Headlight etched....

[CreepyPT]

So, I trying to decide what kind of headlight cover I wanted to do on my Bella, I was unable to find any black masking tape. I was wanting to see what it would look like, and how much it would block light fromthe headlights, if I masked about 3 inches of the top of the headlights at an angle, to give her kind of an evil frowning look. Since black masking tape wasn't an option, I tryed some inexpensive electrical tape. I thought since cheap tape usually doesn't stick well, I could get an idea of what it would look like for a couple days, and take it off.
Sadly, when I took it off, it looked like it left a LOT of adhesive residue on the headlights. After a lot of cleaning, with various cleaners, it appears that the tape may have etched the plastic.
Will the same processes for romoving yellowing work here, or does anyone have any other suggestions?

[CREWZIN]

Hopefully, the headlight heat just melted some of the glue onto the glass. There are a couple of things yo can buy to dissolve the leftover glue without harming the material underneath. One is called "Goo Gone". Ask at a neighborhood hardware store or Home Depot. If that doesn't work, you might have to have them professionally polished to bring the headlights back to the original shine.

[PT_Cuda]

Originally Posted by CreepyPT

So, I trying to decide what kind of headlight cover I wanted to do on my Bella, I was unable to find any black masking tape. I was wanting to see what it would look like, and how much it would block light fromthe headlights, if I masked about 3 inches of the top of the headlights at an angle, to give her kind of an evil frowning look. Since black masking tape wasn't an option, I tryed some inexpensive electrical tape. I thought since cheap tape usually doesn't stick well, I could get an idea of what it would look like for a couple days, and take it off.
Sadly, when I took it off, it looked like it left a LOT of adhesive residue on the headlights. After a lot of cleaning, with various cleaners, it appears that the tape may have etched the plastic.
Will the same processes for romoving yellowing work here, or does anyone have any other suggestions?

3M makes and adhesive remover, BUT I have not tiried it on the headlight plastic. So test it out. Or if you do need to go hardcore and dull them out this stuff is designed to bring back cloudy faded headlamps from roadgrime that makes them nasty over the years.

Crystal View The Best Auto Headlight Restorer Defogger Cleaner

Several of us have used this kit, you can find it at wal-mart I have heard and it does work and work well..

Mequiars PlastiX is also good stuff if its not too bad..

And for headlight trim

Home is the linky for Streamline design vinyl who I've used for years for my headlight trim. I hope that link works correctly. They make a vinyl trim that works at taking out some of the chrome on the headlight without taking away any function of it, so you don't worry about those pesky tickets some departments are fond of writing.. Its not the easiest stuff to put on, but take your time and you can get it. Just keep the vinyl wet til you get it where you want it and you should do fine.

This is what the above covers look like on the passenger side and the drivers side without I have to replace. They are mismatched due to an accident, weather has sucked everytime I think I have a chance to put the cover on I side tracked..

[CreepyPT]

Well, I've just finished up with the Mequire's kit, and it helped, but not removed it. ONce I got to about half speed with the drill I could tell the plastic was heating up, and I didn't want to scorch it. So, I think if you had light scratches or chips, it's a good product, but it didn't do much for me.