Best Headlight Restorer

[YKallroad]

What's everyone using to restore their headlights? The most recent post I could find was from 2010.

Here's the biggest scratch:


The rest is a mix of crud and smaller scratches. With so many options I wanted to poll the forums to see what everyone is using.

Thanks!

[Ponto]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

I did a full sanding 400-2000 grit, then used plastiX polish.





setf2.7T did his with me as well

[witchcraftz]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

I used meguiar's too. But I got the kit. Worked really well.

[jaysleeves]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

just sandpaper and elbow grease! 400 up to 2000 wetsanding at 1000, 1500, 2000 then a plastic polish!

[Smarty39]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

I used the Turtle Wax kit from Crappy Tire on the allroad...worked perfectly and didn't take long at all. Elbow grease is the key

[YKallroad]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

Thanks everyone! Tis the season for headlight renewal, afterall.

[hooddub]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

Depends on the lense. I don't think you can polish glass by normal means, but plastic, wet sand (I started at 1500 and ended with a 3000) and then a rubbing compound (I used 3m #1) and they look like new. You can basically polish plastic like paint with a power polisher but you don't need to use a swirl remover because well, it's plastic.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

i have a mothers kit i'm going to try this spring on both cars

[JVD]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

Yep, wetsand up to 2000. Start with whatever is necessary.

Polish by machine... with any compound/polish you see fit. Doesn't need to be PlastX although it works pretty well.

Headlights by jvd240, on Flickr

[PRY4SNO]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

I've heard of great results with toothpaste instead of commercial goop. Seriously.

[Stonewall]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

I used one of the 3M kits on mine last year. They are starting to yellow again already.

[Ponto]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

I used one of the 3M kits on mine last year. They are starting to yellow again already.

Did you put any UV coating or protection on them?

Big thing is once you polish them you need to either 3m them or clear coat them otherwise they will pit and yellow again way faster than the first time since you have now removed the factory coating.

[witchcraftz]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

I've heard of great results with toothpaste instead of commercial goop. Seriously.

The reason toothpaste works is that the "white" versions contain a fair amount of baking soda (the gels don't and so won't work) It's much better to take a few tbsp of baking soda, dish soap and water mix into a paste and use.

[FlyBoy]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

Popular Mechanics tested 5 restoration kits last month. Gave Sylvania 5 stars (said most elbow grease, but has "lifetime warranty" lol), Rain-X and Meguiar's Heavy Duty 4.5 (no dislikes for either), 3M a 4 (problems with the pad being too flat for curves), and Lenz Solution 3.5 (has a sealant that is tricky to apply). It says they all worked well (following the directions), but the better ones had foolproof instructions.

[PRY4SNO]

Re: Best Headlight Restorer

The reason toothpaste works is that the "white" versions contain a fair amount of baking soda (the gels don't and so won't work) It's much better to take a few tbsp of baking soda, dish soap and water mix into a paste and use.

Cool! I'm all about DIY approaches to stuff like this, especially when the cost delta is around a case of beer