I just installed a nice pair of used plastic headlight lenses in my 87 240. I was wondering what the best way would be to keep them nice and clear. Can I use an automotive wax or maybe RainX on them? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

The lenses on my 940 cleaned up considerably when I polished them with "Gel Gloss". This stuff looks, feels and smells a lot like Meguiar's plastic polish, but is lower cost. It can be found at any custom bathroom/kitchen business and is commonly used to remove water spotting, stains etc. from cultured marble, fibreglass, and plastic laminates and polish them up. Works great on my shower stalls, countertops, AND headlights.

You gotta wonder if a lot of these products all come from the same big tank at "Acme Chemicals" and just get repackaged and marked up!
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46, dtr's 83-244DL B23F/M46, 94-944 B230FD; hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)

Every couple of years use a fine plastic polishing compound or even glass cooktop cleaner and a buffer to polish the lenses and remove the oxidation.




I service all of these cars for my family as a hobby and I will never own anything other than a Volvo!!




'82 244GL 4sd w/od 190K My new project car, BIG plans!
'87 244DL 5sd 184K orig. owners my father's daily driver for over 10 yrs.
'87 744GLE 4sd w/od 242K my sister's baby "Lola" She runs like a top!
'87 744Ti 4sd w/od 188K my father's current daily driver.
'88 244GL 179K My daily driver for 8 yrs until I got the '89 wagon. Heavy mods
'89 245DL 5spd 135K my new daily driver for work. Great gas miliage!
'90 745Ti 175K The week end travel car.
'94 940 175K orig. owners My mother's daily driver.

Rain-x does not recommend use on plastic. I have used Meguiar's Clear Plastic polish #10 with good results. I usually wax the headlights as well when I'm doing the hood. Only takes a minute.
--
Patrick McHugh, Cincinnati, OH, 1993 244 'classic' model (daily driver)

I know that Armor-All has gotten a lot of bad press, but I have used it on the headlights and tail lights of my '91 since it was new, and they still look pretty good. The trick is to find something that will block uv but not build up on the surface like old furniture polish on your antique end tables.

When I bought my commuter car, it had many layers of something coating the headlight covers. I suspect that it is car wash spray-on wax. The buildup is really cloudy and I have not yet found anything that will take it off.

Did you try Easy-Off oven cleaner?

Have a garden hose handy for rinsing. That stuff is strong.
I think Rob Bareiss was the first one to post that trick.

Works OK if you do just the outside of lens.
Works better if you can do the inside of lens also.
--
Sven: '89 245, IPD sways, electric rad. fan conversion, 28+ mpg - auto tranny. 850 mi/week commute.

The best, but most expensive, solution, is Stongard covers from IPD. They prevent UV degradation and stone/sand damage very well. Absent that, try a good UV-retarding car wax (3M makes one).
--
See the 700/900 FAQ under 'Select Link' button on the top right.

Best I've ever found: Plastx. Not available everywhere, it seems. Call around to save fuel and frustration! Great stuff worth the search.

Brendan.