Scratched Headlights

[_VVTi_]

Hi, my gf drove behind a truck that was carrying a truck load of gravels... and for some stupid reason...she didn't just drive around the truck?!?!?!
Now the outside of my headlamp is somewhat scratched up... i was wondering if there's anyway to fix this? cuz i really dun want to dish out $150 CDN for a new pair of headlamp.
should i use sandpaper will very fine grid to sand it out? then use rubbing compound for plastic to clear out the small scratches?(i got this idea from "thisdj78"s clear headlight project)

thx

[Nick]

hmmmm are they scratched, or pitted?

if its just scratched then rubbing compound should be alright, or 1500ish sand paper, wet sand it

[_VVTi_]

oh yeah also...
my gf was trying to cover it up by try to take out the scratches with nail polish remover ... now it looks even more messed up, looks kinda like "melted"... but she only tried it on the top edge of the lamp (near the hood)

geez.....women....

[VVT-i Owns]

Is this a new Camry?
Nail Polish is acetone. I thought that shit eats some plastics?

Anyways...if its not bad enough that it affects the lighting pattern just leave it. Its the headlamp, they get fucked up eventually.

[thisdj78]

Originally posted by _VVTi_
oh yeah also...
my gf was trying to cover it up by try to take out the scratches with nail polish remover ... now it looks even more messed up, looks kinda like "melted"... but she only tried it on the top edge of the lamp (near the hood)

geez.....women....

Nah dude, once she did the nail polish, it's gone man..........did she do it to both lamps? What year Camry is it again?

Skip the 1500 grit and go straight to 3M Rubbing Compound first, if that doesn't cut it, then try 2000 grit.

[khanhdom]

you better leave her!!! lol j/k man but if all that doesn't work, try ebay, I got 2 new headlamps for 80 us dollars for my 2003 Camry

[tinman831]

if the acetone has warped the plastic then its going to take a lot of sanding to get that out. even if u do get it out, the surface will be very uneven. if its just a little fogged up because of the acetone then you still have a chance to save your headlamps. in that case just follow thisdj78's advice.

[_VVTi_]

it's a 94 camry... i did think about getting new headlamps, but then it's somewhat 9yrs old car, i don't know if i should spend the money for a new pair of headlamp.
i also want a HID system, so it'll be better if i get a new pair of headlamps, but then that would require me to get a pair of projects and retrofit them into the headlamps, cuz i heard using stock headlamp with HID doesn't give a very good result ... especially the "frosted" style headlamp that my camry has.

i'm gonna try w/ the rubbing compound, if that doesn't work i'll go for the 2000 grid sandpaper...

if there's any more ideas or possible solutions i'll be happy to hear them
thx everyone

geez.... women...argh!!