How To: Headlight Restoration Write-Ups

[Sinned83]

Dude, Shave the tits off.

:laughing4:

 

[JiMi_DRiX]

I do a lot of these at work. For you guys who just have foggy lenses without the peeling, I use a high speed buffer/wool pad, and a heavy compound. The haze comes right off. I usually follow it up with a lighter compound, then a black pad with some plastic polish. Then some wax. Its a lot quicker than having to sand them, unless they are really bad!

 

[wytstang]

Javi-I didn't have enough sanding paper to do the tits also the yellowing was old clear coat so it took more sanding disc to remove it. These kits are supposed to be enough to do 2 sets of headlights but the clear coat killed most of the disc (didn't have paint stripper).

 

[wytstang]

After some thought I am going to practice removing the tits on my stock lenses and then do the cobra's. Just an FYI the 3m sanding disc replacements are quit expensive.
3M P500 Gold disc "sale" $27.99 for 50 only available in 50 pack
http://www.autogeek.net/3m-hookit-discs-p500a.html

3M P800 "sale" $38 for 50 pack
http://www.autogeek.net/3m-finishing-film-discs.html

3M Trizact Foam Discs P3000 $45 for a 15 pack
http://www.autogeek.net/3m-trizact-foam-discs.html
$111 for replacment disc alone, That's nuts for 3 inch sanding discs. Luckily Megs has 3" disc in the same grit and less then half the cost of 3M
Meguiars Unigrit 500 sale $11 for 50 pack
http://www.autogeek.net/s3500.html
Megs Unigrit 800 $11 for 50 pack
http://www.autogeek.net/s3800.html
Megs Unitgrit 3000 sale $45 for 15 pack (same cost as 3m)
http://www.autogeek.net/mg-s3f3000.html
$67 for Megs disc

 

[Stus1171]

Do the "tits" serve any purpose outside of when the headlights are manufactured?

 

[Sinned83]

Before

After

 

[g36 monkey]

I love doing this.

 

[whiplash473]

Do the "tits" serve any purpose outside of when the headlights are manufactured?

no...if youre talking about the little nibs.....they are from the mold

 

[chris91]

I swear I think Cherokee's are the worst for this. It seems like everyone I see has fogged up headlights. Awesome work though guys! I love reading threads like this. Been detailing forever now but always like to read and pick up on other peoples tips and tricks. Who said you cant teach an old dog new tricks??!! LoL

 

[Sinned83]

I swear I think Cherokee's are the worst for this. It seems like everyone I see has fogged up headlights. Awesome work though guys! I love reading threads like this. Been detailing forever now but always like to read and pick up on other peoples tips and tricks. Who said you cant teach an old dog new tricks??!! LoL

They are but not mine anymoar

 

[tombeam]

Do the "tits" serve any purpose outside of when the headlights are manufactured?

they are used by Ford and certified automotive repair places to align your headlights...or...they were back in the 90s...now they just take measurements and set them with a rolling light meter really...

 

[Custom Sills]

Sometimes it is easier as seen. I just used my cordless drill, a foam polishing wheel and fine polish paste. Each headlight polished max. 5 minutes, wiped off with a microfibre towel and it looked great afterwards!

 

[Custom Sills]

I did mine with a sander, 1000 up to 2000 grid little water. Final polishing with compound. Fast and easy!

 

[96blak54]

Ive been polishing my mazdaspeed3 headlights and im having good luck with sanding 2000 grit and then clear coating with krylon clear coat paint. It gives it a rubbery feel when dry, but after a few months of driving, its easy to hand polish to get the clearity back

 

[ttocs]

my new car has headlights that turn/adjust to help you see when making turns. The cheap ones online are $500 each and the factory version are close to 1000 each. I am probably going to get PPF applied to them as I know that plastic is going to start fading as they all do.