2000 Toyota Camry Headlight Restoration

[FrankS]

This is a 2000 Toyota Camry in need of some headlight restoration.

Condition of Headlights

Front shot.

Passenger side - this was the worst side since it gets the afternoon sun as it's parked in the carport.

Cleaning the Lenses

Used DP Waterless Auto Wash and MF towel to clean the lenses.

Prep Work

Taped around the lenses. Not a work of art but the idea is to protect the surrounding paint.

Sanding the Lenses

First up is to wet sand with 1000 grit sandpaper using drill. Used Lake Country 3 Inch Drill Backing Plate attached to drill and Meguiars Unigrit 1000 Foamed Finishing Disc.

Oxidation being removed.

Noticed a clear spot after sanding with 1000 grit, therefore time to hit it again. The entire lens should look hazy.

Second time with 1000 grit - much better.

Now it's time to wet sand with 3000 grit to smooth out the scratches caused by the 1000 grit. Used Meg's Unigrit 3000 Foamed Finshing Disc.

Not quite as hazy after using the 3000 grit.

Polishing the Lenses

Time to remove the sanding marks with DP All-In-One Headlight Restoring Polish and a LC 3-1/4" Thin Foamed Wool Pad.
I've had great results using the DP polish and wool pad only without sanding but this time I wanted to do some sanding.

After polishing.

Coating the Lenses

Preparing for the coating - PBL Surface Cleansing Polish to remove any polish residue.

Spreading out the cleansing polish.

Wiping the cleansing polish with clean MF towel.

Time for the coating - PBL Diamond Surface Coating.

Easy application, just spray and spread with small foam pad.

Then wipe with clean MF towel.

Removing Tape

I learned this technique from Mike Phillips. Remove tape at an angle instead of pulling straight up.

Results

Front shot.

Passenger side - was the worst side.

Driver's side.

Job complete and another happy customer!

 

[parttimer]

nicely done!

 

[10secdream]

Great write-up and pictures. The results speak for themselves! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Tato]

Amazing work Frank, very, very professional and well done.

Thanks a lot for this thread, and congratulations on your work.

Kind Regards.

 

[kevin_1981]

Awesome job!

 

[jamesboyy]

That's how headlights should look, and even though they wasn't so bad they still look super after all your hard work

 

[FrankS]

nicely done!

Thank you.

Great write-up and pictures. The results speak for themselves! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you.

Amazing work Frank, very, very professional and well done.

Thanks a lot for this thread, and congratulations on your work.

Kind Regards.

Thanks Tato.

Awesome job!

Thanks Kevin.

That's how headlights should look, and even though they wasn't so bad they still look super after all your hard work

Thank you. They weren't that bad but it was time for some restoration, the passenger needed it most.

 

[LatinFG2]

Very nice work!

 

[mightypudge]

Spectacular job.

 

[Chuck-Michigan]

Awesome!

 

[ducksfan]

Since the finer grit discs are so expensive, has anyone tried going to CarPro's denim or velvet orange peel removing pads between 1500 and polishing?

 

[hernandez.art13]

Since the finer grit discs are so expensive, has anyone tried going to CarPro's denim or velvet orange peel removing pads between 1500 and polishing?

I haven't, but have though of just buffing out with my Rotary at 1500. Since the 3000 grits are more expensive.

 

[FrankS]

Very nice work!

Thank you.

Spectacular job.

Thank you.

Awesome!

Thank you Chuck.

 

[Nick McKees37]

Excellent work Frank. :dblthumb2:

 

[FrankS]

Excellent work Frank. :dblthumb2:

Thanks Nick!