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03-02-2008, 07:19 PM
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#1
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Wild for Width
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,415
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TEN minute headlight cleaning* (pics)
Thought I would share this with you guys. I recently got an I30 and the headlights were hazy and really made the car look older. Having already done the headlight sanding technique on my '98 SE I thought I had a LOT of work in store. Not really. I read a few things online and (re-read) all of the how-to's on the .org and saw a few different mentions of using metal polish to fight oxidation on the headlight. I figured I would try a small test area today with a product called Brasso (I use this on my polished valve/timing chain covers and exhaust) and the area came out crystal. I used the same technique as on metal (work liberal amount onto lense and then with a different cloth polish/buff) and after that slapped a coat of wax on them to try and slow future oxidation. These came out BETTER than my sanded SE headlights which weren't as bad to start with! 
The one thing I will say is it does not remove the little nicks in the plastics from rocks and such that my sanding did. I will see in the next few days what the Brasso on the sanded headlights does if anything.
Hazy left, ewww.
Brasso'd and waxed.
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Last edited by Fr33way™; 03-02-2008 at 09:45 PM.
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03-03-2008, 12:07 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Queens,NY
Posts: 587
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damn looks brand spankin new bro
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03-03-2008, 01:03 AM
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#3
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Swap my auto for an SMG..
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Jersey
Posts: 165
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maxx0831
damn looks brand spankin new bro
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 Wow, huge difference.. I guess I have a project to do this weekend!
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03-03-2008, 01:27 AM
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#4
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Wild for Width
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,415
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I would try it before going the other routes for sure. Just be sure to use a small test section first.
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03-03-2008, 02:58 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 429
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Quote:
Originally Posted by max ride 41
how in the heck does someone your age afford an i30??? wow dude, i was driving a 79 cutlass supreme that i bought for 100.00 off a friend of mine and i ran pretty good but needed mucho repairo.  |
???
I30's are not expensive cars
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03-03-2008, 04:23 PM
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#6
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Wild for Width
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,415
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I actually have a Max and an I30 right now but what I paid for both is less than most people around me spend on cars (or dumb leases). I also paid a bit less for the I30. I think they are one of the best cars for the money hands down. As far as "affording" just a job like everybody else LOL, I am a student as well so I really shift money around to what's important (basically tuition/cars/whatever is left for anything ha).
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03-05-2008, 07:19 PM
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#7
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Wild for Width
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,415
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Just wanted to add that I tried this on the headlights on my SE that I had wetsanded 9-10 months ago and not much change at all. This trick seems to mainly be for oxidation.
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03-06-2008, 03:04 PM
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#8
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Doctorate in Detailing
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,856
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Nice job, they look great. As with any 'polish' type situation, the least abrasive product that produces the best results is always the best way to go.
I've had very good luck with my PC/UDM and different polishes. I've never had to resort to wet-sanding.
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03-08-2008, 11:26 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Madison WI
Posts: 2,150
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sorry to get off topic but its not that hard to own 2 fourth gens, they dont cost that much anymore. Im a college student too and work part time and i can afford my baby (check sig). just gotta manage your money wisely (not that putting money into a car is wise, lol)
btw back on topic: the pictures arent working right now.
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I like to "do it myself"
5MT SE 96er:
MEVI + NWP Spacers, Full Exhaust, Flywheel, lotsa more:
MOD LIST
Last edited by black_maxed95; 03-08-2008 at 11:28 AM.
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03-08-2008, 11:36 AM
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#10
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Chassis Freak
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, Wis.
Posts: 4,396
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Quote:
Originally Posted by max ride 41
dude, unless a family member owns a dealership or you know someone, both your cars together would be around 11,to 12,000 depending on mileage. no frickin way a student can afford 2 cars, especially those cars w/o mommy and daddy helping you out. i worked 3 part time jobs when i was in school and i could'nt afford 1 car, let alone 2. and i can see the size of your garage in the background, no offense dude but you aint bs'in me into believing that story.  |
Spare us the sob story about how hard your life was. This is not the place.
I think you'll find in general, people will like you more if you don't complain and put down others in order to make yourself seem more special somehow.
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03-08-2008, 10:48 PM
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#11
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Chassis Freak
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, Wis.
Posts: 4,396
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You must have missed post #11.
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03-09-2008, 11:06 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Madison WI
Posts: 2,150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VQuick
You must have missed post #11.
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lol he deleted himself outta here
__________________
I like to "do it myself"
5MT SE 96er:
MEVI + NWP Spacers, Full Exhaust, Flywheel, lotsa more:
MOD LIST
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03-09-2008, 02:39 PM
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#13
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Chassis Freak
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, Wis.
Posts: 4,396
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Haha yeah and now post 11 is post 9 so my post is self-referencing...
EDIT: Let's get back to the topic of headlight cleaning. 
Last edited by VQuick; 03-18-2008 at 12:06 PM.
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03-17-2008, 07:41 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: RI
Posts: 56
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Damn good job!
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03-18-2008, 10:05 AM
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#15
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Wild for Width
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,415
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VQuick
Haha yeah and now post 11 is post 9 so my post is self-referencing...
/thread!
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I am trying to talk about some headlights! 
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03-18-2008, 12:07 PM
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#16
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Chassis Freak
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Madison, Wis.
Posts: 4,396
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My fault, I sort of forgot about the main topic. Carry on!
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03-18-2008, 04:38 PM
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#17
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Wild for Width
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,415
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That's how it goes mane! No damage done.
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03-19-2008, 06:25 PM
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#18
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Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: raleigh nc
Posts: 10
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blue coral makes a plastic polish for lightly obscured lenses
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03-20-2008, 10:33 PM
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#19
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Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: sactown
Posts: 7
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Looks fantastic!  |
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03-20-2008, 11:59 PM
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#20
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Wild for Width
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,415
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ncdave70
blue coral makes a plastic polish for lightly obscured lenses
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So what? So do like 14 other manufacturers....
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04-03-2008, 07:25 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 2,332
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wow... that was an interesting guy... anyway.. those headlights do look really nice... you think the brasso stuff works better than meguiar's plastic-x?
__________________
2003 6 speed TE
Looks: Superwhite LEDs Inside Smoked Side Markers
Performance: Cattman Headers, Stillen Intake with Custom MAF-TB Pipe, NWP Phenolic Intake Spacers, 17* Timing Advance
Suspension: Tokico Illumina Struts, FSTB
"I feel the need... the need for speed!" 
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04-23-2008, 07:33 AM
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#22
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 79
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where can i pick up some of this Brasso stuff???
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You Suck..... 
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04-23-2008, 11:04 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Orlando & Daytona Beach, FL
Posts: 2,369
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Walmart...
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04-23-2008, 06:53 PM
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#24
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 79
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thanks, i will check it out
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You Suck.....
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04-24-2008, 02:13 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 768
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Can this brasso stuff do any harm to the paint? Just polish the headlights while they are on the car and rinse them off and wax when done?
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