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- Headlight discolouration can begin within three years.
- Plastic headlights are cheaper to fit and produce, as opposed to glass.
- Most newer cars come with plastic outer headlights where this discolouration occurs.
While you might need to see a doctor urgently if you are experiencing "yellow eye", on a vehicle it's the most annoying thing one can come across when it comes to your headlights. "Yellow eyes" is a colloquial term for headlight discolouration, or the oxidation process, and has become a common symptom in most modern vehicles.
Most headlights manufactured these days are made of plastic with a protective outer coating. When it's exposed to prolonged periods of sunlight, the clear coating gradually begins to break down, and that's what causes the yellow discolouration or clouding.
READ | Car Doctor: How to restore your car's headlights to make it look brand new
Many places across the country offer headlight restoration services, and there are also DIY kits available. Still, if a headlight has too much cloudy buildup, it's recommended to buy a brand-new set altogether, which can be pricey. You could also visit an aftermarket car parts shop and purchase a new set, or even go for LED headlights. These are usually more affordable on older model cars.
Can it be prevented?
The only way to prevent this discolouration is to treat your headlights regularly or fit an exterior layer of Lamin-x headlight protection film to absorb the sun's harsh rays. Often referred to as window film, this protective film sells from about R230 to R300 for a roll online at TakeAlot or aftermarket car part stores. Although they come in different colours, it's best to go for a clear roll of film. Signs of deterioration can begin within three years. At the same time, some headlights won't experience this problem, especially if your car is parked undercover or in a garage.
Glass headlights are commonly found on older cars and can shatter in accidents or if hit by road debris. Modern plastic headlights get a small chip or scratch from things that would typically destroy glass, so plastic has its advantages.
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The only major downside of headlight restoration is that the cloudiness will eventually return. If left untreated for too long, it reduces your car's light intensity and makes it appear dim when your lights are switched on.
Toothpaste and baking soda can be used as cost-effective ways to restore a headlight's clarity, and while it does remove some dirt, it's not a very effective long-term solution. You could also purchase some headlight polish and use an electric hand-polishing machine. Our car doctor guru and contributor Stuart Johnston explains how to do so here.
Because glass is universally more expensive to produce, (hard) plastic has become more cost-effective for vehicles. It is easier to cut and design a piece of plastic for a particular car than glass. Take the late 1980s to early 1990s BMW E30 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz 190E, for example; each of their headlights follows conventional shapes – circle and rectangle – which is relatively straightforward to produce as no precision cutting is needed.
