Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

[ninobrn99]

Did this for a friend of a friend. Im not sure what he tried to do before, but you can see he tried to scratch the oxidation out. I could've gotten all the deep scratches out if I had more time, but I only had an hour..long story.
I started with 1500 grit horizontal motions, then followed with 2k vertical motion. Once even, I followed with M105, then full throttle, then PlastX, and sealed with Rejex.
pass side:

1500 grit:

2000 grit(I did another pass after the pic because I noticed some spots were missed):

Final Product:

Didn't have time to take pics of the whole process on the driver side, but got a b4 and after:
before:

after:

[ninobrn99]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

here is the first one I did:
My neighbor's friend has a Celica. The headlights were pretty hazy. I told my neighbor to let his friend know that I'd like to try and clear them up for him. Well, he decided to let me do it.
I used a PC with a 4" orange pad and a combo of products.
Here is what the driver side looked like before I go a hold of it:

I used MX7 metal polish on 1/2 of the light so I could do a 50/50. The results:


After a couple passes of that, I cleaned the residue off and applied some Rejex to seal it:


A side by side:

This is the passenger side:

I initially started out with just PlastX and it did a great job, but there was cracking and I wasn't sure if it was inside or outside of the lens. I used some FT to see if it would cut it down at all. No luck, it's on the inside.
Overall, the PlastX and MX7 metal polish worked very well on their own! He and I were both very impressed I honestly thought that I was going to have to sand them down, but 10 minutes later, done!

[Zuke]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

Nice work! I remember someone saying greentape is waterproof? I know blue isnt!

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

Oxidized headlights on a car that new? Talk about cost cutting and using cheap materials.

Looks like you did a great job of saving them!

[ninobrn99]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

No, the blue is not! Im gonna grab some green stuff later.

[ninobrn99]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

Oxidized headlights on a car that new? Talk about cost cutting and using cheap materials.

Looks like you did a great job of saving them!

I know. pretty shocking that it happened that fast.

[dope92cc]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

Nice work! I remember someone saying greentape is waterproof? I know blue isnt!

The 233+ is waterproof as long as adhesion is good and solid.

[ninobrn99]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

the white masking tape seemed to hold up well also. sometimes it does leave residue though.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

Nice work!

How do so many cars get oxidised light cases so quickly and badly?And yet other older cars don't seem to be affected as bad?

Different types of chemical composition by different manufacturers?

[roushstage2]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

I am on my second driver headlamp on my Mustang. The OEM one and the "new" oneboth look like that first Scion light. Not sure why, what or how, but jeez.

[ninobrn99]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

wow, that stinks man! Try clearing it up, then coat it with that minwax and see if it helps. Worse comes to worse, you resand if it doesnt.

[dope92cc]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

I think most manufacturers go with what ever is the cheapest material. It's a real shame.
Has anybody noticed how bad dodge/jeep plastic is.

Only thing my 92 chevy's (130K) lenses needed was plastx and power ball. Needless to say they, they are perfectly glassy.
Most 00+ jeep headlights look like they have been pounded with gravel. Even if it's an 04 with under 50K miles

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

Here's the green tape I use, it holds up rather well to water
Also what is "Full Throttle"?

[ninobrn99]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

full throttle:

http://store.pakshak.com/p-and-s-full-throttle-restoration-polish-32oz.html

[roushstage2]

Re: Headlight Resto: 05 Scion

wow, that stinks man! Try clearing it up, then coat it with that minwax and see if it helps. Worse comes to worse, you resand if it doesnt.

The only thing is, I'm still not sure if the tinted look comes from a coating on the outside or if it is inside the housing.