I used one of those headlight restoration kit

[HarryLui]

Before

I used this, which included the sand paper, cleaner, rubbing compound and UV protection sealer.

I used the cleaner, sand paper, cleaned, rubbing compound, cleaned, then I used the plastic polish, cleaned again, then apply the UV protection sealer.

After

Kit comes with a life time warranty, and I plan to use XPEL headlight protection film on them, so they should last a long time.

 

[tsupersonic]

Nice work. I have to do this on one of my cars as well.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Nice.

I did it on my last car - got kinda mediocre results, but my brother took a crack at it and they came out really well.

I guess I'm just impatient.

 

[WackyDan]

Done something similar on my old Dodge dakota....Came out great. Nice thick lenses though... Not sure that mattered.

MY wife's malibu? Thin lenses... While it improved them, they still looked like shit and were crazed through and through. Maybe I let them get too bad. I ended up buying a new set of headlight assemblies and it was actually worth it. They are just starting to do their thing again, but we are probably selling the car in the next year or two.

 

[pcgeek11]

You really did a good job on those. They look new.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Nice job OP!
IINM, don't they do this for ~$20 at Sam's?

 

[FrankB]

Those things really work. Just bought one to clean the headlights on my car. Thanks OP. Great job!



Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[IronWing]

How long did it take you?

 

[bruceb]

I use Novus #2 Plastic Polish when I do mine. Excellent results. But I don't have the UV Sealant / Protectant ... most places do not want to sell it seperate. They want you to buy the whole headlight restoral kit. Doing it does make a huge change in the way the lights look and work.

 

[Yuriman]

Here's my before and after:

It's too bad there aren't any aftermarket headlights for an Insight, and OEM are horrendously expensive considering they're just reflectors.

 

[HarryLui]

How long did it take you?

An hour or two. I already had my headlights off my car, so that makes it easier and less messy on the body work and bumper.

 

[FeuerFrei]

W.T.G. guys. Cloudy headlights are a scourge. That's what we get for not using glass..

Here's my before and after:

It's too bad there aren't any aftermarket headlights for an Insight, and OEM are horrendously expensive considering they're just reflectors.

Yep. Too bad. I went aftermarket to replace my Corolla headlamps. Good brand + pamper with Plexus + keep out of sun if possible = PROFIT

 

[bruceb]

I agree, the switch from glass lenses to plastic lenses was the worst idea someone ever came up with. Glass can just as easily be formed into these idiotic shapes and has much better optical qualities than plastic. But plastic weighs a little bit less.

 

[C1]

I finally had to do my Corolla front lenses too. USed the Sylvania kit as Consumer Reports tested a bunch of kits and stated that they found that the Sylvania application held up the best/longest. After a year though, they are returning to their foggy appearance.

People say that it's the UV, but I dont think so as the tail lenses are great and they get as much exposure to sun as the front. What's really going on is that it is the heat of the halogen lamps as the rear lens boxes are incandescent and dont exhibit issues.

The plan is just to replace the lens boxes with the premium units available from AutoZone.

It's a bit more cost, but probably not much more labor time. (Just need to be sure to mark the OEM headlight settings to readily allow setting the new installation.)

 

[NutBucket]

The headlights get sandblasted when you drive while the tail lights do not. That's partly why their coating wears out faster.

 

[Ketchup]

I have been using the Sylvania kits for a few years now. Each application seems to last a year or two. For the cost of the kit and the time it takes, I have been very happy with it. A guy at AutoZone told me that the kits designed to work with a drill work better (results last longer), but I haven't messed with one yet.

 

[HarryLui]

I use XPEL after clearing the headlights. Time will tell.
http://www.xpel.com/

 

[Carson Dyle]

You don't have to remove the headlights to do them. Also, those didn't look too terribly bad. You might have been surprised with the results of using just the plastic polish. I was pretty amazed by what five minutes of hand buffing did for my headlights that looked a lot worse than those to start. Can't imagine sanding first would have done any better.

 

[Scarpozzi]

If you're cheap, toothpaste and/or baking soda/water and a paper towel will clean them too. It won't last as long, but you'll be surprised at how little it takes to shine the plastic up and take the grime off them.

 

[Pick2]

I stopped at Target with the wife and they had a bottle of Turtle Wax headlight polish / wax for $8. I spent 10-15 Min per headlight on the '02 Mazda and I'm amazed at how good they turned out.

 

[RichUK]

It doesn't last and will soon fade again.

 

[MtnMan]

Nice job OP!
IINM, don't they do this for ~$20 at Sam's?

It was $25 at the Sam's here, and done as it should be done, wet sanding away the haze and crazing, then several coats of clear coat. They also guarantee it for 5 years.

I figured I would have over $25 invested just in the stuff to do it myself, plus my time. Took an hour at Sam's while I shopped.

Some people may be concerned because of how their car 'look', but the real benefit is driving at night with the beam is now projected down the road instead of being scattered by a frosted lens.

 

[Yuriman]

Helped a friend with his headlights this weekend.

Before:

After:

EDIT: 600 grit -> 1000 -> 1500 -> 2000 -> polish, followed by a coat of sealant.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

It was $25 at the Sam's here, and done as it should be done, wet sanding away the haze and crazing, then several coats of clear coat. They also guarantee it for 5 years.

I figured I would have over $25 invested just in the stuff to do it myself, plus my time. Took an hour at Sam's while I shopped.

Yup! That's what I remembered. The cost of a 3M kit, a six pack, and time spent actually doing it would far exceed $25.

 

[PeterScott]

If you're cheap, toothpaste and/or baking soda/water and a paper towel will clean them too. It won't last as long, but you'll be surprised at how little it takes to shine the plastic up and take the grime off them.

I only had minor hazing and I tried everything I had in the house including automotive rubbing compound, and nothing made a dent.

Then I tried Meguiar's PlastX as a last resort before trying one of the kits were you sand it down.

PlastX was MUCH better than I expected. Not as good as sanding/polishing, but MUCH less effort. I just repeat it once/twice a year (10 mins effort) and it keeps pretty good results.