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Headlight Lens scratch removal?

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13 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

Discussion summary

YOUR RESEARCHHeadlight Lens scratch removal?

Leading reported evidence

Use mequiars plast-x polish

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

I've used Mequiars Plast-X polish on many, many headlights.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?
Frequently discussed work

Clean kit

No successful repair reported for this finding.

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Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

I am planning on useing the Sylvania lens cleaning kit.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?
Read full discussion summary

Leading evidence: 'Use mequiars plast-x polish' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean kit' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.

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1 matching discussions · 13 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

Compare 3 other evidence results

Clean kit

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

I am planning on useing the Sylvania lens cleaning kit.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?

Run finger nail across them

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

The checking part does not feel that deep but some of the lateral or vertical scratches can easily be felt when running your finger nail across them.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?

Use clear warm water

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Use clear warm water with a few drops of liquid soap in the bucket.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?
Frequently discussed actions (4)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Clean kit

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

I am planning on useing the Sylvania lens cleaning kit.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?

Run finger nail across them

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

The checking part does not feel that deep but some of the lateral or vertical scratches can easily be felt when running your finger nail across them.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?

Use clear warm water

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Use clear warm water with a few drops of liquid soap in the bucket.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?

Use mequiars plast-x polish

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

I've used Mequiars Plast-X polish on many, many headlights.

Headlight Lens scratch removal?
Coverage and how to read this overview

Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

13 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • Rennlist: 1 discussions

0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.

0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.

Generation: 20261026T205155Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Hello all, my 996 is in perfect condition except for scratches/checking of the headlight lenses, see pics, anyone have a good method of removing them and bringing these back to clear? hate to have to buy new lights just because of this. Thanks

POST 2Original post

Should be able to polish out and clear coat. Remove and polish Porsche 996 headlights - YouTube

POST 3 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 13580549

Thanks for the video, taking the lights out is much easier than expected.

POST 4Original post

Don't forget to coat them with UV protection after you polish them. If you don't, then they will yellow very quickly.

POST 5Original post

Quotes source post: 13580575

I seem to take mine out once a week for some reason or other, super duper easy.

POST 6 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Thanks all. I am planning on useing the Sylvania lens cleaning kit. It includes the sand papper, buffing and polishing compounds and the UV Protectant. Was concerned about doing this with lights in car but now knowing how simple it is to remove them, feel better. Has anyone else cleaned and UV Protectent then installed the invisable film cover?, does the film add additional UV protection or just help resist scratches?

POST 7Original post

It should be a UV stable clear coat to help protect them for the long term.

POST 8Original post

What you will likely find is that you didn't sand long enough with the 800-1200 grit paper, and now you have polished scratches. It takes a long time with the 800 and 1200 grit to get all the scratches out. Use clear warm water with a few drops of liquid soap in the bucket. For me, it takes a full sheet of 800 and then another full sheet of 1200 on EACH lens to get them smooth. Then move up to 1500 and 2000 grit, and take your time. Lots of water, lots of smoothing before you go to the polish compound and the buffing wheel.

POST 9 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 13580770

Will I be able to see if I got the scratches and checkering out after performing the 800 grit sanding?, hate to get to polishing just to find out I still have scratches and hate to take off any more lens than required.

POST 10Original post

Quotes source post: 13580770

+1 Did this to our Jetta, and that was one of the regrets - although I was as careful as I could have been. Doing it again I'd take it down to 400 and work up from there. It wasn't really my scratches I missed, it was that some of the pits and issues it had were a bit more than the 800 or 1000 I got in the kit could take care of.

POST 11Original post

Quotes source post: 13581051

Probably not. Most people wind up doing it twice because when they get to the polishing, they notice the scratches(or pits) are not fully removed. It's very time consuming, even though the instructions make it sound like you just wipe it a few times and you're done. You need to sand for a while. As for taking off too much material, that's pretty hard to do with 800-1200 grit wet or dry paper.

POST 12Original post

Nothing I see in your photos looks very deep...have you considered an abrasive polish? Polishing is much less aggressive than sanding and in most cases does not require new UV clear coat (unless you have serious yellowing). I've used Mequiars Plast-X polish on many, many headlights. Shallow scuffing like I see in your photos usually cleans up really well. It's quick and cheap. Might be worth a try before you take sandpaper to them

POST 13 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 13582720

The checking part does not feel that deep but some of the lateral or vertical scratches can easily be felt when running your finger nail across them.

This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.