What is the best way to preserve the clear headlight lenses? What should be avoided?

 

Best thing is to keep the vehicle garaged or parked in the shade since the UV rays do the most damage. Regular wax or polymer sealants will keep them protected from the sun but bird droppings, chemicals, road debris is inevitable.

 

Use a headlight polish or plastic polish that has UV protection every month or two -- or when you wax.

Avoid glass cleaners.

You could also get an Xpel protective shield.

 

yeah my headlights have a goldish tinted film peeling off really bad, it looks like crap. i've gotta do something about it.

 

Sounds like the coating is peeling off.

You'll need to sand it off and then polish.

I've used the Mothers kit on several cars, and it works really well for this type of problem and the videos show you how easy it can be.

 

Man, I wish you lived near my area. I'd make them look like glass and you wouldn't have to worry about paying for it a few months down the road.

 

What do you use? I guess I'm gonna try to find some of that Mother's stuff this weekend and give it a shot... otherwise I'll order some I guess.

 

PlastiX by Menguiars works really well too. Usually sand it down with like 2000 unigrit sand paper first then use PlastiX with a D/A or orbital.