Installing PPF on Headlights

[DFB]

Has anyone here applied PPF to headlights before, and if so, any tips for this process.

My 2016 Ranger has deteriorated headlights, which appeared fairly soon into my ownership. There was actually a Ford field-service-campaign on these particular headlights, but I never bothered having them replaced. I would simply replace the things but the whole bumper and grill need to be removed to gain access to the headlight bolts. As such, I have been polishing the affected areas and applying a sealant every 9 to 12 months, before having to repeat the process again.






Cutmax, followed by Perfect Finish deals with the problem without the need to wet sand.






In this case, I have ordered pre-cut PPF films, which I will apply after re-finishing the headlights. Hopefully this will give me a longer term solution.

Car Headlight Protective Film for Ford Ranger Wildtrak Raptor 2015+, Transparent Blackened TPU Sticker,Transparent : Amazon.com.au: Automotive

 

[Setec Astronomy]

So is the factory coating still on there? Is the PPF supposed to block UV so that if the coating has been removed, the lenses will no longer yellow?

Thanks for posting this, I took a quick look and didn't realize it was so easy to order precut PPF for headlights, here in the US also.

 

[vaced]

“Will not fade, heat-resistant, waterproof, , UV protective,good light transmittance,and with smooth surface.with super stretchability, scratch and wear resistance.” according to description.

Although UV protective is not UV proof, so I would assume at some point it might yellow again.

Good luck with the headlights

 

[Eldorado2k]

So is the factory coating still on there? Is the PPF supposed to block UV so that if the coating has been removed, the lenses will no longer yellow?

Thanks for posting this, I took a quick look and didn't realize it was so easy to order precut PPF for headlights, here in the US also.

Same here, I went down that rabbit hole after reading his post and I’m thinking about getting blue tinted ppf for mine.

 

[PA DETAILER]

X-PEL Makes precut kits for headlamps. Makes the job easier. Had them on my 05 wrangler.

LAMIN-X Has precut kits...

Headlight Tint | Buy Car Headlight Covers and Headlight Tint Film Online – Lamin-X

 

[Desertnate]

Same here, I went down that rabbit hole after reading his post and I’m thinking about getting blue tinted ppf for mine.

I'd be careful with any tinting as it starts with mess with how much visible light you'll see from your headlights at night. Not only does it shift the light color to a less visible end of the spectrum, but by adding a colored film to the lens, it reduces the actual lumens being projected.

I've seriously considered putting clear PPF on our vehicles more to cut down on all the rock pits than anything else. I'd hope they would help with prevention of yellowing and clouding as well if the headlights are new or just restored.

 

[Eldorado2k]

X-PEL Makes precut kits for headlamps. Makes the job easier. Had them on my 05 wrangler.

LAMIN-X Has precut kits...

Headlight Tint | Buy Car Headlight Covers and Headlight Tint Film Online – Lamin-X

Yes, the Lamin-X is what I was looking at.

I'd be careful with any tinting as it starts with mess with how much visible light you'll see from your headlights at night. Not only does it shift the light color to a less visible end of the spectrum, but by adding a colored film to the lens, it reduces the actual lumens being projected.

I've seriously considered putting clear PPF on our vehicles more to cut down on all the rock pits than anything else. I'd hope they would help with prevention of yellowing and clouding as well if the headlights are new or just restored.

Valid points, but at the same time the tinted film hides any current imperfections/haze that’s on the headlights and makes them look better than a transparent film would.

If I can restore my headlights back to near perfection 1 more time I’d get the clear, but tbo I doubt they’ll be able to restore after having done it a couple of times already.

 

[oneheadlite]

I'd be careful with any tinting as it starts with mess with how much visible light you'll see from your headlights at night. Not only does it shift the light color to a less visible end of the spectrum, but by adding a colored film to the lens, it reduces the actual lumens being projected.

I've seriously considered putting clear PPF on our vehicles more to cut down on all the rock pits than anything else. I'd hope they would help with prevention of yellowing and clouding as well if the headlights are new or just restored.

I had regular PPF put on (new) replacement headlights for my last car (had a Bambi incident) - after 165,000 miles and 8 years they still looked like brand new.

After that experience, getting my current lights filmed on the new car is on my to-do list; just going to have the window tint wizard do it while they have the car. I'll do standard paint film again as I don't think it needs to be the thick stuff.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

If I can restore my headlights back to near perfection 1 more time I’d get the clear, but tbo I doubt they’ll be able to restore after having done it a couple of times already.

Why would you not be able to get them back to clear? My problem is when they get old they seem to get internal cracking that you only see when the headlights are on. The ones that I had to sand the coating off of, just turn yellow but they are easy to polish back to clear.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Why would you not be able to get them back to clear? My problem is when they get old they seem to get internal cracking that you only see when the headlights are on. The ones that I had to sand the coating off of, just turn yellow but they are easy to polish back to clear.

Some headlights get to the point where they won’t just polish clean, especially once they’ve already been restored. Cadillac headlights are notorious for being uncooperative in that way. If you’ve ever dealt with a Cadillac CTS you’ll know what I mean. Or better yet, think of a C6 Corvette and how those headlights are absolutely impossible to restore or even improve by simply polishing. That’s what the Cadillac lights turn into except you actually get an initial shot at restoring them, whereas on the Corvette you get no shot at all.
[sanding doesn’t work on Corvette headlights]

I did this on my previous Cadillac DTS. But on these headlights you only get 1 shot at doing this. Once they start turning yellow again there’s no getting back to this restored look again. No 2nd chance it’ll ever look like this again unless you prevent it.

My headlights aren’t actually that bad, but they’ve been restored once before and just polishing them does next to nothing now, so they pretty much aren’t going to get any better than what they are right now. That’s why I’m considering other options. [the whole car is really dirty right now]

 

[Desertnate]

Is it the type of plastic GM used on the Caddy's and C6's?

I've been restoring the lights on my daughter's Mazda3 repeatedly for years. Each time the yellowing and haze appears to be just a form of surface oxidation you polish off and it looks clear again. Your description of those GM lights makes it sound like the plastic is corrupted all the way through.

 

[chefwong]

I've used LaminX EON's ago...but back then, it was grossly undersized...
It was a much different market for PPF back then tho.


If it's coming from Xpel direct, via the Xpel templates ,I would say you are at least 75% G2G with this.
It's not full edge and will probably stop at the front flat of the Headlight. It won't be 100% full coverage

However, full coverage does have its drawbacks. There is ALOT of tension with PPF, and it may lift.
Going around an edge and then tucking it minimizes those lifts over time, but it still happens - to repeat, lots of tension.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Is it the type of plastic GM used on the Caddy's and C6's?

I've been restoring the lights on my daughter's Mazda3 repeatedly for years. Each time the yellowing and haze appears to be just a form of surface oxidation you polish off and it looks clear again. Your description of those GM lights makes it sound like the plastic is corrupted all the way through.

This plastic is not very user friendly, the stuff they used on the Corvette was in a league of its own.

And yea the plastic on these headlights sort of feels like it’s corrupted all the way through once you remove that factory layer of UV coating. Once it yellows for a 2nd time it seems to be in the plastic not just on top of it.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

This plastic is not very user friendly, the stuff they used on the Corvette was in a league of its own.

And yea the plastic on these headlights sort of feels like it’s corrupted all the way through once you remove that factory layer of UV coating. Once it yellows for a 2nd time it seems to be in the plastic not just on top of it.

But can't you just sand it again? Part of me wants to believe you that Caddy and Corvette plastic is different, part of me wants to believe that's hooey because the Guide Division of GM is extinct, and GM headlights come from the headlight factory that all the other headlights come from.

 

[Eldorado2k]

But can't you just sand it again? Part of me wants to believe you that Caddy and Corvette plastic is different, part of me wants to believe that's hooey because the Guide Division of GM is extinct, and GM headlights come from the headlight factory that all the other headlights come from.

It’s not hooey… Iirc I’ve wetsanded & polished the passengers side headlight before and saw little to no improvement to how it looks now. The drivers side is a newer light so all I’ve done to that 1 is a light polish and coated both lights with Meguiars Headlight Coating.

I can’t get them any better than where they’re at right now, and they’re starting to get iffy.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Ok so I got the Tinted pre cut film from Lamin-X. I installed 1 headlight today but it didn’t exactly go perfectly easy like in their videos.

Here’s before:

After:

I love the look, but I haven’t been able to get these folds to cooperate and stay down. I tried a heat gun and it’s freakin aggravating. What’s the secret tip to get this to even out?

 

[Eldorado2k]

I'd be careful with any tinting as it starts with mess with how much visible light you'll see from your headlights at night. Not only does it shift the light color to a less visible end of the spectrum, but by adding a colored film to the lens, it reduces the actual lumens being projected.

These are the light tint and don’t really affect the brightness of the headlights. It did a great job of hiding any haze & imperfections. [I haven’t applied it to the drivers side yet]

 

[Bill D]

Eldo- check your PMs

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Eldo--what happened to your hood??

 

[Eldorado2k]

Eldo--what happened to your hood??

The hood’s been repainted and it’s in the process of failing. Those are literally chunks that have chipped off. Kinda gnarly as they’re not exactly smooth underneath at this point. All I can do is hope the surface will smooth out when the day comes to have it repainted.

At the moment it doesn’t really bother me. I can look past that imperfection. Especially since the paint guys hit me with the whole “we’re going to have to paint the fenders too in order to blend it in” story… I tell em I just want them to paint the hood, but you know how they are. I call BS and say just paint the hood, I don’t give a rip if you can tell the difference just paint the freakin hood and make it look good. Lol.
But I’m in no rush.

You can see how it’s starting to peel just above the grill. Same thing is happening near the windshield cowl. I have to be extra careful whenever I wash the hood or risk taking paint off if I were to drag a mitt across certain parts.