can't use better plastic? Or coat the outside with UV-blocking glass after it's cast in plastic??

[SVT666]

Mine match perfectly.

One of my headlights is new and the other is original.

[ifcar]

One of my headlights is new and the other is original.

I know. Both mine are nice 'n yellow.

[565]

Pop up headlights for the win.

[Submariner]

What is that second car:




And I'd take a bit of fogging to get lights that don't easily scratch or shatter, especially when they offer extra styling leeway.

1st generation ML, pre-facelift.

[Morris Minor]

1st generation ML, pre-facelift.

I salute you sir, for your unequalled automobile identification skills. 
(I'd been going crazy trying to figure that one out)

[Morris Minor]

Every time I try to fill a glass, and the water skates off the surface onto the floor, I curse the fact that it's impossible to shape the material into anything other than flat panes. No wonder automotive stylists chose plastic to help them realize their art; a few unseen pedestrians mowed down on dark nights is a worthwhile price for aesthetic excellence.

[MX793]

Glass can get "foggy" or frosted as well.  Especially if you live in a northern climate where they lay lots of sand and salt down on the roads in the wintertime.

[Submariner]

I salute you sir, for your unequalled automobile identification skills. 
(I'd been going crazy trying to figure that one out)

Xenon bulbs, and not Halogen, too.   

To be fair, I think someone guessed it before me. 

[AutobahnSHO]

Every time I try to fill a glass, and the water skates off the surface onto the floor, I curse the fact that it's impossible to shape the material into anything other than flat panes. No wonder automotive stylists chose plastic to help them realize their art; a few unseen pedestrians mowed down on dark nights is a worthwhile price for aesthetic excellence.

It's all about the benjamin$. Plastic is cheaper.

[Rupert]

Glass can get "foggy" or frosted as well.  Especially if you live in a northern climate where they lay lots of sand and salt down on the roads in the wintertime.

And you can't really polish glass like you can plastic...

[Morris Minor]

And you can't really polish glass like you can plastic...

No need to, glass does not break down with exposure to UV radiation.