I have a 1997 E420 with 150 k. The headlamps are dull. I have used cleaners, even rubbing compound using a buffing wheel attached to a drill - to no improvement. The service tech at Mercedez said that he has heard of some people using a very fine sand paper, 600 grit with water? to clean the lens.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Mark

if the headlight lenses are too far gone nothing can bring them back...you can replace them w/o buying the whole unit but you need to be handy. Email me for seller.

did you try toothpaste? or aluminum polish.. or even Flitz?

LOL Believe it or not, I agree that as corny as it sounds, toothpaste is an excellent polisher! However, this is the second time I've seen you reference 'aluminum polish' as a plastic lens cleaner. Do you use a particular brand? Any special technique needed? I think I have some Simichrome Polish in the garage.

__________________
MBCA Member #B012089 (Lone Star Section)
OBK Member #47 (W123 Division)
'96 SL600 (105K) Triple Black - Mein über-Fräulein
'79 240D (292K) Yellow/Saddle - Mein Spielzeug
'01 ML430 (123K) Black/Saddle - Wife's Ride
'94 SL500 (164K) Green/Champagne - Daughter's Dream
'73 450SL - RIP
'86 300E - RIP
'88 420SEL - SOLD
'94 S320 - SOLD

As a follow-up, I tried using Happich Simichrome Polish…
http://www.simichrome-polish.com/
… on the headlamp lens of my ’01 ML430. The results are stunning. It did take 3 or 4 applications to achieve a clear lens again, but because the lenses are plastic, I preferred multiple apps so as not to scratch the lens. My lenses were marginally dull with only a hint of yellow. They are now clear. I suppose heavily yellowed or translucent lens may be too far gone. However, as a pro-active and preventive measure, I plan to polish the plastic headlamp lenses every 6 months or so. Thanks TheDon for the suggestion!

Cheers,
Jeff

__________________
MBCA Member #B012089 (Lone Star Section)
OBK Member #47 (W123 Division)
'96 SL600 (105K) Triple Black - Mein über-Fräulein
'79 240D (292K) Yellow/Saddle - Mein Spielzeug
'01 ML430 (123K) Black/Saddle - Wife's Ride
'94 SL500 (164K) Green/Champagne - Daughter's Dream
'73 450SL - RIP
'86 300E - RIP
'88 420SEL - SOLD
'94 S320 - SOLD

I have used 1500 and 2000 grit wet paper on plastic and it usually works very well.

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

I have had good luck with toothpaste for ones not too far gone and for ones that are worse, use 1000, then 1500 then 2000 grit sandpaper, THEN use toothpaste or semichrome. Take your time, first they will look worse when you sand them, wet sand them. THen by the time you get to the 2000 they will look good, toothpaste final polish will make them look very good. It takes a while but they can be brought back. Or buy new lenses.

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

http://http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=23436

worked for me.

__________________
RIP "Betsy" (Oo=*=oO)
'96 E 3 2 0 (W 2 1 0) M 1 0 4 (Totalled)
Spaces in sig so as not to screw up the SEARCH; every time someone searches for that MB they don't want my sig!

2004 Audi A8L
'98 VW Passat 1.8T 5M
'87 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5L 5M
'67 Impala convertible, 327cid

Replace them. Up here in New England they get pitted to hell from the sand in the winter. If you want that new look your just going to have to replace them.

Put that clear protective plastic over the new ones to prevent this from happening.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Heres what I did:

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=25453

You can restore them very well, it just takes time and a bit of elbow grease.

I have a 1997 E420 with 150 k. The headlamps are dull. I have used cleaners, even rubbing compound using a buffing wheel attached to a drill - to no improvement. The service tech at Mercedes said that he has heard of some people using a very fine sand paper, 600 grit with water? to clean the lens.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
This is the second time I am posting this question....hoping to hear the miricle cure! Thanks guys!
Mark

There are kits at the local McParts stores to polish plastic lenses.

Head over over to the store and grab one.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Yeah, you can get one for about $20 that works like a charm. The one I used had two grits of sandpaper and some sort of fine abrasive compound. Once you do that, there's chemical hardener to protect them.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Machine polishing is best, but is VERY tricky. There are very specific polishes and buffers for plastic. The kind of buffer (ventilated is good) that you use is very important because it must stay cool or your part will be ruined. Caswell Plating has some kits.

__________________
86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

My buddy had great luck replacing his with some Xenon's, look's real pretty. Heck of a bang for your buck considering how good they make the car look.

Search ebay, lots of cheap W210 lights.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200