Dull Headlights

[jaytwitch]

:/... I already tried mothers... Any other options? Thanks! ImageUploadedByTapatalk1373276711.926905.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1373276721.385642.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1373276733.786128.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1373276744.902904.jpg

[122554]

2000 grit sandpaper, compound, wax.

[Alstann]

I used Meguiar's Ultimate Compound on my daily driver's headlights, which were VERY faded and yellowed, and they restored to this condition:



Usually, just a slight fading or yellowing of the lights can be cured with just a polishing compound. However, be warned - whatever method you use, you will be stripping the rest of the UV protectant off of the housing. You will need to seal the lights again using a UV sealant kit or equivalent.

[Cbtech]

unless your broke i would say its worth the $50 to $75 to have a detailer do it. Time is money and you can sometimes get a carwash to get you a package deal to wash the car inside and out with headlights for like $65.

Or Groupon. I dont know where "Misson" is but in LA here is headlight restoration for $25 Cristal

[fuct]

Originally Posted by Cbtech

unless your broke OR LAZY i would say its worth the $50 to $75 to have a detailer do it. Time is money and you can sometimes get a carwash to get you a package deal to wash the car inside and out with headlights for like $65.

Or Groupon. I dont know where "Misson" is but in LA here is headlight restoration for $25 Cristal

...

[Cbtech]

@fuct

I pick and choose what my time is worth and this isn't, when a detailer can get it done in 10 mins or less for LESS than the cost of the kit to do it. (with the Groupon of course).

And as my father in law states; "if it cost half of what you make per hour, have someone else do it."

so to each his own.

[fuct]

@Cbtech

my father taught me the value of doing a good job yourself, with pride. sometimes it comes down to more than just the price.

but your right, to each his own

[Cbtech]

Originally Posted by fuct

@Cbtech

my father taught me the value of doing a good job yourself, with pride. sometimes it comes down to more than just the price.

but your right, to each his own

Building a barn, painting your house, doing your own full suspension mods...sure take pride in it. Spending 2+ hours on buffing out headlights? Spend that time with your family/friends while contributing to your community with pride by paying someone else do it.

[Cmike2780]

You need to machine polish to get it back to perfect. Swirl remover, fine polish and seal...that's all there is to it. You can't get the result you want doing this by hand. Just make sure to go slow, keep the pad moving and not let the surface heat up.

Be careful with some so called "detailers." A lot of these guys aren't really trained detailers and more like car cleaners.

[MX52Z]

And a spray bottle full of water. This is not a five minute job. It took me a couple hours per headlight on a different car, each clamped to a workhorse with lots of wet sanding using increasingly higher grit pads and then finally a blue creme compound.

I got them as clear as possible but still slightly duller than factory new until I sprayed the final coat of seal (SEM SolarRay) and cured them with a UV light. Then they looked like new. If you just wax them as the final step, they'll haze again in a couple months.

Granted, I started off with milky white headlights, almost opaque. The OP's lights look pretty good to start with. I'd probably just wet compound them.

[Cbtech]

Originally Posted by Cmike2780

Be careful with some so called "detailers." A lot of these guys aren't really trained detailers and more like car cleaners.

Good advice.

and if they screw it up ur better off than if you did it. Well...generally better off since they will be on the hook to replace them.

Originally Posted by MX52Z

And a spray bottle full of water. This is not a five minute job. It took me a couple hours per headlight on a different car, each clamped to a workhorse with lots of wet sanding using increasingly higher grit pads and then finally a blue creme compound.

I got them as clear as possible but still slightly duller than factory new until I sprayed the final coat of seal (SEM SolarRay) and cured them with a UV light. Then they looked like new. If you just wax them as the final step, they'll haze again in a couple months.

Granted, I started off with milky white headlights, almost opaque. The OP's lights look pretty good to start with. I'd probably just wet compound them.

Holly cripes!! you went above and beyond!! wow

[kenchan]

wat causes dull headlights? is it the autowash detergent?

i ask because ive never had a car (even parked 24/7 outdoors) that had dull lenses like that.

[gSwift]

Originally Posted by kenchan

wat causes dull headlights? is it the autowash detergent?

i ask because ive never had a car (even parked 24/7 outdoors) that had dull lenses like that.

Not saying you do, but I know most people neglect their headlights. They should get waxed and buffed just like our paint should.

[Cmike2780]

Originally Posted by kenchan

wat causes dull headlights? is it the autowash detergent?

i ask because ive never had a car (even parked 24/7 outdoors) that had dull lenses like that.

Mostly from UV damage from direct sunlight and/or oxidation to the plastic which causes them to yellow. I try to hold off as long as possible from doing any wet sanding since manufacturers usually apply some sort of UV coating.

[fuct]

Originally Posted by Cbtech

Building a barn, painting your house, doing your own full suspension mods...sure take pride in it. Spending 2+ hours on buffing out headlights? Spend that time with your family/friends while contributing to your community with pride by paying someone else do it.

i contributed to the good people at porter cable when i bought an polisher


anyways... does anyone have any first hand experience with a good headlight polisher cream to work with a dual action random orbital polisher?