The X-Trail Files # 13. Can you clean headlights with metal polish?

The X-Trail Files # 13 Can you clean your headlights using metal polish?
Affiliate link;
Brasso Metal Polish, 175 ml amzn.to/2O9RKdW
Microfibre cloths - pack of ten £6.96 amzn.to/2AydQDq
The short answer is yes.
So long as the headlight plastic hasn't been seriously hazed with scratches that can be caught with a finger nail, then yes - you can use metal polish and a soft cloth to bring back the sparkle.
I used the good old British favourite 'Brasso' which has been around for decades if not longer. Apply the polish using a soft cloth, kitchen roll or a microfibre cloth and rub it in using circular motion. Allow to dry to a haze (I left it for at least fifteen minutes while I had a cup of tea) then buff off with a clean microfibre cloth. Job done. No messing about with electric polishers or weird and expensive 'detailing' compounds - just some bog-standard metal polish and some effort.
The headlights on my car got an 'advisory' at the last MOT test. Since new T30 X-Trail headlights are pricey - even as a pattern part, I thought I would try and clean them. I'm pleased to say the results were very good.

[@gcmc2gcmc279]

Brasso will actually give a better result than the various kits on the market. We have been doing it for customer cars in the panel shop even since the world was cursed with plastic headlight lenses. We don't mention it when the job comes in and the customers are normally quite amazed when them see the nice clear lights at pickup. We're actually quite amazed when some of them don't ! Incidentally, we also use it to finish paintwork on high end restorations as well. ( Just like the rolls royce factory always used to ) This headlight is a mild case and we have done headlights that are completely yellow to the point where you can't see through them at all and the surface was as rough as an old dry river bed. In these cases you have to start with sand paper . In light cases you can start with 1200 grit wet and dry and then go straight to the brasso. You can also go right down through 1500 and 2000 if you wish but there's no real need to go any further than 1500. On severe cases you start at 600, then 800, then 1200 etc. Use a color sanding block (thin flexible rubber pad from auto body shop goods supplier ) with a quarter sheet of sand paper and just keep wetting it in a bucket of water. Just like rubbing down auto paintwork. Wipe or squeegee the surface as you go and you can easily see ( and actually hear ) when the surface is all smooth. Color of the lens will be consistent grey with no little patches of yellowing or roughness. There's also no need to use any form of buffing machine either. As TK demonstrates, Hand polishing is quite easy. You can buy the UV coating on its own but in fact you can easily and quickly touch them up with brasso when you see them fading a little again. Then when done, go around and use it to make dull tail and blinker lenses like new as well. They won't need sandpaper or anything because the UV doesn't penetrate colored lenses so deeply. Use your imagination and you can use the brasso for many things. Make the interior woodwork on your BMW and such gleam better than new is one. Only thing to remember is that Brasso leaves a residue so you need to remov it for best effect. A damp cloth or even a bare hand and then a cloth can do that. ( specially if you have skin that's a bit oily like me ) Light liquid spray wax works great too and enhanced finish further. So, a good post TK - well figured out. I'm sure many will find it invaluable.

[@ryanp5052]

Some great tips and knowledge there thankyou 🤝👍

[@raion.]

thanks!!

[@xtbrady01x]

I haven't seen Brasso since I joined the Navy back in the 80s. We polished our belt buckles with it. Worked great on your headlights. Didn't need a buffer or drill to buff them out either

[@tripsadelica]

Great result and much better than many kits. My only extra suggestion is to mask off the headlight and spray it with a couple of coats of acrylic clearcoat. It will protect the lens from UV and dirt damage much longer than a simply polished lens.

[@Brockthedog315]

This works great. Took 3 passes on mine. Now crystal clear

[@moiradietrich6565]

Nice job going to buy some Brasso and try it on my headlights. Thank you.

[@wofroe]

Thanks mate!,..did my own! 10 min each!

[@Mylifelovingit]

I use paint buffing compound on lights that I do and then coat them with 2k clearcoat paint. If the top layer is peeling I use 3000grit water paper first and then buffing compound and 2k.

[@TK42138]

Great tip!

[@user-eo8iw1xr3r]

I did my own...perfect! Thank you!

[@danielwalker2613]

This has to be the best cheap fix I've seen so far ? ... I never thought of using Brasso on plastic. .... Thanks for that great tip !!

[@TK42138]

Glad to help

[@rickcrawford2137]

Excellent how to 👏

[@tackletaskers5487]

I'm about to do mine now. The raised bits I guess are for when you are driving and suspect a head light out. Look at the dimples and you'll see if your bulb is out or not? Possibility

[@robertcoleman1591]

This is a big problem with the X-trail, out of all the cars I've had they seem to be the worst for yellowing headlights but apart from that it's a great car.

[@robertcoleman1591]

I just been looking at your other videos and I noticed that you you have a Citroen XM as well, what are the odds of that both of us having a X-trail and a XM.

[@TK42138]

Hi Robert, yes, I've owned two XM's over the years but only regret selling my first one - a late model series 1 with a 2.1 TD manual with full leather interior and every electric toy on the options list. It was like driving a limo crossed with a Lear Jet. Unfortunately my last XM was a 1995 poverty spec automatic and the gearbox decided to throw its toys out the pram and then after a 12 hour engine-out job to swap to another gearbox, it turned out to be just as bad as the original. I'd certainly have another XM - but not an auto. I've owned the Xtrail for about 4 years now and absolutely love it. Great cars - not too bad on the fuel either. Getting about 36 to 38mpg.

[@ryanjam07]

Worked a treat. Thanks for the great advice

[@kembaraoverlandexplorer7689]

It all happened to all plastic lamp cover. I love if manufacturer can use back glass cover

[@kdvytc]

Thanks for sharing this

[@Shumayal]

I used a scratch remover paste. Some say even the crystals from Toothpaste can remove it.

[@christosrammos8233]

Its work very good. 💪💪

[@seaney53]

Looks great,how long before they clouded up?

[@gary122]

I used cerium oxide with a polishing pads (wet) used for polishing gems...worked a treat...looks like new again

[@TK42138]

Cerium - good tip 👍

[@CableWrestler]

The dirt you talk about is oxidised plastic. Like you say, it's probably due to UV damage.

[@gary8306]

Works great, thankyou.

[@suyawan27]

Thanks ... I'll try

[@sladeyuille5794]

Brasso has been around since 1905 and now its 2021 it is still the best product on the market for cleaning all types of metal and since the automotive industry stopped using Glass Headlights and started using Plastic being made from a Bio Chemical Product it fades quicker and is subject to scratches and by using Brasso there are a few basic steps to follow 1/. Lift your Bonnet or Hood. 2/. Apply Brasso directly on a soft piece of cloth and not directly to the headlight lens and start applying in a light circular motion to cover the whole headlight lens. 3/. Allow the Brasso to dry to a haze around 15 to 20 minutes and then with a clean dry Micro Soft Cloth police off the Brasso haze and Presto you have a headlight lens that looks 100% better than when you started and also Brasso has a sealant that will protect the headlight lens.

[@adespade119]

just got an MOT advisory for that, so this vid is pretty useful for me, and I think I've got some Brasso under the sink, so thanks for this.

[@gary8306]

Thanks😊👍

[@dewanggi3332]

Thanks bro

[@chriswalford9228]

can be used to polish out fine scratches in perspex

[@AWDarcy]

Amazing!!

[@TK42138]

Thanks.

[@hardworker8030]

I've tried toothpaste but it didn't really work so I'm going try this method.

[@Ej2o13]

Nice 👍

[@problemslayer3538]

Love the x trail. 2.2 sve. My only issue has been a loss of power occasionally where dispite having your foot on the accelerator the revs drop. Strangely if i then turn the engine off at the ignition, for literally a second or two and then restart the engine, its fine. I posted a question on honest john about it and he claimed it could be the oil cooler pipe to the turbo?

[@TK42138]

Hi, apologies - just saw your comment. YT isn't notifying me of comments or replies so didn't see it. Usually when a turbo starts failing, the performance drops off gradually until one day when accelerating it lays a smoke trail and performance is reduced. Even switching it off and on again won't 'fix it' - which is why I think it could be a sensor or a Suction Control Valve issue. Turbo boost sensor on the intercooler can gum up and give bad data as can the air mass/flow meter. Ideally a FCR will see if there are pending or stored fault codes. Worth checking the turbo compressor for wear, damage or free play by removing turbo inlet pipe and having a look. (2 x 12mm nuts hold it on). Also check for intercooler leaks, split hoses, pipes and check the rubber tubes from vacuum pump to turbo actuator solenoid because any pinholes or splits will cause bad running as the turbo vane actuator relies on vacuum to operate via solenoid valve.

[@bootsontheground1388]

Omg that was awesome!

[@debramac3144]

Thanks mate...great tip...

[@darrenfrank9904]

Your headlights look exactly like mine do right now, got that yellowish dirty appearance. I've tried WD40 but it didn't do as well as i thought. Will be trying this tomorrow ty.

[@TK42138]

Did it work?

[@kingsoulsurfer41]

Are you polish I use to clean my headlights was called mother's aluminum alloy polish cleaner that works too

[@Rugbyman269]

I believe the headlights have a coating them on which is taken off by car wash pre spray and which then allows them to go the way they do, but i might be wrong ? Anybody know if it’s true ?

[@TK42138]

Yes - most headlamp plastics have a clearcoat UV protection layer but that can wear off over time and weathering. The lens then starts clouding due to oxidation and ultra violet sun damage and fine abrasion scratches that build up over the years. You can protect the polished lens with proprietary products made for the job or carefully spraying with a UV protection clearcoat. Or just polish them every couple of years or so.

[@Joesfosterdogs]

try this on a BAD headlamp like my friends car...ive been working on his lamps for 30 mins and your lamps are still cleaner...i want to see a demo on BAD lamps...

[@TK42138]

My lamps were more fogged up than they appeared on video. Was an advisory issue at the previous MOT test. For really bad lights a dedicated restoration kit would be better.

[@webman1956]

Are they still clear after almost two years?

[@TK42138]

Yes although the top horizontal part of the light is just starting to cloud but only slightly. I'll polish them again and use a U.V protector compound next time.

[@haposansinaga2285]

Gak masalah sama mika lampu Mr.🙏

[@Kalel0407]

I bought brasso but it's not the one you have in the video

[@TK42138]

There are two basic types - the liquid form (which is what I used) and an impregnated wadding type that can still be used. The design of the container may have changed since I made this video.

[@Kalel0407]

@@TK42138 not sure where you are but here in the us they don't sell that can only plastic bottles I tried it but didn't work

[@Kalel0407]

@@TK42138 the one I have definitely wasn't what you have it kinda coated like a paste like

[@grahamwood156]

Hi it's not a dirt build up it's the clear caught breaking down and polishing remove the last of it

[@orangesfruit]

This did not work for me.

[@egafx]

can I use autosol? is it the same?

[@TK42138]

Yes, fine metal polish and a soft cloth will work.

[@ssnet7700]

Wow mantap..

[@Kalel0407]

🔗 for the product would be helpful

[@TK42138]

I got this from Tesco but Amazon and DIY retailers also sell it.

[@damirkurmangazin8396]

Просто пыльная была и протерь её