Headlight Restoration - I NEED HELP!!

Lilskeezer

Lilskeezer

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I'm a bit of a newbie to the auto detailing world, but I've been trying to perfect all aspects since I am going to take up a side job of mobile detailing. That being said, my first adventure into the headlight restoration realm has been a discouraging one. After watching a Headlight Restoration video on another car care site I was convinced that the 4 step process: Wetsand w/ 1000 grit and 3000 grit sandpaper, apply cleaner (Meguiars Plastic Cleaner), and finish up with a polish (Meguiars Plastic Polish) would be a success. I even came back with a Meguiars wax I had in the garage since I wanted to try everything before I quit. I only got about half way there (in terms of quality) before I threw in the towel. I've attached the before and after shots of the headlights and am hoping someone can help (they weren't more yellow after, unfortunately I just had to change the light source). As you can see, the tops of each lens turned out pretty good, but there was an extra oxidized/weathered portion near the bottom of the lens that was very stubborn. I can't charge anybody for a job of this low quality, so let the comments/advice fly! Thanks!
BEFORE>>
P1000696.jpg

AFTER>>
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Have you tried Wolfgang? We used it on a CTS at a recent car meet in MI and it worked really well with just a PC.

Sorry there were no before pics.

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3M Headlight kit and a drill would make those headlights look new. Remember to use a respirator when you are sanding.

Derrick
 
P1000714.jpg

Does the bottom of the lenses feel rough, or is that pitted we are looking at?
 
Dang Jetta's. I had very minor fogging on my 03 GLI and I spent a good hour trying to get rid of it (by hand). Those headlights are just so stubborn. I think you've got to use some sort of powertool attachment.
 
He is right in order to clear up nasty headlights like that best way is with using a powertool like a polisher! You will otherwise be rubbing all day till you hand goes numb!
 
Plastic Cleaner and Plastic Polish will clean the headlights and restore the clarity, but it will not remove that oxidation, scratching, and hazing.

After wet-sanding, you need to restore the hazing and the clarity by using a machine-based plastic polish with some kind of cutting pad on a drill or Porter Cable. If you don't have a Porter Cable or a real buffer/rotary tool, then buy a kit that includes a backing plate for a cordless drill.

Autogeek sells a couple of different kits from Diamondite, 3M, and Meguiar's that should get the job done properly.
 
OGauge4Me said:
Have you tried Wolfgang? We used it on a CTS at a recent car meet in MI and it worked really well with just a PC.

Sorry there were no before pics.

DSC_0141.jpg


DSC_0144.jpg


DSC_0143.jpg
Click to expand...
+1 for wolfgang cleaner w/a 4 inch orange pad on a PC
 
I was visiting my granddaughter yesterday and while walking to and from the playground, I was inspecting headlights in the neighborhood. I noticed that Volkswagen, Audi and GM cars were most often the victims.

Headlight Restoration would make a nice retirement subsidy and it's easy to do. There were 9 prospects in her neighborhood alone. :)
 
Seeing as VW/Audi is the same company that follows reason. I've seen it really bad on Fords aswell.
 
This thread got split into two somehow so I'm re-posting my response into this one. I think this will answer most questions. -

Thanks for the comments...keep em coming! I failed to mention that I applied both the cleaner and polish with a Porter Cable 7424 which I would have to believe would yield the same or better results than the Mother's Powerball. I used 1000 grit sandpaper and spent what seemed an eternity on this lens without getting better results. You think this is on the inside? I considered that but I could feel a change in texture on the outside when I ran my finger over the extra-oxidized part. I have to say these were probably some of the worse headlight lenses I've ever seen, so I don't know if they were too far gone to bring em back.
 
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