Optimum Opti-Lens Headlight Coating - What YOU Should Know

mike2977 said:
It's still a bit confusing. As I understand it the formula of Opti-Lens is designed to bond specifically with the materials of the lens, not the clear-coat that may be over it. Thus my question.
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You're getting confused with Opti-Glass, which is different than Opti-Coat and is designed to adhere to silica surfaces. Opti-Lens is very similar to Opti-Coat but with more UV inhibitors.

From earlier in this thread:

Chris@Optimum said:
A new car is the best application for any coating. A optimum Finish or Polish II is the minimum prep, it's just to make sure the surface is clean and smooth so the bond will be with the surface and thus, permanent. Neither Polish II, Hyper Polish, nor Finish will marr. As long as your not using wool or a dirty pad ;)
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I think you're getting a little too wound up, take some time and read this whole thread and I think you will feel better.
 
Rsurfer said:
What made you say this about Chris?Feed back please
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LOL, I was talking to the previous poster...I was trying to calm him down with Chris's words. Chris is in Cancun according to the Optimum forum, so I hope he's not wound up anymore.
 
Chris@Optimum said:
We're there follow up questions?
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All my questions were answered, thanks Chris.

I plan on doing the new headlight lenses with Opti-Lens once I get the car back from the paint shop and letting it sit for a month or so for the Opti-Clear 2.0 application.
 
so i apologize if this has been answered and I simply overlooked it seems like this product really applies to lenses with the factory coating still intact

but for some of us with older vehicles and already had that coating removed from a restoration kit thus being bare plastic, will it still adhere the same or provide the same reliability?
 
bmwstephen said:
so i apologize if this has been answered and I simply overlooked it seems like this product really applies to lenses with the factory coating still intact

but for some of us with older vehicles and already had that coating removed from a restoration kit thus being bare plastic, will it still adhere the same or provide the same reliability?
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Yes and yes.
 
I have not had good luck with this product. Purchased the large size applied according to directions multiple times. As far as I am concerned it does not last nearly long enough to justify the cost. I am still looking for another solution, so far, this isn't it.
 
BillH said:
I have not had good luck with this product. Purchased the large size applied according to directions multiple times. As far as I am concerned it does not last nearly long enough to justify the cost. I am still looking for another solution, so far, this isn't it.
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Opti Lens like Opti Coat needs a super clean surface to bond to. Is it hazing, yellowing, delaminating?Feed back pleaseAnd how did you prep the light?
 
Rsurfer said:
Opti Lens like Opti Coat needs a super clean surface to bond to. Is it hazing, yellowing, delaminating?Feed back pleaseAnd how did you prep the light?
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The lights were cleaned with Meguiars 105 followed by 205. I then used 99% IPA to clean them. The Opti-lens was applied according to the directions. I lasted about 2 months before the headlights returned to their cloudy state. I cleaned them again using the same procedure, this time I applied two coats. This lasted about about 3 months before the lens started clouding again. I applied multiple coats a third time about the end of September, 2013.

As of today, the headlights need further work but I don't think I have enough Opti-Lens to do the job. (I purchased the 10ML kit in April, 2013). I don't think I did anything wrong in application, not experiencing any delaminatingm, they just get hazy and cloudy. I see that I should have waited a day or so between coats, but this was not on the instructions. I don't feel like spending another $75.00.
 
BillH said:
The lights were cleaned with Meguiars 105 followed by 205. I then used 99% IPA to clean them. The Opti-lens was applied according to the directions. I lasted about 2 months before the headlights returned to their cloudy state. I cleaned them again using the same procedure, this time I applied two coats. This lasted about about 3 months before the lens started clouding again. I applied multiple coats a third time about the end of September, 2013.

As of today, the headlights need further work but I don't think I have enough Opti-Lens to do the job. (I purchased the 10ML kit in April, 2013). I don't think I did anything wrong in application, not experiencing any delaminatingm, they just get hazy and cloudy. I see that I should have waited a day or so between coats, but this was not on the instructions. I don't feel like spending another $75.00.
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It sounds like you did everything correctly. Could it have been the humidity when applying? Your pretty wet up in Washington State. Maybe Chris will chime in.
 
Rsurfer said:
It sounds like you did everything correctly. Could it have been the humidity when applying? Your pretty wet up in Washington State. Maybe Chris will chime in.
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I'm in eastern Washington, extremely dry, 30% humidity, over 300 day pr year of sunshine. The car is garaged but when I am working does sit in the sun for 8 hours a day.
 
I've found that it works fine on many cars, but not very well on others. Toyota sienna and corolla are a couple that I've seen fail within a few months. I have a G35 that I need to re-do from last summer... and I will have to try a heavier uv cure "factory type" coating unfortunately.
 
mr.fusion said:
I've found that it works fine on many cars, but not very well on others. Toyota sienna and corolla are a couple that I've seen fail within a few months. I have a G35 that I need to re-do from last summer... and I will have to try a heavier uv cure "factory type" coating unfortunately.
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Hummm, Interesting as the car in question is a GS430 Lexus. What's involved with the uv cure "factory type" coating? I would like to try applying the Opti-Lens and layering it over a couple of days, but I hesitate spending the money.
 
I'll just be darned if I'm going to let my OCD w/detailing include my headlights. I use a mild polish on them 3 x a year and then use a wax/sealant on them about 2 x a year and they're fine..... And this is on a 4 y/o car and I have no issues :) whew!!!
 
Multiple layers should create a much better UV barrier, but I've not done more than two initial layers.

By "factory coating" I'm referring to the uv curing urethane coatings. Most are available in an aerosol. Whether you spray or wipe on a coating, it yields a much thicker layer... so hopefully it gives a much greater UV barrier. I've seen it last a couple years anyway. SEM, Lightrite, Speedokote, Presta,.... bunch of brands out there. The issue with any of them is applying it. It's tricky to get it to lay down smooth, without much orange peel, etc.

I still like OptiCoat for a lot of what I do, and there isn't anything else that can do what it can. But it seems there just isn't enough UV protection for some cars. Seems to be the ones that are softer and/or thicker plastic... very easy to sand, and sometimes have a slightly opaque look even when fully restored... they don't come back crystal clear like glass. I don't keep records on this stuff and this isn't a scientific study. It's just what I recall. I usually intend to track this stuff better, but I'm too busy and not ocd enough LOL. If headlights were my bread and butter... I would have this nailed down better by now with test samples etc.
 
I will add... in favor of OptiLens (I meant optilens in the previous post, not opticoat).. that it's invaluable for some jobs, for me anyway. For example, on a 2006-08 Dodge truck, the top side of the massive lights will be peeled/cracked. There is no way you will sand and restore the whole lens. Just doing the top portion can be difficult enough. So the only sane way to do them is to blend out the repair area. Only a thin wipe-on coating like OptiLens, (or similar magic "nano" coating) etc will look right. Other coatings are pretty much impossible to apply to just a portion of the lens without being noticeable. And this lens has a huge surface that generally doesn't look good with a sprayed coating, or other common wipe-on coatings.
 
These last few posts really have me worried about offering Opti-Lens as an option for retail restorations. :surrender:
 
I wouldnt be too worried about it. In Canada, your UV index shouldnt be that high.

Here in Hawaii, the UV index is crazy. My wifes headlights are working on almost a year with opti-lens and are like brand new still. Every other option I tried on her lights lasted anywhere from 30 days to 3 months at most.

Spray on clear coating isn't a perfect option either.. it WILL take you more time to apply, you run the risk of overspray, and the clear coat can de-laminate over time making your next restore that much harder.

Here's a headlight I did with Opti-Lens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=147drKMselc
 
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