i just bought an 89 s5 and i want to restore the lights and lens's on the car. how would i go about doing that? the taillights have some corosion on them around the edges and on the ftp lens's someone already sprayed clear coat on them but its half gone so it looks like crap. andy suggestions?

 

soak 'em in CLR?

 

use 3M plastic cleaner followed by 3M plastic polish

 

also, if badly yellowed/peeled, you can wet sand and polish, just be careful not to heat the lens too much with the buffer when you're polishing.

 

cool thanks hopefully that will take the corosion off some of the lights ill go see if i can find the stuff anyone else got opinions ples let me know

 

Haha.

 

also if you wana go the cheap but effective way advanced and autozone have a headlight restoration kit that works

 

even better than all of that is toothpaste! im serious, try it. it has to be paste not gel and the whitening works better. its a mild very unabbrasive rubbing compound. why do you think it makes teeth go white? and who can resist minty fresh lights? rub on with a rag and rinse off. the more you rub the better it works.

 

:p

I wish I would have tried to restore my ftp lenses before I trashed them

 

that statement is true in all aspects of life isnt it

 

I would suggest polishing and buffing with a string buff and Plastic-Glow compound from Caswell Inc. http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/stringbuffs.html
You should check the rest of the stuff they have there, it is really nice. I plan to electroplate the entire outer body of my s5 FC with their 'Dark Krome' brush electroplating system someday.

 

Or, for a quick car show or show-off, you can use cooking oil. I just about crapped when my wife showed me how well it works. Just rub it in with a paper towel, and it will look like almost brand new for a couple of days.

 

Thanks for the tips. I never knew there was hope for my plastics.

Btw, has anyone tried WD-40 (or other penetrating oil) on age-hardened soft rubber? From what I learned in my materials class I think it would work, but I bet you'd have to soak it for a while.

 

Just be careful of all the solvents added to the penetrating oils.

 

Mothers mag and aluminum polish on the FTP lenses and such. Works great.

 

No... WD40 will make it worst because WD40 dries and eats palstic like theres no tomorrow... for the lense... do what classicauto said. i use 2000+ grit sandpaper with a running hose for wetsand followed by polishing compound. i seal/wax them after so they wont become oxidized again (well not anytime soon).