Why do you need headlight restoration?
Your car’s headlights are essential for both seeing and being seen on the road. Over time, the lenses can become clouded or yellowed, drastically reducing their effectiveness. Regular headlight cleaning and maintenance ensure maximum visibility and safety while driving, especially at night.
How do headlights lose brightness over time?
Cars that spend most of their time outdoors are particularly susceptible to damage caused by sunlight, oxidation, UV rays, and air pollution. Unlike bulbs that are replaced when burnt out, headlight lenses are permanent fixtures that tend to degrade over time, affecting their clarity and brightness.
While changing the bulbs may improve brightness, it doesn’t fix the root problem—the cloudy lens. Without applying a UV protective film or clear coat after restoration, the effects won’t last long.
Our Headlight Restoration Process
- Masking – We mask off surrounding panels to avoid damage and control the work area.
- Sanding – We start with lower grit sandpaper (800 – 1500), using water to minimise abrasiveness, and gradually move to finer grades (2000, 2500, 3000) to remove deeper scratches and oxidation.
- Cleaning – We clean the headlight thoroughly using a cleaning solvent.
- Clear Coat Application – We apply two coats of a specially formulated clear coat designed for New Zealand’s harsh sun.
- UV Protection – After the clear coat dries, we apply two coats of wax for added UV protection.
In cases where the headlights have deteriorated beyond repair, they may require replacement, but this is rare.
How Much Does Headlight Restoration Cost?
At Mt Roskill Collision Centre, we offer professional headlight restoration for a special price:
- $180 + GST for one headlight
- $320 + GST for two headlights (pair)
This is a fraction of the cost of replacing a headlamp, and with the added UV protective film, you’ll prevent the issue from recurring.
How do I restore plastic headlights?
To restore plastic headlights, the general steps involve cleaning, sanding, priming, and applying a clear coat. However, for the best results and longer-lasting restoration, it’s recommended to have your headlights professionally restored.
