25 minute headlight cleaning (9 pictures; 2.08mb)
12-03-2005, 12:34 PM
#1
25 minute headlight cleaning (9 pictures; 2.08mb)
I am doing a 2002 front end conversion on my cousin's (lusty2kmax) car. It is complete, except for the headlights. He found these OEM ones on eBay for around $100. They were cheap because they were hazy and scratched up pretty badly. I told him to just buy them, because they can be looking like new with very little work.
Materials I used: 600 grit, 1000 grit and 2000 grit sandpaper. A spray bottle with water to keep the headlight and sandpaper wet during the sanding. I used Meguiar's ScratchX to polish them after the 2000 grit sanding.
Here are the pictures of the process:
Driver (before)
Driver close-up (before)
Passenger (before)
Materials I used: 600 grit, 1000 grit and 2000 grit sandpaper. A spray bottle with water to keep the headlight and sandpaper wet during the sanding. I used Meguiar's ScratchX to polish them after the 2000 grit sanding.
Here are the pictures of the process:
Driver (before)
Driver close-up (before)
Passenger (before)
12-04-2005, 03:20 AM
#17
Here are some pictures after the lights were installed.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=443522
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=443522
12-04-2005, 07:27 PM
#20
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 369
Originally Posted by siren001
I wonder would this get rid of the white discoloring on the top of the lense which is from the sun also?
Kevin
12-04-2005, 09:57 PM
#23
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 369
Yes, you want to wet sand the entire time. Keep the sand paper wet as well as constantly adding water to the headlight w/ a little bit of soap to keep it slippery. If you just have a little haze or fog, starting at 1000 is more than ample. In whazzzzzup's project, I'm not sure that something as abrasive as 600 grit was neccesarry but he did need a heavier grit considering that he was trying to remove scratching. Scratches are deeper in the plastic where as the fog or haze is just a thin layer or coating on the lens. So most likely your going to want a finer grit paper. KEEP WET DURING SANDING. Next you will want to use a buffer if possible but elbow grease will work (although very tiring). The buffing will remove the scratching from the sandpaper. Follow this by a hardshell polish, or a polymer sealant if possible to ensure that the shine will last. Hope this is helpful and here's my pics:
The really heavily hazed picture is what the lens will look like after drying the sanded lens just before buffing. This is normal to get a really hazy lens while sanding.
The really heavily hazed picture is what the lens will look like after drying the sanded lens just before buffing. This is normal to get a really hazy lens while sanding.
12-04-2005, 10:54 PM
#27
DO NOT TRY THIS ON GLASS but any plastic lens will work
12-13-2005, 06:23 PM
#35
Excellent write up guys. Definately something to do if your headlights are dull and hazzy. Will do this, this weekend more than likely.
You guys say buff it afterward,Do so with regular polish wax?
You guys say buff it afterward,Do so with regular polish wax?
12-13-2005, 06:43 PM
#36
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 369
I used Meg's Polymer Sealant just because of how incredibly long it lasts versus a wax being subjected to the elements and wearing down after a couple weeks. I should get a solid 6 months at the least with the Polymer sealant. I definetly recommend it to anyone however a wax polish will definetly work. Just make sure you are using a hard shell sealant such as Carnuba.
Kevin
Kevin
