Headlight Refinsh Advice Needed

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MikeTaylor57

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My son owns a 1999 Camaro SS and both headlights are in terrible condition, so bad that I dont think just a polish is going to clean them up. I have seen a youtube video where the lights were actually wet machined sanded. just wanted to know what the pro's out there would recommend, is there a complete kit out there that has everything I would need. We will be moving him out to Pheonix Arizona this summer for at least two years for the beggining of his Med School rotations. While I have him here in INpls for a couple of weeks I would like to refinish these for him. Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
^ Nice video

A lot of times fading headlights can be polished out, but sanding them down won't hurt them either. (just work smart)

Meguiar's also sells a headlight restoration kit that is available at your local auto parts store. I'd go with the heavy duty kit, because I believe it has sand paper.

Also if you get pig tails from sanding, then going over with 3000 should take them out. It's pretty easy to do actually, prep will do wonders. Tape, work clean, etc...

and not sure if they sealed the headlights after they polished them out, but I would use an OTC sealant. Probably Meguiar's Ultimate Wax. Actually I would just Opti Lens them but not sure if you want to go that route.

Meguiars Heavy Duty Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit, Meguiars G3000, headlight polishing kit, severe headlight polishing kit, how to polish
 
jsgntulok said:
Check out 3M kits: 3M Headlight Restoration
Click to expand...

This is a good kit but as Art stated use something to seal them afterwards or they will haze again.

hernandez.art13 said:
^ Nice video

A lot of times fading headlights can be polished out, but sanding them down won't hurt them either. (just work smart)

Meguiar's also sells a headlight restoration kit that is available at your local auto parts store. I'd go with the heavy duty kit, because I believe it has sand paper.

Also if you get pig tails from sanding, then going over with 3000 should take them out. It's pretty easy to do actually, prep will do wonders. Tape, work clean, etc...

and not sure if they sealed the headlights after they polished them out, but I would use an OTC sealant. Probably Meguiar's Ultimate Wax. Actually I would just Opti Lens them but not sure if you want to go that route.

Meguiars Heavy Duty Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit, Meguiars G3000, headlight polishing kit, severe headlight polishing kit, how to polish
Click to expand...

This is a good kit. Comes with everything you need. Also comes with some headlight protectant which is recommended to be applied every 6-8 weeks. Opti lens would be the permanent fix. I agree with Art on ultimate wax being good on headlights.
 
i just used this kit. i bought the 3905 it has everything you need including the protectant. great kit i just posted pics last week
 
hernandez.art13 said:
^ Nice video

A lot of times fading headlights can be polished out, but sanding them down won't hurt them either. (just work smart)

Meguiar's also sells a headlight restoration kit that is available at your local auto parts store. I'd go with the heavy duty kit, because I believe it has sand paper.

Also if you get pig tails from sanding, then going over with 3000 should take them out. It's pretty easy to do actually, prep will do wonders. Tape, work clean, etc...

and not sure if they sealed the headlights after they polished them out, but I would use an OTC sealant. Probably Meguiar's Ultimate Wax. Actually I would just Opti Lens them but not sure if you want to go that route.

Meguiars Heavy Duty Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit, Meguiars G3000, headlight polishing kit, severe headlight polishing kit, how to polish
Click to expand...

Any OTC "sealant" or otherwise is going to have to be reapplied fairly often, especially in the American South West! Going out there for his rotations that boy is about to be tested! I doubt he's going to want to reapply a wax or sealant once every month or so. :dunno:

Opti-Lens, while not cheap, is far less than a pair of new headlights. Besides.... it's enough to do 5~6 sets. :D
 
I would personally wet sand them. Depending on how bad they are, I would start with 1500 grit and work your way up to 3000 grit. Next use a Rubbing Compound. Then I would use a finishing polish. Last I would apply a wax or sealant to keep them protected.
 
I also used the 3m kit along with two assorted packs of wet/dry paper ranging from 600 grit to 2500.

Bought the 3M kit mainly for the 3" pad and backing, and for the trizac 3000 disk because I only had a drill to do it.

Was my first time wet sanding or polishing and all went well. That 3000 disk is awesome. I did not use the two lower grade disks.

I used the paper and switched direction with each grit to make sure I had removed the previous grit scratches. Note: this seems to take progressively more time with each grit.

The compound that comes with the kit is ok. It does the job but seems a bit thick/pasty. Doesn't work very long, but really doesn't have to since it is such a small area.

I followed that up with a polish I had available, and coated with Opti-lens. Researched awhile on what to coat with. To me, this seemed to be the best DIY product with ease of application and durability.

This tread by HotRod is one of the reasons why I went with Opti-lens. It derived from, or a reformulated version of OptiCoat 2.0.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-opti-coat-2-0-a.html?highlight=Spar+urethane

New one on Opti-lens

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-you-should-know.html?highlight=Spar+urethane

And a really long one started by HotRod with a bunch of info, both good and bad, to sort through. Took me at at least a week to read on and off.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-uv-sealant-idea.html?highlight=Spar+urethane
 
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