'02 Style

My headlights are displaying the typical fogginess. I am to the point where I am ready to try to restore them. Here is what I was thinking: Wet sanding with 800 > 1500 > 2000 > 3000, then polishing with Plastix. After this I wanted to put on about 5 layers of clear coat, then possibly a 3M clear bra covering.

Thoughts? Anything else you would recommend?

TallTom

Sounds like you have the right combo especially with the clear coat to seal them.

bjr

As long as you put a good clear coat / sealer etc. you should not have to use the 3M bra covering. I just apply a sealant on mine after every other wash or so, can't even tell there's a lens. (11 years old)

You've got the idea though. Go for it!

gatsugansu

iTrader: (3)

I did mine last week. All I had was some 2k grit sandpaper. I wet sanded till it was smooth and all white foggy. The Plastix and 3m polish pad on my cordless drill. It looks new.

Stormzusmc

iTrader: (17)

3m even has a resto kit, along with mothers....both work well if you want an all in one, otherwise as mentioned you can piece together your own for cheap

guarj17

I got the Mother's restore kit and it didn't do much for me. It cleared up the fig lights a little but not really anything on the headlights. The plastic feels smooth now but still when I have the lights on there is like a glare on the lens right when the beam of light comes out. Could this be inside? I would rather get an opinion first before trying to clean the inside.

Stormzusmc

iTrader: (17)

nah probably not inside, try the 3m one they work well from experience...i just recently saw the mothers one and never tried it

cjandura

iTrader: (3)

i used the 3M kit and was really surprised at the outcome.it was really easy to use just get a extra bottle of the compound i went a little happy with it on the first light because i didn't really know how much to use.

spock

iTrader: (5)

Someone on here once suggested Brasso metal polish. I used it on my Monte last fall and it works well.

max611

Whatever you do dont get the Turtle wax doesnt work one bit. I had great success with the plastix i used it for a month and when i washed my car every weekend i would use it. brought it right back to normal even when my car has 148K. A friend tried the drill attachment with sand paper. worked good just dont keep it in one spot or it will melt the headlight lol

mrpopo573

I did a quick resto with 3M Plastic Polish and a buffer. These shots are mixed up, but the headlights both looked about as bad.
(before and after)

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

Now don't touch it for 2 month and let's see how it looks then now of these store bought restoration kit restores the UV protective coating...They just require you to keep cleaning them!

bds1304

iTrader: (1)

amen to that. best bet sand with 800-1000 and re clearcoat them, then you dont ever have to worry bout it again

mrpopo573

This was 4 months ago and they still look great. I have no doubt that a clear coat would keep them immaculate a lot longer. I have no issue with buffing them once/twice a year. I use 3M plastic polish on my gauge housings/electronics, etc, not bought as a kit for headlights only. I've just been happy with this product after using it to clean and protect plastic convertible rear windows.

MaximumKicks

Well the 3m headlight restore kit was on sale at Walmart over the weekend for 17.99 it worked on my headlights. Then I buffed them out with blur magic headlight lens restore came out even better.

Stormzusmc

iTrader: (17)

brasso works well, but if your headlights are not somewhat smooth or you have minor pitting, then youll need to sand it a bit

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

+1 with CMAX, I like to look at the Plastix as make up, you have to keep re applying it every so often because the hazing eventually will keep coming back. wetsanding lasts alot longer

TallTom

I used this and it's been holding up great.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/lightrite-r...wx?filterid=j1

I used the 3m kit last year, but the headlights got hazy again since I didn't keep up with the maintenance.

MadMax07SL

That looks like a quality long lasting solution...

ActofGod

I recently used the RainX version, very pleased with the results thus far.

'02 Style

I know to keep my buffer moving at all times, but how much pressure should I be pressing down on the buffer with?

TallTom

Thanks. Found out about it on this forum from someone. I forget their name.

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

That stuff TallTom is using is the...... $hit!!!!! This stuff has a lifetime guarantee to never haze again....I personally spoke to the Owner (John Mangham) this applies the UV protective coating back on your lense the others don't, they destroy it and expose the plastic to the sun without any protection.....

TallTom

And its easier to do. Took half the time than what I needed to do the 3m resto kit from last year.

luvlexus101

iTrader: (6)

From what I've been told spraying clearcoat only ruins the plastic.

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

Did you cure it with a UV lamp or sunlight???????

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

It's not clearcoat!!!!! It's UV protectant.....

RobertColianni

Personally, I found the restore kits to be weak. I don't know what kind of money you have or how much you love your car, but I'd just recommend getting something aftermarket after ten years.

guarj17

Well now that I have been paying more attention to it and it has been raining all week I also noticed that when its raining or wet outside they seem to get a lot foggier so there must be some humidity or something getting into the lights. Still probably not the inside though? I might just have to use it as an excuse to get new ones.

ConwayLaFamilia

so just sand until theyre smooth, and even though after sanding theyll be scratched up from the sandpaper, the Plastix will bring the transparency back to like new condition?

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

You should actually start reading through the threads your posting in. Kinda seems like you're only responding to the titles.

TallTom

Sunlight. Waited for a nice sunny Sat afternoon.

Still holding up nicely.

TallTom

I tried the 3m kit first and it did a decent job, but maintaining was a PITA and they started to fade again. The new kit I just used works great. They still look as good as new. I was skeptical since you only sand once and they are "milky" before spraying, but it works.

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

I've been very tempted to purchase LiteRite for a few months now. How long has it been without fading?

FlawleZ

iTrader: (1)

Well, I've done a lot restoring to my headlight but it doesn't get much better than this. It's really frustrating what the UV damage can do. I haven't tried wet sanding yet but I've been contemplating it lately...

SkyDaver

I used the Rain-X last month, on driver's side (pass. side is newer ... thanks, deer). It looks as good as the other side. HID bulb burned out three weeks later, which must be a coincidence

ConwayLaFamilia

Nelledge I read the post and all posts I comment on, thanks though. Now, anyone else that actually wants to help...I wanna try this but dont wanna ruin my headlights. So I wetsand the lights smooth and even though theyll be scratched the Plastix will bring the luster back and theyll look like new? I was gonna clearcoat them also but I read someone sad it would ruin the plastic? I bought all the supplies today just wanna make extra sure Im not gonna ruin them....thanks!

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

ConwayLaFamilia, based on your thread about the services you recently paid for, why not just toss another $50 or $100 or whatever it would be to have a detail shop professionally restore your lenses?

Don't take that idea as a slam, I'm not trying to get under your skin. Sometimes it's worth it to have a professional do something when you're concerned about screwing up. Particularly expensive headlights. And since you've already demonstrated a strong tendency in that direction... Anyway, it's an idea.

ConwayLaFamilia

Rochester if I was gonna pay that much to have the lens restored Id just buy a set of aftermarket headlights...and honesty thats the way Im leaning...and I havent demonstrated a strong tendency to do anything but fix my car up. Are you having this same issue with your headlights?

TallTom

It's been two months and still looks like new. I have only washed the car twice and that is all I have done to them.