Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

[G_S_DB]

I have always told myself that the next time I have a free Saturday I would finally take care of the headlights on my own car. Well, wouldn't you know it, Saturday rolled around with great weather and nothing on the calendar.

The process was simple and straight forward:

1. I started with a simple wash of the headlights while my sand paper soaked.
2. I wet-sanded the headlights with Meg's Unigrit paper starting with 1000, then 1500, finishing with 3000.
3. I buffed the headlights with my G110 and a 4" Buff 'n Shine wool pad with M105
4. Finished with a 4" yellow pad and PlastX

The results were good, but I probably could have spent more time with the 1000 grit paper. I got out all the yellow hardened plastic (towards the top of the lens), but I didn't get all of the small pit marks out. The paper really grabbed the hardened yellow areas, but wouldn't bite on the lower portion of the lens. Finishing-wise, I was really pleased with the level of clarity achieved the M105, but I don't really feel like the PlastX added anything. Anyone else have that same perception? I guess I will keep using it in the hopes that it might have some protective properties for clear plastic.

I was really happy that I took pictures, because it really helped me remember just how bad they were to start with. So, enjoy and let me know what you think.


BEFORE








AFTER

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

I was really happy that I took pictures, because it really helped me remember just how bad they were to start with. So, enjoy and let me know what you think.

Huge improvement. They were horrible to begin with. Looking at the pictures should give you the inspiration to tackle them again in the future.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

What a improvement. They look 100 times better. Way to go.

[geert dr]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

Awesome result !

[LelandGray]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

Looks great!

I've only used the Meg's headlight restoration kit with decent results, but I've got some unigrit in my next order so I can try wetsanding the faded headlights next time.

[G_S_DB]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

Huge improvement. They were horrible to begin with. Looking at the pictures should give you the inspiration to tackle them again in the future.

Thanks, it sure does. Even though there wasn't anything on my calendar that doesn't mean there weren't other things I should have been doing, so I didn't want to take too much time. Especially if it meant that I would finish the headlights, but run out of time to actually wash the car!

What a improvement. They look 100 times better. Way to go.

Thanks, but I would have said 50x better... I wouldn't want to get a giant ego.

Awesome result !

Thanks!

Looks great!

I've only used the Meg's headlight restoration kit with decent results, but I've got some unigrit in my next order so I can try wetsanding the faded headlights next time.

I tried with just the PlastX sometime last year and was not happy with the results. So I decided to try my hand at the wet sanding. It was the right move, so have fun when you get your paper...

[G_S_DB]

Re: Headlight Restoration for My Car

Maybe no one noticed that I tried to ask a question about PlastX, so I'll try again.


Does anyone use PlastX and do you notice a difference? Should I skip the that step and stop with the 105 on the wool pad, or maybe substitue the PlatsX for 205 on the foam pad?

Thoughts?

[Tuck91]

Re: Headlight Restoration for My Car

Maybe no one noticed that I tried to ask a question about PlastX, so I'll try again.


Does anyone use PlastX and do you notice a difference? Should I skip the that step and stop with the 105 on the wool pad, or maybe substitue the PlatsX for 205 on the foam pad?

Thoughts?

I always throw the PlastX step in there when working on oxidized bug shields or headlights that I usually polish out with either UC or M105 initially. Then I apply the PlastX with a foam applicator pad working sections at a time. And then finally I seal with either A12 Cleaner Wax or M20 Polymer Sealant.

Look great by the way!

[SuburbanGuy20]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

I actually dont use PlastX very much in my headlight's case. I found a use for the Ultimate Compound on my headlights. Last time I used the sand paper and PlastX, I ended up with scratched headlights and a sliced up hand from the paper slipping so much.

A nice wash down, then a good couple applications of Ultimate Compound took quite a bunch of the oxidation and yellowing out, and a simple, light coating of PlastX took care of the rest.

[G_S_DB]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

I always throw the PlastX step in there when working on oxidized bug shields or headlights that I usually polish out with either UC or M105 initially. Then I apply the PlastX with a foam applicator pad working sections at a time. And then finally I seal with either A12 Cleaner Wax or M20 Polymer Sealant.

Look great by the way!

Thanks Nick. I hadn't thought about using a wax as the the LSP on headlights, but why a cleaner wax and not NXT 2.0?

[Tuck91]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

Thanks Nick. I hadn't thought about using a wax as the the LSP on headlights, but why a cleaner wax and not NXT 2.0?

I usually use a cleaner wax so that way I am still cleaning the surface when I am waxing it, I also use them since application and removal on bug shields and headlights is pretty easy.

I am sure you would be fine using NXT though.

[TurboNed]

Re: Headlight Restoration fpr My Car

Great job and the way you used your tools to match Meguiars new kit