Can I sand my tint off of my headlights

[skaarlaj]

My headlights on my car are tinted and actually look kind of sharp, but they suck for actual illuminating the road at night lol. I was thinking about either trying brighter (more expensive) bulbs, or sanding finer and finer to get the tint off and then maybe re-polishing them. Anybody else have this problem or have any ideas about fixing it?

I'll take a more stock appearing headlight that actually applies light to the road over what I have every day of the week, hahaha. I'm not even sure if they are aftermarket, or just tinted factory ones?

 

[stkjock]

how was the tint applied?

 

[skaarlaj]

I'm not too sure, I'd guess it was spray painted. If I get a chance later, I'll post a picture or two of what I have. I'm just not into looking cool and sacrificing function in the process. Someone also tinted the tail-lights and side markers on our 2012 Mercedes C63, and aside from that, the car looks nearly showroom new, and of course since the car actually gets driven, the tint is now chipping. Frustrating for me, lol

 

[skwerl]

Can you buy aftermarket replacement lenses? New headlights for my F150 were about $50 each on Amazon, old ones were faded badly.

 

[Wes06]

Friend had his on his Camaro tinted dark orange to match the color. It absolutely ruined every bit of output his on hids had. And they lit up the tops of trees before on bright.

He sanded them off, probably pretty high grit to keep it from getting ugly

 

[86GT351]

If it was applied as a spray on you can actually wet sand it off. Tedious job but in the long run the lenses will be spotless. If that does not work then replace them.

 

[Sky Render]

Post up a picture, but I think your best bet is going to be just getting replacement lenses from Rock Auto, Parts Geek, or American Muscle.

 

[bujeezus]

Ok, when you guys are saying "replacement lenses" what exactly are y'all referring to? The clear coat on my HIDs are slowly going to shit, but I thought you had to buy a whole new replacement light assembly. How do you just replace the lense?

 

[skwerl]

You buy the entire headlight bucket. It's all one piece.

 

[mrt2you]

i DRY sand and buff VW headlights EVERY week.
the plastic lens part is pretty thick, 1/8", so sanding thru it doesn't happen much.
start by removing the front bumper. start sanding with the headlamp with 600 grit. once the tint is removed then change to 800. then 1000, then 1200. i buff from there.

once you are done there will be bare plastic that will oxidize, chalk up, pretty fast. give it a coat of clear coat and they will look good as new.

 

[mrt2you]

i will add.
you might try wiping off the tint with solvent, start with finger nail polish remover. be careful doing this,the solvent can melt the plastic on the headlights, a little plastic distortion is fine because you will be sanding it soon.

 

[skaarlaj]

Thanks everyone.