Hazed and cloudy headlights fix

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Old May 17, 2010 | 06:04 PM
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Hazed and cloudy headlights fix

I have a 03 CL-S my headlamps keep clouding up probably like most of yours. I've tried multiple headlight restoration kits some of them didnt do anything I found one that worked but you had to wet sand the lamps with a couple different grits and use this compound they gave you and it worked but a month or 2 later they hazed up agian. Does anyone have a permenant solution so every month I dont have to mess around with them? I was thinging about restoring them so they look real nice and then have them clear coated. I dont know if anyone has done that or if it even would work but if you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks
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Old May 17, 2010 | 06:37 PM
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maybe try restoring them and coating them with a 3M kit.
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Old May 17, 2010 | 07:11 PM
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When I did mine i left the headlights on the car. I opened the hood so I wouldnt haveto mask it. I masked around the light on the bumper/fender. Wetsand with 800, then 1000, then 2000. Make sure you do a thorough job for each level so you dont have to go back over it later. Then i used a random orbital with zaino plastic polish and meguirs plast-X polish. After you will want to wax your headlights with a wax that has uv protection since wetsanding removed it previously. I used zaino z-5 and z-2 polish then topped it with the new eagle 1 gel wax.
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Old May 17, 2010 | 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by brian6speed
When I did mine i left the headlights on the car. I opened the hood so I wouldnt haveto mask it. I masked around the light on the bumper/fender. Wetsand with 800, then 1000, then 2000. Make sure you do a thorough job for each level so you dont have to go back over it later. Then i used a random orbital with zaino plastic polish and meguirs plast-X polish. After you will want to wax your headlights with a wax that has uv protection since wetsanding removed it previously. I used zaino z-5 and z-2 polish then topped it with the new eagle 1 gel wax.
Hmm. Maybe I should have you do mine...lol
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Old May 17, 2010 | 09:20 PM
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I was curious too if the 3M film. Not sure how air tight it will be come, but if you cut off the O2, then oxidization should technically stop of slow down. I know the FL sun does a number on mine and I have to buff them down frequently. I know they are more weight, but I liked the ones my dad had in his old Accord... glass...
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Old May 18, 2010 | 02:12 PM
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Damn, Brian, that sounds liek alot of work. Wish there was somneone on NY or NJ who could do a good job liek that on mine.
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Old May 18, 2010 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by brian6speed
When I did mine i left the headlights on the car. I opened the hood so I wouldnt haveto mask it. I masked around the light on the bumper/fender. Wetsand with 800, then 1000, then 2000. Make sure you do a thorough job for each level so you dont have to go back over it later. Then i used a random orbital with zaino plastic polish and meguirs plast-X polish. After you will want to wax your headlights with a wax that has uv protection since wetsanding removed it previously. I used zaino z-5 and z-2 polish then topped it with the new eagle 1 gel wax.
Did you paint them or just wet sanded them and polished them cuz I bought this turtle wax lens restorer that came with 4 different grits of sandpaper a spray lube and a clarifying compound. I taped off the headlights so I didnt accidently scratch the paint. I wet sanded with all 4 grits and used the compound and some other type of lens restorer liquid compound/ wax stuff and it workd and the headlamps looked brand new. I waxed them with the Zymol cleaner wax and many types of waxes cuz I have atleast 15 different kinds of waxes some were $150 for 8oz some were $3 for a jar of paste wax. I wax my car atleast once a month but within 6 months the headlights looked like they did before I restored them so I dont wanna keep wet sanding my headlamps every 6 months cuz it does a lot of damage to them. So I was wondering if anyone has used some stuf to restore them and then cleared coated them so they will stay looking nice. Or if anyone has restored them and then put that 3m clear film over them (like the clear vinyl bra people put on there car so you dont get stone chips) and if they stayed nice cuz I'm thinking that it might protect them from whatevers causing it. I dont know what material the headlamps are made of but it sucks! I see Hoda's with the same problem and early 2000 Mercedes with the cloudyness.
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Old May 18, 2010 | 10:56 PM
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i bought a kit form my local auto prat store(autozone) and the kit sucked but it had a money back guarantee but i didn't participate
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Old May 18, 2010 | 11:29 PM
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i bought 3M kit from autozone and it worked for couple months and its even worse. i think its cheaper just to get new headlights online. also driver side is foged anyone has a good solution that will fix that problem once for good ?
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Old May 19, 2010 | 02:17 AM
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Originally Posted by brian6speed
When I did mine i left the headlights on the car. I opened the hood so I wouldnt haveto mask it. I masked around the light on the bumper/fender. Wetsand with 800, then 1000, then 2000. Make sure you do a thorough job for each level so you dont have to go back over it later. Then i used a random orbital with zaino plastic polish and meguirs plast-X polish. After you will want to wax your headlights with a wax that has uv protection since wetsanding removed it previously. I used zaino z-5 and z-2 polish then topped it with the new eagle 1 gel wax.
did mine exactly the same except different wax and polish. You'll be surprised how much grime comes off when you wetsand.
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Old May 19, 2010 | 01:49 PM
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polish and sealant is your friend
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Old May 23, 2010 | 01:26 AM
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any other suggestions? Has anyone clear coat the headlaps so the wouldnt look like crap and did it work?
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Old May 23, 2010 | 03:01 AM
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Ive heard of people doing that. You have to do it really well though so it wont look like shit.
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Old May 23, 2010 | 07:23 AM
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just use a sealant like 97blackackcl said. What i have is zaino clear sealant. http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...roduct_Count=5
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Old May 23, 2010 | 01:22 PM
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i use four star upp for my sealant of choice. I'm going to try and refinish mine this year with 3m film.
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Old May 24, 2010 | 11:01 AM
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wet sand and clear coat!
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Old May 25, 2010 | 09:43 PM
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Im not sure your clear coat will last with the HID(s) and High(s) you may find that the clear will yellow after sometime and/or flake. you should try an aftermarket headlight company (for the life of me i cant remember the big name guy) ohhh ty....something ty tyc or $hite i think its TYC the make OEM replacements for cars.
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Add-dee
Im not sure your clear coat will last with the HID(s) and High(s) you may find that the clear will yellow after sometime and/or flake. you should try an aftermarket headlight company (for the life of me i cant remember the big name guy) ohhh ty....something ty tyc or $hite i think its TYC the make OEM replacements for cars.
=
i was thinking the same thing but if the clear coat is good enufff for the paint that can withstand the heat of the sun in summer TX weather I c no reason why it shuld NOT work.

I am just confused as to the proper steps, since any time I wet sand my lens/headlights they look hazzy till i apply the plastic polish and work that in real good.
So the question is when do u clear coat them ?
Is it after applying the plastic polish or before you do (when the are looking hazy)
wont the plastic polish hinder the bonding of the clear coat to the paint ?

pls anyb
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Old Jun 27, 2010 | 03:25 PM
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Ive been wondering that myself.

I have no idea how they cc them
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 06:38 AM
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I want to say spray them after 800 grit. It should fill the lines from sanding. I can't see how clear would bond on a surface after it has been polished. I'll be the test dummy when I get the chance.
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 11:27 AM
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Please keep us updated. Im looking at clear coating my set in hopes that keeps them clear.
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 11:54 AM
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I found some stuff I want to try out.
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 01:20 PM
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So I have found two things to try out. Can't decide which route to go

Option 1
U-Pol 2022 System 20 Slow Degreaser $20
U-Pol UP0799 Grip #4 Universal Adhesion Promoter $15
U-Pol UP0796 Clear #1 - UV Resistant Clear Coat $17
Total: ~$55

Option 2
SEM 39362 SEM Soap $10
SEM 38353 Plastic/Leather Prep $12
SEM 21013 SOLARAY UV Headlight Repair $35
SEM 21109 UV CURING LAMP $220
Total: ~$280
*I found a UV lamp for about $40 but not sure if it has enough power to dry.

Option 2 is too expensive. Might as well buy new headlights. I think i'm going to try option 1.
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 01:34 PM
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Let me know how that works.
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 01:45 PM
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Did some research. Option two is as real as it can get with restoring and putting the top coat back on. Now the question is how long will it last? a year or 2?

Maybe I should bite the bullet and get option 2 and offer it with my detailing services
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 01:59 PM
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We need a product that's similar to Plast-X but doesn't get removed by rain water or the morning dew. That stuff is fairly easy to apply, it just washes off too easily.
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Old Jun 28, 2010 | 02:30 PM
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Plast-X doesn't get removed from rain. What you are simply doing is removing the oxidation from wet sanding and polishing. With any polish and sealant/wax it will not beat the UV rays. It will only slow the process down....By applying sealant every few months that would keep to looking new. But some of us are looking for a more permanent fix. There isn't any product that is simple wipe on, wipe off. Those are temporary fixes.
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Old Jun 29, 2010 | 07:22 AM
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,
Originally Posted by SPoolinspOON
Plast-X doesn't get removed from rain. What you are simply doing is removing the oxidation from wet sanding and polishing. With any polish and sealant/wax it will not beat the UV rays. It will only slow the process down....By applying sealant every few months that would keep to looking new. But some of us are looking for a more permanent fix. There isn't any product that is simple wipe on, wipe off. Those are temporary fixes.
Yeah, I understand the process or restoring the head lights. Mine look great after I apply Plast-X but it only stays that way for a few days or is removed as soon as they get wet. That's with Plast-X only and no other sealant applied afterwards.

If I had a spare set of lights, I'd try a basic clear coat just to see how quickly it yellows. Even if it lasts only a year, that better than having to apply basic polishes every couple of weeks.
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Old Jun 29, 2010 | 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by SPoolinspOON
So I have found two things to try out. Can't decide which route to go

Option 1
U-Pol 2022 System 20 Slow Degreaser $20
U-Pol UP0799 Grip #4 Universal Adhesion Promoter $15
U-Pol UP0796 Clear #1 - UV Resistant Clear Coat $17
Total: ~$55

Option 2
SEM 39362 SEM Soap $10
SEM 38353 Plastic/Leather Prep $12
SEM 21013 SOLARAY UV Headlight Repair $35
SEM 21109 UV CURING LAMP $220
Total: ~$280
*I found a UV lamp for about $40 but not sure if it has enough power to dry.

Option 2 is too expensive. Might as well buy new headlights. I think i'm going to try option 1.
just looking at option 2, you might as well buy another set of headlights.

I think I will just buy a new pair, fuck trying to keep mine looking decent. mine look like shit so ill just buy some new ones.
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 08:27 AM
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I'm trying something like option 1 today
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 01:35 PM
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Old Jul 17, 2010 | 02:42 PM
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Here's your butter for your popcorn.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...7#post12182387
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