what to use on tail light lenses to bring them back to life?

[31st330i]

I'm buying an older miata and it looks like I'll need to polish up the tail lights. they don't look too bad but do need some cleaning up that a regular washing wont take care of. any product suggestions out there for making these tail light lenses look like new?

 

[BradE]

Zaino Z14 Plastic Polish. :xyxthumbs

 

[Preachers Sheets]

I don't wash my tail lights when I wash my car, I hate those plastic swirls marks. Makes any car look ghetto.

 

[JasonC8301]

I second the Zaino Z14 Plastic Polish.



Meguiars/Eagle One plastic care kit is also a good alternative at CMA for $25 (Z14 is $12.95 for 8 oz.) The Meguiars/EO kit has 8 oz. cleaner, 8 oz polish, 12 oz EO protectant, two foam applicators, and a viper mf towel. Very good deal.



Jason

 

[Preachers Sheets]

I use Glaze to protect my tail lights just so you know. They are as reflective as a mirror.

 

[BradE]

A true glaze offers no real protective properties.

 

[picorrect]

PLEXUS Works great.

 

[Lemonxxs]

PLEXUS or Zaino plastic polishes.



As said above but worth repeating.

 

[Pats300zx]

I have had good luck with Nexus..# 1 and #2..

 

[Brad B]

I tried everything on a set of my Audi Coupe Quattro taillights and what really worked was 3M Finesse It with a Hi Speed Polisher. It made them look brand new. It was amazing.



:xyxthumbs

 

[z4zen]

How about some AIO, SG, then Plexus as a topper. To my surprise, you really can make that plastic shine!

 

[BradE]

Hey Brad,



For really bad, discolored ones wetsanding with 2000 grit and then a few passes with FI-II and a rotary will do wonders on lens covers as well.



I love my rotary.

 

[drewski59]

I haven't tried Zaino Z-14 yet...too expensive for such a small job.

But I have been using the Meguiars Mirror Glaze plastic cleaner(which removes scratches and makes them squeak like a freshly washed dinner plate!!:xyxthumbs ) and follow up with MG Plastic polish( which really makes them shine(and protected)).



HTH!!

 

[31st330i]

actually, I don't necesarily want them too shiny. the look I'm after is like new/original.

 

[Jngrbrdman]

I've had good luck with ScratchX and AIO actually. I don't know if that is the best way to bring them back to life but it works for me. It works on headlights too.

 

[yonghyun]

Has anyone ever used 303?



Or do you use it only as a protectant?

 

[Andre']

Using 303 would make the plastic lenses look hazey.

 

[DK Mobile]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by ShowroomLincoln [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Zaino Z14 Plastic Polish. :xyxthumbs [/b]</blockquote>
This stuff rocks, and it will last a very long time. No need to use a lot of product to get great results. Just a dab and a bit of elbow grease and in a few minutes, BANG shiny, good looking signal markers!