headlight restore kit

[Steve-Maine]

Who makes a good kit to restore headlight lenses. Can't remember what I used before. Thanks

 

[Mule Meat]

Never used one.

As cheap as headlight assem. are easier quicker to just replace them.

 

[Janicholson]

NAPA has 3M products that work depending on the depth of the fogging. Jim

 

[moresmoke]

2000, 3000, then 5000, grit. Polish with polishing compound, and seal with synthetic wax.

 

[circus]

Steve-Maine "As cheap as headlight assem. are easier quicker to just replace them."

and over $40 worth of new bulbs comes with it.

 

[Two Dogs]

Where are these cheap assemblies?

 

[Jaden]

I got my replacement headlights from Rock Auto.

 

[westga]

Crest toothpaste and a rag.

 

[RedMF40]

I took light-duty automotive polishing compound/scratch remover, possibly MeGuiar's brand and did both sides in about 15 minutes. Clear and bright. Followed recommendation of a professional who said that is what the kits consist of. May have to repeat as they get dull again but mine are fine after about six months. Suggest testing on small area first.

 

[DIM]

My lights were runt by heat on inside. Dealer wanted $453 to replace. I found on internet two new lights for $110. I just replaced them and it make car look 5 yaers newer.I put in LED parking lights. They burn cooler

 

[circus]

Mule Meat "Where are these cheap assemblies?"

Cars with clouded lens usually are old enough for aftermarket parts. Many are available, somewhere, for less than $80 a pair. google, ebay, rock, etc. Note: Takes skill to replace and aim. Erases years from a car's looks

 

[circus]

Oops, sorry Mule Meat, miss quoted. My bad

 

[D beatty]

I have used kits several times and the results didn't last long. I also had car into dealer and they polished them out but said it wouldn't last long because UV coating is gone and none of kits will solve the problem they need replacing.

 

[Oregon Tractor Jack]

Buying replacement aftermarket head light assemblies is a real gamble. I bought a set of aftermarket assemblies for my car. They were absolute junk. Took me hours to get them to fit. When I finally did, they would not adjust. Not at all for either high or low beams. I sent them back and bucked up and bought a set of OEM from the dealer. Well worth it. If you buy a set of aftermarket assemblies make sure they have a 100% return policy. As stated, the renew products only last so long and you will be doing the cleaning again and again if you keep the rig.

OTJ

 

[Stephen Newell]

I find it a lot easier to use a 7" auto polisher with rubbing compound. If it's difficult to do the lens without hitting the body I mask off the paint with duct tape. Gets the lens crystal clear quick.

 

[Oliver 500 Wa]

......I bought a set of aftermarket assemblies for my car. They were absolute junk.

This happened to my neighbor when he replaced the headlights on his Mustang. Fit was bad, and the light pattern was different than the OEMs.

 

[D beatty]

All of them after putting in new ( even from dealer) have to be relined.

 

[Mutt and Jeff]

3m
watch the video

 

[RedGreenGuy]

Tooth paste-lightly use a buffer in a drill, wash off, wax with past wax. Use buffer carefully as not to create too much heat and melt surface of light.

 

[MarkB_MI]

I've had good luck with the 3M kit.

 

[Sprint 6]

Deep Woods Off and a terry cloth towel works wonders.

 

[kdbenton]

I am told that PC41 is a good product, it was invented around here (Broken Arrow, OK)
here is the weblink

http://www.pc-41.com/
PC41

 

[Goose]

I just use what I already have in my shop.

I work them over with a DA sander with 800 or 1000 grit sanding pads until they're back down to solid plastic, then buff out with medium rubbing compound and finally fine rubbing compound.

Sharpens up tail lights, too.

 

[ss55]

Most good car waxes with UV protection will help prevent plastic headlight lenses from yellowing again. Apply it every three months. Helps protect new lenses too.

 

[Super H Mike]

Maguire's has a product called Plastix, it works good on ones that aren't real bad. Otherwise 3M kit for the chalky ones.

 

[Texasmark1]

I had a 98 Tahoe in which I installed a pair of new ones. Got in my shop/garage, shone the headlights on the closed white buildings entry doors, marked the placement. changed the units out and tweaked back to spec. Worked really well. Paid about a hundred bucks for each, aftermarket.

On realignment....when is the last time the state inspection station tweaked, or even looked at your lights? Actually, when is the last time you met a vehicle with mal-adjusted lights? Used to be every year your lights were mysteriously out of adjustment. Now that the state is physically involved with the smog machine, that's about it.

 

[Tracy Brown]

I bought a new set of aftermarket for my 09 Camry. They look great BUT they point down too much and are not adjustable. Gonna try to buff out my
eom lights if I ever get around2it.

 

[ss55]

Back when we used sealed beam headlights the manufacturing tolerances were loose enough that the alignment needed to be readjusted every time a bulb was replaced.

 

[4play]

If you do it yourself without a kit, make sure the last step is applying some type of UV protectant, either a paint, wax or something specific.

Also restoring headlamps can also be applied to other plastics that are hazed, like other lamp lenses, gauges etc. For some other applications you might start with buffing first before sanding.

 

[Texasmark1]

Yeah but that was seldom if ever. Point here is that I could have gotten some useful service from the station for the money puked on tweaking the eyeballs that were working fine anyway.

 

[C.Amick]

I use polishing compound followed by car wax to seal it from oxidation.

 

[Roger in Wisconsin]

It's too bad replacements didn't work for you. I've done 3 different vehicles and they all turned out great. 2 lens assemblies $100 for a pair, the last one was only $56 for a pair. Some vehicles you have to almost take the whole front end apart to install them.

 

[Roger in Wisconsin]

True