Headlight restoration
Headlight Restoration
Headlight restoration removes the cloudy, yellowed layer scattering a car's beam at night, by sanding and polishing the polycarbonate lens and sealing it with a fresh UV-resistant coating. Skipping that final coating leaves the lens yellow again within 12 months.
- Price
- Quoted per pair after inspection, above an exterior wash (150-200 MAD) and below a full paint correction (1800-2400 MAD)
- Working time
- Around 90 minutes of machine time per pair, before the coating cures
- Vehicles
- Compact to motorhome, hire cars and imported vehicles included
- Material treated
- Polycarbonate lens and its factory UV coating, not the painted clear coat of the body
- Main cause
- UV exposure, 3000 sunshine hours a year in Agadir
- Repair limit
- A cracked lens or internal condensation is declined; replacement is the correct fix
- Without new coating
- Yellowing returns within 12 months, faster than the original factory coating failed
- Coverage
- 24 districts across Greater Agadir, no surcharge up to 30 minutes' drive
What does a headlight restoration include?
Headlight restoration includes ten operations, from a diagnostic inspection to a beam check with the lights on. Each step removes one defect or protects the surface before the next, and the new UV coating sits inside the same appointment, not as an extra.
- Diagnostic inspection under work light
- The technician checks each lens for a crack, internal moisture or a delaminated reflector before any sanding begins.An internal fault would make sanding pointless, so the vehicle is diagnosed before the lens is touched.
- Masking of the surrounding bodywork
- Tape and film cover the paint and trim around each headlight.Sanding residue and polish spatter mark unprotected paint permanently if the area is left open.
- Coarse wet sanding
- A coarse-grit abrasive paper, used wet, removes the oxidised and yellowed outer layer of the polycarbonate.This first pass strips most of the yellowing before any finer grit refines the surface.
- Progressive fine sanding
- Successively finer grits pass over the lens to erase the marks left by the previous grit.Skipping a grit step leaves fine scratches visible once the headlight is lit at night.
- Machine polishing of the lens
- A dual-action polisher works a plastic-specific compound into the sanded lens until clarity returns.Polishing closes the scratch pattern left by the abrasive paper and restores transparency.
- Isopropyl alcohol degrease
- An alcohol wipe removes oily polish residue from the polished surface.Any oily residue stops the new UV coating from bonding evenly to the lens.
- New UV coating application
- A fresh UV-resistant coating goes on in a single even layer over the degreased lens.This coating replaces the factory layer that UV exposure already destroyed on the old lens.
- Cure time under cover
- The vehicle stays parked in shade for the coating's cure window, matching the 24-hour cure used on a ceramic coating.Dust settling on the coating while it is still soft embeds permanently and dulls the finish.
- Beam check with headlights on
- The technician switches the headlights on and checks beam clarity and reach against the opposite lens.A restored lens is judged with the light on, since daylight alone hides a residual haze.
- Masking removal and final wipe-down
- Tape and film come off and the surrounding paint is wiped down.Adhesive residue left on the paint around a freshly restored lens dulls the finish visible next to it.
What restoration does not fix
Five conditions sit outside headlight restoration entirely: a cracked lens, internal condensation, a delaminated reflector, dull exterior trim plastics, and paint defects on the bodywork around the housing. Each needs a different repair or a different service.
- A cracked or punctured polycarbonate lens needs a replacement housing. Sanding and polishing a crack seals nothing and the beam still scatters through it.Car Detailing in Agadir
- Internal condensation inside a sealed headlight housing means a failed housing seal. Polishing the outside of the lens changes nothing on the inside.Car Detailing in Agadir
- A delaminated or silvered-out reflector behind the lens is invisible from outside and needs the reflector assembly replaced, not the lens polished.Car Detailing in Agadir
- Dull exterior trim plastics on the bumper, mirror caps and door trim are a different material entirely, handled as a separate detailing job.Car Detailing in Agadir
- Oxidised or scratched paint on the bodywork surrounding the headlight housing is corrected by abrading the painted clear coat, not the lens.Paint Correction Service
How do we work, step by step?
Restoration follows eight fixed steps: inspect, mask, sand through two grades, polish, degrease, coat and cure. The coating step never gets skipped, because sanding without it strips the last protection the lens has left.
- 10 min
Inspect each lens for cracks, moisture and reflector damage
The technician checks both headlights under work light before deciding whether restoration or replacement applies.
- 10 min
Mask the surrounding bodywork and trim
Tape and film cover the paint and badges around each lens so no sanding residue lands on unprotected surfaces.
- 20 min
Sand at coarse grit to strip the yellowed outer layer
A coarse wet-sanding pass removes the oxidised polycarbonate carrying most of the visible yellowing.
- 15 min
Sand through progressively finer grits
Each finer grit erases the scratch pattern the previous grit left, working toward an even, matte-clear surface.
- 25 min
Polish the lens with a dual-action machine
A plastic-specific compound restores optical clarity to the sanded polycarbonate.
- 5 min
Degrease the polished surface before coating
An isopropyl alcohol wipe removes polish oils that would otherwise stop the new coating from bonding.
- 15 min
Apply a new UV-resistant coating
The coating goes on in one even layer, replacing the factory coating that UV exposure already destroyed.
- 24 h
Cure the coating under cover before the beam check
The vehicle stays parked in shade for the coating's cure window, then the headlights are switched on for a final beam check.
What products and equipment do we use?
Six items carry out a headlight restoration. They include graduated wet-sanding paper, a polycarbonate-specific polish, a dual-action polisher, masking tape and film, an isopropyl alcohol wipe, and a UV-resistant clear coating applied at the end.
- Graduated wet-sanding paper
- A set of abrasive grits, coarse through fine, used wet against the lens surface.Working through the grits in order removes yellowing without leaving a scratch pattern the polish cannot close.
- Polycarbonate-specific polish
- A fine abrasive compound formulated for plastic rather than painted clear coat.A compound made for paint cuts too slowly on polycarbonate and extends the polishing time unnecessarily.
- Dual-action polisher
- A random-orbital machine that spreads the polish evenly across the curved surface of the lens.The orbital motion avoids burning a flat spot into the thin polycarbonate the sanding has already thinned.
- Masking tape and film
- Adhesive tape and a plastic film applied around each headlight before any sanding starts.Masking stops sanding residue and polish spatter from marking the paint next to the lens.
- Isopropyl alcohol wipe
- A diluted alcohol solution wiped over the lens after polishing.The wipe removes polishing oils that would otherwise prevent the UV coating from bonding evenly.
- UV-resistant clear coating
- A liquid coating that cures into a hard, transparent layer over the polished polycarbonate.This coating is the actual protection against UV exposure, not the sanding or the polish.
Why do headlights turn yellow?
Headlights turn yellow because UV light destroys the factory coating on the lens first, and only then does the exposed polycarbonate underneath oxidise and scatter light. Four terms describe that sequence precisely.
- Polycarbonate
- The transparent, impact-resistant plastic that forms the outer shell of a modern headlight lens.
- Factory UV coating
- A thin protective layer applied at the factory over the polycarbonate, destroyed by UV exposure before the plastic itself begins to yellow.
- Oxidation
- The chemical reaction that clouds and yellows exposed polycarbonate once its UV coating has failed.
- Beam scatter
- The scattering of a headlight's beam sideways instead of forward, caused by a cloudy or pitted lens surface.
What result can you expect?
Expect the lens to return to optical clarity and the beam to project forward again rather than scatter sideways, verified with the headlights switched on. That clarity holds only as long as the new UV coating stays intact on the lens.
The check that matters happens with the headlights on, not in daylight. A lens that scattered light into a diffuse yellow glow before the appointment projects a clear, focused beam afterward, matched against the opposite headlight for symmetry.
This is a safety outcome before it is a cosmetic one. A clouded lens scatters light that should reach the road, and restoring beam clarity is the measurable result this service delivers, not a cosmetic shine.
Restoration without the final coating step is not offered here, because it leaves the lens worse off than before. Sanding and polishing alone strip away the last of the original factory coating along with the yellowing. The bare polycarbonate underneath is then fully exposed to UV for the first time. A lens treated that way looks clear for a few weeks, then clouds faster than it did originally.
What do we need at your address?
Four conditions apply at your home, hotel or residence parking. Shade covers the whole appointment, the same spot stays free for the coating's cure window, no rain is forecast, and power reaches the sander and polisher.
- Shade or covered parking
- Direct sun dries the new UV coating unevenly before it cures, and Agadir logs 3000 sunshine hours a year.
- The vehicle immobilised for 24 hours
- The car stays parked in the same spot while the coating cures, with the headlights left untouched.
- Dry weather, no rain during the cure
- Rain landing on the coating before it cures ruins the finish and the lens has to be sanded back and recoated.
- Power, 220 V within 20 metres
- The sander and the dual-action polisher run from the same socket used on every other detailing appointment.
How much does headlight restoration cost?
Headlight restoration is quoted per pair after inspection, positioned above an exterior wash and below a full paint correction. Four factors move that quote: oxidation severity, the number of lenses, lens condition and the drive zone.
Above an exterior wash (150-200 MAD) and below a full paint correction (1800-2400 MAD), confirmed after inspection.
- Oxidation severity
- Light yellowing shortens the coarse-sanding step; heavy, chalky oxidation extends it and adds grit passes.
- Number of lenses treated
- A pair of headlights sets the base quote; integrated fog lights add extra lenses at the same rate.
- Lens condition on inspection
- A crack or internal condensation moves the vehicle out of restoration and into a replacement conversation.
- Drive zone
- No surcharge across 24 districts of Greater Agadir; beyond 30 minutes' drive, the appointment is not offered.
Why a restoration kit does not last
A supermarket kit polishes away the yellowed coating without replacing it, so the lens looks clear for a few weeks and then clouds faster than before. A professional restoration always ends with a new UV coating, which is the axis every row below turns on.
| Criterion | Supermarket kit | Professional restoration |
|---|---|---|
| New UV coating applied | No | Yes, on every lens |
| Sanding approach | Hand pad, one or two grits | Machine polish after progressive multi-grit sanding |
| Bare polycarbonate exposure afterward | Fully exposed to UV | Sealed under a fresh coating |
| Clarity duration | A few weeks, then clouds faster than before | As long as the coating stays intact, verified with a beam check |
| Beam checked with lights on | No | Yes, matched against the opposite lens |
| Price | A one-time low cost | Quoted per pair after inspection |
Going further
Why headlights in Agadir cloud faster than in northern Europe
Agadir logs 3000 sunshine hours a year, exactly the UV load that destroys a factory headlight coating faster than it fails under grey northern skies. A car brought down from Europe meets that load for the first time the day it is parked outdoors here.
A headlight coating rated for a cloudier climate absorbs a heavier UV dose every single day it sits parked in Agadir, whether the car is driven or not. That is why an imported vehicle, a long-stay rental or a motorhome left outdoors for a season clouds over sooner than the same model kept further north.
Wind-driven sand adds a second load on top of the sun. Chergui wind reaches Agadir roughly 25 days a year, and sand carried at road speed pits the lens surface, which compounds the clouding the sun alone would already cause.
The same UV exposure that destroys a headlight coating also degrades unprotected paint on the body panels around it, at the same measured rate.
Headlight restoration questions
How long does headlight restoration last?
As long as the new UV coating stays intact on the lens, since the coating is the actual protection, not the sanding or the polish. Without that coating, yellowing returns within 12 months, faster than the original factory coating failed.
Will a supermarket restoration kit work as well?
No. A kit polishes the yellowed coating away without replacing it, so the lens looks clear for a few weeks and then clouds faster than before. The bare polycarbonate is now fully exposed to UV, because nothing replaced the original coating.
Can a cracked headlight lens be restored?
No. A cracked or punctured lens needs a replacement housing. Sanding and polishing a crack does not seal it, and the beam still scatters through the break.
Why do headlights in Agadir turn yellow faster than elsewhere?
Because of UV exposure. Agadir logs 3000 sunshine hours a year, a load that destroys the factory coating on a lens faster than it fails under cloudier northern skies.
How much does headlight restoration cost in Agadir?
Quoted per pair after inspection, positioned above an exterior wash (150-200 MAD) and below a full paint correction (1800-2400 MAD).
Do you restore a single headlight or always a pair?
A pair, priced together after inspection. Restoring one lens and leaving its match yellowed produces a visible mismatch in beam clarity and colour at night.
Can restoration happen in an underground car park?
Yes, above 2.3 metres of clearance for the van. The coating still needs a shaded spot to cure, which an underground level usually provides on its own.
Is internal condensation inside a headlight a problem restoration can fix?
No. Internal condensation means a failed housing seal, and polishing the outside of the lens changes nothing about the seal. That vehicle needs a replacement housing, not a restoration.
Related services in Agadir
- Car Detailing in AgadirThe detailing hub this restoration service sits under, alongside paint, interior and protection work.
- Paint Correction ServiceThe painted clear-coat correction for the bodywork around a headlight, a different material entirely.
- Ceramic Coating in AgadirThe protective layer against the same UV load that clouds an unprotected headlight lens.
- Paint Protection Film (PPF)The physical film option for the bumper and bonnet leading edge next to a restored headlight.
- Engine Bay CleaningA different vehicle zone entirely: this service cleans the mechanical compartment, not an optical component.
- Waterless Car WashA maintenance-tier wash suited to a car with restored headlights and no water point on site.
- Steam Car CleaningAn interior refresh that pairs with an exterior restoration appointment rather than replacing it.
- Motorhome & Campervan Cleaning in AgadirLarge flat-fronted lenses on a motorhome cloud under the same sun-and-sand load treated here.
- Rental Fleet Cleaning for Car Hire CompaniesFleet upkeep for hire cars, where clouded headlights affect resale value across several vehicles at once.
- Car Detailing Prices in AgadirThe full price list in MAD for washing, detailing and protection work, restoration positioned within it.