Modern headlamp lens replacement

[Bobupndown]

I've never had to restore clouded lenses on any of our cars headlights and we do keep them for plenty of years and miles.
I give the headlights an occasional polish with whatever product I'm using when polishing/waxing the cars. Seems to keep them in perfect condition with minimal effort.

 

[PhillipM]

The UV coating eventually breaks down on these, they are ~25-30 year old cars by now.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

We never had this problem with glass lenses

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

never had this problem with glass lense

Plastic came in for pedestrian safety I think?...not totally sure

 

[PhillipM]

Yep, less risk after an accident too to 3rd parties, plus it's easier to form into the much more complex shapes headlights became.

 

[malcolm]

They seem to be coming up OK. I went down to 800 grit as it was taking too long with 2000. One done and one to go.

 

[OJCar]

Plastic came in for pedestrian safety I think?...not totally sure

Cost driven I would think.

As it is UV attacking the plastic lens,
could something like Helicopter Tape (self adhesive clear plastic) be used to form a sacrificial layer that is easy to replace?
Or would that screw up the optics.

Never (so far) had to polish up the plastic lenses on the 10 plate Octavia that has lived outside all its life,
is it more certain manufactures than all plastic headlamps?

 

[Wedg1e]

Plastic came in for pedestrian safety I think?...not totally sure

In the late 60s my old man had a Ford of some flavour... Zodiac I think (not the aircraft carrier shape).
One of my brothers was being chased up the street by some girls, he was trailing several feet of bus tickets (remember them?), mostly looking over his shoulder.
Ran smack into the taillights of the Zodiac with so much force he broke a lens, which cut his head open. Still has the scar to this day.
I imagine the car dissolved, like the rest of them