Professional Car Headlight Restoration Services In Cape Town
Since 2006, Protouch Car Care has provided professional and long lasting vehicle headlight and tail light restoration services in Cape Town.
Table of Contents for Headlight Restoration
Please Note Before Booking
- We are not a mobile service
- We unfortunately do not have a waiting area onsite.
- All quotes are confirmed on physical inspection. NOT PHOTO’s!
- Photos cannot accurately show the true condition of headlights.
- Depth of damage and plastic defects can only be assessed in person.
Level 1 Maintenance
Maintenance By Polishing & Protection
Best for:
Headlights that were previously restored and are now showing light fading, hazing, dullness, or early signs of UV damage.
Includes:
- Clean (from loose dirt) and degrease
- Masking to protect surrounding paint
- Compound machine polishing to restore optical clarity
- Application of a UV-blocking ceramic sealant (up to 1-year protection depending on maintenance)
Price:
From R350–R500 per pair
Time:
Approx. 30 minutes turnaround
Level 2 Restoration
For Oxidised Plastic Headlight Lenses (Faded, Yellowing, Cloudy, Milky)
Best for:
Headlights that are discoloured, showing fade, turning yellow, UV-damaged, or cloudy due to surface oxidation.
Includes:
- Clean (from loose dirt) and degrease
- Masking to protect surrounding paint
- Multi-step sanding to remove oxidised plastic layers
- Compound machine polishing to restore optical clarity
- Application of a UV-blocking ceramic sealant (up to 1-year protection depending on maintenance)
Price:
From R1000–R1500 for a pair
Or R500–R750 for a single headlight
Time:
30–45 mins (two technicians) or up to 1.5 hours (one technician) depending on availability
Before and After Examples
Level 2 Restoration Gallery
Level 3 Restoration
For Scratches, Sandblasting, Pitting, or Previously Restored Headlights
Best for:
- Headlights with deep scratches, sandblasting, pitting or heavy UV erosion
- Units previously treated with poor DIY or commercial methods
Includes:
- Clean (from loose dirt) and degrease
- Masking to protect surrounding paint
- Deeper sanding to remove embedded damage until the plastic is smooth, flat, and defect-free
- Compound machine polishing to restore optical clarity
- Application of a UV-blocking ceramic sealant (up to 1-year protection depending on maintenance)
Price:
From R1500–R3000 per pair (confirmed upon in-person inspection)
Time:
Allow up to a full day
Example:
The following was a set of Mercedes S-Class headlights that was severely sandblasted, chipped and pitted that we restored an the replacement cost at that time was a whopping R120,000!
Headlight Restoration on BMW E90 320D
BEFORE
AFTER
Headlight PPF (Paint Protection Film)
PPF is the most superior protection for paint work and headlights.
It’s150-200 microns thick (compared to +-1 microns for most single layer ceramic coatings).
PPF will protect your lights from UV fading, scratches, pitting and stone chips
Benefits:
- Protects against stone chips and most scratches
- Price: From R2500 per pair depending on vehicle.
- Note: Not ideal for heavily domed spotlights
Example:
What We Cannot Restore or Fix
We’re honest about limitations. Below are common cases we cannot restore, explained with clear advice:
Internal Moisture, Fogging, or Reflector Damage
- Issue: Condensation, internal fog, or peeling chrome reflectors inside the headlight
- Why not fixable: These are sealed-unit issues; restoration works only on the outside
- Recommendation: Replace the headlight unit. Search reputable platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, eBay, or ask your mechanic
Cracked or Broken Lenses
- Issue: Physical breaks or structural damage to the lens or housing
- Why not fixable: Cracks compromise safety and sealing, making restoration unviable
- Recommendation: Source a roadworthy replacement from auto parts suppliers or salvage networks
Crazing (Fine Internal Cracks
- Issue: Web-like micro-cracks within the plastic, often from UV degradation
- Why not fixable: Surface-level crazing might slightly improve, but internal or embedded crazing is irreversible
- Recommendation: Replace the unit to ensure clarity and safety
Glass Headlights (Typically 90s or Older Vehicles)
- Issue: Headlight lenses made from glass instead of plastic
- Why not fixable: Our sanding/polishing systems are designed for plastic only
- Recommendation: Look for used replacements through online marketplaces, scrapyards, or classic car parts dealers
Bulb or Electrical Problems
- Issue: Dead bulbs, flickering, or wiring faults
- Why not fixable: We do not offer electrical services
- Recommendation: Search “auto-electrician near me” to find a qualified technician
The Headlight Restoration Process
The best process we’ve found in all our doing headlight restoration is to resurface the headlight by sanding through the faded (oxidised by the sun’s UV rays) or damaged (scratched or pitted) plastic of the headlight lens, and then polish it until is optically clear. The deeper the damage the more we need sand away until the damage is not visible.
Step #1
Safety First:
Before starting restoration we tape up around the headlight to prevent possible damage to the surrounding paint. We also make sure its thoroughly clean.
Step #2
The best Headlight Restoration method is to resurface the lens plastic.
This is done by hand or machine until we get below the damage. So the deeper it is the more we need to sand away.
Step #3
Headlight Restoration is finished by polishing and then protecting the headlight with a quality sealant or ceramic coating to put back the UV protection lost.