Yellowing headlight

[claret badger]

Hi all,

I've had to replace one headlight with a brand new MB example. The problem is now that the old one looks yellow in comparison. Can anything be done? At £1,000 a pop for a new MB unit Im looking for an alternative! Any help greatly appreciated.

[Cees Klumper]

Remove the glass and clean it?

[David Robinson]

Should clean up, if it doesn't come back to me as I should have one.

[claret badger]

It was suggested I'd need to buy another light and that it could not be 'cleaned'. Hence asking here.

I will give it a clean and report back.

Thanks :-)

[BobH]

There are lots of different glass cleaning products and compounds available for removing scratches etc, it's well worth a try, should be able to get it looking as good as new if you're lucky

Have a Google and watch some videos on the subject

[AndrewB]

Is it the glass or the reflector that is showing yellow ? I have been able to buy replacement Bosch RHD headlamp glasses from Colin Ferns (stickandrudderman) - just the glass itself was less than £200 for 2. If it is the reflector, I believe one can re-silver these.

Colin is probably a good guy to call for advice on this

[claret badger]

Well, finally removed the glass, and its not dirt sadly. The whole lens is very slightly yellow. Not sure if it was a tint from new, or just 55 years of aging, but looks like I need a new lens.

[mdsalemi]

Assuming you are speaking of a Euro headlight, right?  Isn't that a full glass cover, like real glass?
Are you saying the glass has yellowed?

[claret badger]

Look at the photo at the start. Yellowish hue all over. The car has been in US and Australia for half its life. Maybe that is relevant!

[Garry]

Had a similar thing, mine had been in Australia all its life.  I had to replace both the glass and the reflectors.

[mdsalemi]

You may never make the old match the new; different clarity or color in the glass from the start. But, try this:

https://www.hunker.com/13423434/how-to-clean-yellowing-glassware

Also, you may seek out a mild cleanser that contains oxalic acid; in the USA this would be “Bar Keepers Friend” which is available everywhere.

But a perfect match may require two new, or two old lenses.

[Pinder]

try soaking it in bleach overnight

[Desertpagoda]

Just buy a new lense, it will be MUCH closer in color