V_Langs_3.2TL

well headlight, to be exact...

spent a few hours on my headlights today, didn't think It'd take so long to do just one!

what they both looked like (now presently just the driver side)




What elbow grease can do for ya...



I'm satisfied with the results

now I need to find some time to clean the other side

Aman

What did you use?

My headlights can use some TLC, but I don't have the balls to use any sort of abrasive on them, considering the few horror stories I've heard...

KobeAllDay

Yea true that ^^^^, also what should i do if the headlight has water in it? like a crap ton? should i just get a whole new cover or what?

xtremex626

iTrader: (1)

i just used meguiar's scratchx and called it a day

03tLsNBP

iTrader: (9)

i had to wet sand with 1500 and 2000 grit and then use a Plastx.

good job though

V_Langs_3.2TL

Warning, Pseudo DIY in here
well I cheated a bit

I took the head light off the car, (took longer but gave me more room to work with) I was looking to clear them today but decided against it for the time being.

I have the mother's headlight restore kit, but I did it the old fashioned way, rubbing compound, 2500 grit, 2000 grit, 1500 grit, 800 and 600 grit paper and just some simple polish

1) Throughly washed the headlight with SOAP and WATER

2) used a microfiber cloth and squeegee to get it completely clean and dry with as little particles as possible

3) started with 2500 grit and wet sanded, you will start seeing grime and dirt coming off of the light. I had a heart attack but soon realized this was a good thing. Washed that off after maybe 10 mins? eventually you're going to sand away all that you can sand with that grit

4) moved through the different grits all the way to 600. BE CAREFUL AT 800 and 600. I don't think they're completely necessary but I wanted them to look brand spanking new and if you want it completely see through you're going to need that last THIN layer off!
I only did small passes with the 800 and 600 kept them going IN THE SAME PATTERN EVERYTIME so that I didn't mug myself (hehe)

5) applied rubbing compound to a buffer and went to town on the light. Use high speed, it'll get really dirty, it is thick rubbing compound after all, and then all of a sudden it'll start clearing up. If it doesn't you should definitely stop and wipe off the compound and reevaluate the steps you took, you may have sanded to deeply with the 600 and now the compound is filling in the scratches. Not the end of the world, but you're probably going to have to start over to correct that mistake.

6) once it is clean, use whatever polish you want and buff it up. the polish should get it nice and clean and clear.

I will end this by saying that I recommend EVERYONE to clean they're headlights. Especially if you're in a wintery environment. Not only do they look hella better, but my passenger side could see so much more precisely and further down the road than my driver side. I'm assuming once I do the other my field of vision will increase atleast 20-30% (completely unsubstantiated btw)

V_Langs_3.2TL

obviously a new housing will be the best housing. but they are 100 bucks each on ebay (i can point you to a good seller) 220 at the dealership

If you want to DIY, it's not impossible. you have to take off the headlight (If you can install axlebacks, you can do this) and then you have to open it and clean, clean, clean! and then reseal it with high quality silicone or rubber compound (I like GE Silicone II)

This is also a fantastic opportunity to clear your headlights or black them out if you'd like, and if you're looking into installing LEDs (like me) or anything else obviously you're gonna want them inside as well.

03tLsNBP

iTrader: (9)

you mean you started with 600 grit and worked your way up to 2500 right?

JDM Inspired

so pretty much this will do the trick? in one shot?

V_Langs_3.2TL

my bad! lol yeah that way

dukelx2005

PLEASE COME DO MINE,

soon as it warms up a bit i need to do the same to my TL

I cant see from my headlights at all

V_Langs_3.2TL

^haha I actually would not mind doing them for you if you shipped them up to me.

and for anyone who was using that as a DIY, you need to reverse the order of the sandpaper grit

sigh, this thread had DIY potential too...

ozqalex

got very similar results with 3M headlight restoration kit for only $20 but also took quite a bit of work, but was much easier with the drill attachments

xtremex626

iTrader: (1)

pretty much.. just spread some around the headlight.. you can even hand wipe it off, but i scrub hard and it does come off. but if you want it squeakly clean then you gotta use sandpaper.

TLin401

I tried Scratch X and it went back to the way it was after a few weeks.

Then I tried some Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and it has been fine. I did that in August on my Camry.

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

jk

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^what kind of sick twisted porn do you watch?

03tLsNBP

iTrader: (9)

wow thats fucked up.

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

lmao..

final results look good

Blazing GT

thanks!!

Maxi3.2

good job, its mad clear

V_Langs_3.2TL

uhh...your welcome?

thanks man!

thanks! yeah, it just laid down like 2 feet of snow here so i haven't done the other side yet. but i'll get to it

j32hoang

wow my headlight is not even close to that... and i used a buffer,compound, and w/e sandpaper..

V_Langs_3.2TL

^it'll get there! just keep at it.

I wish it would stop snowing so I could actually get the other side done!

V_Langs_3.2TL

UPDATE

Sorry for reviving it but anyways, I finally did the other side.

Reminder, this is what it looked like:




I only used Turtle Wax Rubbing compound this time (I was lazy and needed it done quick) I am satisfied with these results as well.



I got to shout out to my man henry (xtremex) for putting me on to that turtle wax stuff. It's pretty fantastic!

ThreePointTwoTeeEl

iTrader: (1)

by hand?

V_Langs_3.2TL

yes I did both sides by hand.

I opened up the passenger side and cleaned everything and I just used the turtle wax on the exterior of the driver side.

both by hand, almost 99% similar results

phee

iTrader: (5)

so you didnt sand the driver side at all?

kidduce

iTrader: (1)

That looks good. You must have went to www.elbowgrease.com

V_Langs_3.2TL

Nope. bought a 5 dollar bottle of turtle wax rubbing compound and used a shop towel! nice huh?

haha yeah! they had great prices and advice, the guy V_Langs he really knew his stuff and totally hooked me up!

lokee99

iTrader: (3)

Let us know how long they last. I thought if you didnt use a type of sealer then it would go back to the way it was after a short period of time.

V_Langs_3.2TL

^I should preface this by saying that I always wax my car.

The passenger side that was sanded is about as clean as factory new. The driver side is close. It's been a week for both and so far so good