DIY: Headlight Restore

[night_racer]

Bought car for cheap but headlights looked HORRIBLE couldnt take it any longer bought the 3M kits after watching a few videos and deciding which would work best. Got the the kit and bought some masking tape very easy to use great results.

Kits comes with I believe 6-500 grit pads 4-800 grit and 1-3000 grit then the buffer and some polish

Think they should of had a 1500grit in there somewhere but oh well still looks good very simple process is you have some ability.

Its easy:

Step 1 clean headlight with windex or whaterver
Step 2 tape off surrounding area to prevent unwanted paint damage
Step 3 Start off with the 500 grit paper attached to dril and go at it change the paper as needed about 3 for
each light until dust is white
Step 4 wipe down with clean rag
Step 5 Go to the 800 grit and remore more of the 500 girts scratches should take two 800 for one light
Step 6 wipe down again to remove excess dust
Step 7 Wet down the 3000 grit and spray water on headlight making sure to keep it wet while you sand
Step 8 Wipe it down again and see if more sanding is required
Step 9 use the polishing pad and compound
Step 10 SMILE REALLY BIG

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http://s1205.photobucket.com/albums/...urrent=012.jpg

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http://s1205.photobucket.com/albums/...urrent=016.jpg

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[blueandgoldep3]

not bad at all i actually bought that kit as well in case that ever happened to my headlights , but then i decided to save the effort and just buy the projectors id eventually put in anyway lol good job either way

[night_racer]

I would like to change them out to some black/Chrome ones but figure I'll spend that on a new stereo or CAI for right now.

[jed_averill]

Used 3M too, they last about a year till you need to redo them again.

[Aklass]

I find that kits with sealers work best, like the bg kit. Or you can use opti coat, but the sealant is what helps prevent the hazing

[greywarden]

nice work! looks like im gonna be buying also 3M kits. i was just a lil bit worried if 3M kits is worth buying from the start but now i think i am enlightened just like you headlight.LOL. cheers! i will definitely post also something like this when im done with that. thanks mate!

[jlsan]

just recently bought the turtle wax headlight restorer. i'll post up pics after I find the time to use it.

[Aklass]

turtle wax and 3m kits suck!, I only use kits with a sealant that will last more than a year. 3m kits last a few months and then turn yellow again. Recenlty I've tried a product on amazon called Glassylite which comes with a sealant as the final step, and I'm pleased! Remember from the factory the lights dont yellow for years because of the sealant applied at the factory. But overtime this coats wears down, along with the polycarbonate breathing which traps UV and exhaust gases causing the yellowing. SO remember to buy a kit with sealant such as Glassylites or BG classact

[mitchlikesbikes]

turtle wax and 3m kits suck!, I only use kits with a sealant that will last more than a year. 3m kits last a few months and then turn yellow again. Recenlty I've tried a product on amazon called Glassylite which comes with a sealant as the final step, and I'm pleased! Remember from the factory the lights dont yellow for years because of the sealant applied at the factory. But overtime this coats wears down, along with the polycarbonate breathing which traps UV and exhaust gases causing the yellowing. SO remember to buy a kit with sealant such as Glassylites or BG classact

you do realize that you can use any kit then just seal them with something else after right? just because the kit doesn't include it doesn't mean you can't use it at all. even if you just wax them like your paint after it will at least help.

[Aklass]

yeah but good luck finding a good sealant that last a year or more. and yes waxing does help. Since I'm sealed I wax to add a second layer of protection

[StimulisRK]

I tried the toothpaste method and it actually worked pretty good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCUKUThtZus

[mitchlikesbikes]

yeah but good luck finding a good sealant that last a year or more. and yes waxing does help. Since I'm sealed I wax to add a second layer of protection

no sealant other than clearcoat is gonna last more than a year in most conditions. any higher quality paint sealant (poorboys, optimum, etc) is gonna be a hell of a lot better than the stuff that comes with the headlight kits. especially if the kit is a cheaper one.