headlight maintenance

K

kimchiboi777

New member
Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
On a new car, can one take preventative measures to avoid clouding/hazing of the headlights? Or is this something unavoidable once the manufacturer's coating wears off and restoration is needed?
 
Always apply some kind of sealant / wax that has UV protection: that will delay / prevent the haziness.
 
Probably the best bet would keep them waxed. Any UV blocked by the wax will make the factory coating last longer. It is possible to add an additional protective coating, but not knowing what the original coating is made of, you may have adhesion problems.
ray6
 
i used quite a few of the headlight restoration kits and they all have the same things in the kit and they would go back to being hazy. im still researching other products to see what else i can do.
 
I polish them every three months with 205 and use a sealant.
Most of the time I wax them every other wash and find it to work well.
My headlights look like the day I bought the car, it's an 08'
 
Meguiar's has a Headlight Protectant (G-171). It is a maintenance product, not a coating (like you'd use after a restoration).

I've never used it, but have seen good write ups for it.

Bill
 
I have used this monthly in Arizona. After about 6 months out came the rotary with 205. Polished them up and back to monthly applications. Is the diamondite better, don't know.
autogeek_2269_37361852

Dave
 
KillaCam said:
Opti lense?
Click to expand...

Opti Lens looks promising according to their advertisement. I just used Menzerna Power Lock, because I didn't have any

I also used it on my phone screen (PL) just for fun an it is still beading haha
 
davidc said:
I have used this monthly in Arizona. After about 6 months out came the rotary with 205. Polished them up and back to monthly applications. Is the diamondite better, don't know.
autogeek_2269_37361852

Dave
Click to expand...

Are you saying monthly application of this did not stop the hazing?

I'm really looking for an effective product too for preventing headlight degradation but so far nothing has worked for me.
 
bcwang said:
Are you saying monthly application of this did not stop the hazing?

I'm really looking for an effective product too for preventing headlight degradation but so far nothing has worked for me.
Click to expand...

Still Hazed. It was probably yellowing by month 4 or 5. On the other hand it cleaned up real well with a rotary, 205 and a Edge green pad. The bottle states 2-3 month protection but I did it every month so there could be no excuses that I waited to long. I may try the Diamodite next time. Unless someone else has used it and found it not to stack up either.

Dave
 
I heard two different people say they sprayed CC after fixing the haze. For a permanent protection.

Anybody heard of this technique being used before?
 
hernandez.art13 said:
I heard two different people say they sprayed CC after fixing the haze. For a permanent protection.

Anybody heard of this technique being used before?
Click to expand...

I have heard this one. For one it would have to be highly UV resistant and anytime I have painted the part needed to be scuffed so the paint would hold on. If the headlight was all polished up and slick I would be scared the cc could start flaking and peeling off.

Dave
 
Yeah when I talk to customers I say "look at the label it says life time"

I am not guaranteeing lifetime however.

Because "Lifetime" is a bold statement, I like the Menzerna Power Lock, it says 2 year protection.

My uncle guarantees 1 month, he doesn't apply any waxes or sealants after however. I think he just has his body shop buffer/detailer hit with a wool pad and 3M compound. Then calls it a day. He said when the customer comes back the car is repaired, painted, quick body shop detail, interior/exterior super shiny tires and offers headlight restoration for free as part of the repair deals. He said his customers get super excited with all the love and care their car got. He said "works every time" lol
 
davidc said:
I have used this monthly in Arizona. After about 6 months out came the rotary with 205. Polished them up and back to monthly applications. Is the diamondite better, don't know.
autogeek_2269_37361852

Dave
Click to expand...

If you had to polish your lights, the factory UV protectant is gone. You will continue to have yellowing unless you Opti Lens them.
 
Rsurfer said:
If you had to polish your lights, the factory UV protectant is gone. You will continue to have yellowing unless you Opti Lens them.
Click to expand...

One is a 2005 and the other a 2002. They are outside 24/7 so I am sure you are right about the factory coating being gone. Until Opti Lens came out the options were the Spar coating ,Diamondite, a headlight restore kit or Wolfgang. I had tried a restore kit on the 02 from Walmart (before AG carried much in that department) with little success. They still yellowed and found that 205 polishing and Wolfgang lasted longer so that is what I have used since. The Wolfgang just did not work as well as I thought it would as the haze does come back with monthly applications. At this point the Opti Lens appears to be the next test.

Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top