What product to use to clean fog lights?

DC_driver · 08-15-2010, 12:58 PM

I noticed my foglights have a film on them. It may be Zaino from when I applied it to the bumper. What should I use to clean the film/residue off the fog lights that won't damage them?

I can scrape the film off with my finger nail but it scratches the plastic. Any recommendations?

lopealle · 08-15-2010, 01:58 PM

u can use some clay to get the wax off

pander5 · 08-15-2010, 02:36 PM

You might want to try isopropyl alcohol and a MF towel. If that doesn't get it I might go to clay as lopealle suggests.

DC_driver · 08-15-2010, 09:27 PM

Will the alcohol damage the clear plastic or make it fog up?
I'll try the clay first.

pander5 · 08-15-2010, 11:03 PM

No, it shouldn't. You can cut it 50/50 with distilled water if you feel more comfortable but if it's a left over LSP it'll be gone in a second with alcohol and won't damage the plastic.

If it's still there after an alcohol wipe then try clay. If it's still there after clay it may be a film of oxidized plastic that wetsanding can fix.

Check back with us after the clay (whether that's your first or second attempt).

droptop335 · 08-18-2010, 07:00 AM

Before you go to the trouble of wetsanding, you might want to try a cleaner/sealant like Klasse AIO (All-In-One). It's a chemical cleaner rather than an abrasive cleaner, and I use it regularly on all my lenses to keep them clean and clear. I even used it on my wife's 330i headlights to remove a slight haze, and it worked very well. The side benefit is that it leaves a protectant sealant over the lens to prevent further damage, especially UV.

Neutrino45 · 10-16-2010, 05:19 AM

Did you clay your fog lights? What was the result?

Chris J · 10-16-2010, 10:48 AM

just try some meguiars plastic cleaner and plastic polish. Its cheap and works well. I use this stuff to do full headlight restorations all the time and it works awesome. First I wetsand with 3M but after my last step of sanding these two products make the headlight crystal clear and good as new. If you have a hazing problem it wouldnt hurt to polish the lights anyway and the plastic cleaner will remove any wax that may be on the surface so there is no need to clay them.

DC_driver · 10-19-2010, 07:34 PM

Forgot about this post. I tried alcohol and a clay bar. Neither did a thing to remove the haze. I didn't want to use anything too harsh and cause more damage. I thought if I use something abrasive, it would remove any UV protection?

08-15-2010, 12:58 PM	#1
DC_driver Private First Class 13 Rep 136 Posts Drives: AW 330i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0)	What product to use to clean fog lights? I noticed my foglights have a film on them. It may be Zaino from when I applied it to the bumper. What should I use to clean the film/residue off the fog lights that won't damage them? I can scrape the film off with my finger nail but it scratches the plastic. Any recommendations?
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08-15-2010, 01:58 PM	#2
lopealle Resident Black Guy 251 Rep 2,302 Posts Drives: Lion Join Date: May 2009 Location: Federal Way, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 M5 [10.00]	u can use some clay to get the wax off
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08-15-2010, 02:36 PM	#3
pander5 Special Forces - Discretion is superior 31 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Sapphire Black Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	You might want to try isopropyl alcohol and a MF towel. If that doesn't get it I might go to clay as lopealle suggests. __________________ M3 + trailer hitch = oxymoron
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08-15-2010, 09:27 PM	#4
DC_driver Private First Class 13 Rep 136 Posts Drives: AW 330i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0)	fog light cleaning Will the alcohol damage the clear plastic or make it fog up? I'll try the clay first.
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08-15-2010, 11:03 PM	#5
pander5 Special Forces - Discretion is superior 31 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Sapphire Black Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	No, it shouldn't. You can cut it 50/50 with distilled water if you feel more comfortable but if it's a left over LSP it'll be gone in a second with alcohol and won't damage the plastic. If it's still there after an alcohol wipe then try clay. If it's still there after clay it may be a film of oxidized plastic that wetsanding can fix. Check back with us after the clay (whether that's your first or second attempt). __________________ M3 + trailer hitch = oxymoron
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08-18-2010, 07:00 AM	#6
droptop335 Captain 39 Rep 709 Posts Drives: '07 335i (E93) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Back in SF Bay Area (Tri-Valley), WooHoo! iTrader: (1)	Before you go to the trouble of wetsanding, you might want to try a cleaner/sealant like Klasse AIO (All-In-One). It's a chemical cleaner rather than an abrasive cleaner, and I use it regularly on all my lenses to keep them clean and clear. I even used it on my wife's 330i headlights to remove a slight haze, and it worked very well. The side benefit is that it leaves a protectant sealant over the lens to prevent further damage, especially UV. __________________ Alpine White/Coral Red/Gray Poplar Convertible Sport/Prem/Step/Comfort/Nav/Sirius MHD Stage 1 Flash, M-Factory Helical LSD By the way people: USE YOUR F&*#ING TURN SIGNALS! Pass the word.
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10-16-2010, 05:19 AM	#7
Neutrino45 Major 62 Rep 1,452 Posts Drives: XXX Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: milky way iTrader: (2)	Did you clay your fog lights? What was the result? __________________
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10-16-2010, 10:48 AM	#8
Chris J Learning "The Art" 8 Rep 116 Posts Drives: Black BMW 335i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chino, CA iTrader: (0)	just try some meguiars plastic cleaner and plastic polish. Its cheap and works well. I use this stuff to do full headlight restorations all the time and it works awesome. First I wetsand with 3M but after my last step of sanding these two products make the headlight crystal clear and good as new. If you have a hazing problem it wouldnt hurt to polish the lights anyway and the plastic cleaner will remove any wax that may be on the surface so there is no need to clay them.
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10-19-2010, 07:34 PM	#9
DC_driver Private First Class 13 Rep 136 Posts Drives: AW 330i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0)	fog lights Forgot about this post. I tried alcohol and a clay bar. Neither did a thing to remove the haze. I didn't want to use anything too harsh and cause more damage. I thought if I use something abrasive, it would remove any UV protection?
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