Headlight Restoration
 

Just wanted to show you guys an actual headlight restoration kit that actually works! I did both headlights and both Inspire fog lights.

The process took roughly about an hour. There's a 6 minute instructional video on as well that helped me visualize what I'll be doing before actually doing. The steps were very simple as well, in case anyone is on the fence about doing this.

• Make sure headlight is clean and tape off paint.
• Spray on the surface activator and let sit, it apparently removes the old clear coat and junk.
• Clean with water and start wet sanding with 400 grit until white and hazy.
• Keep cleaning with water throughout and repeat wet sanding with 1000 grit and 2000 grit sandpaper.
• Clean with water again and rub the clarifying compound onto the headlight while wet as if you're waxing a car.
• Clean with water and then spray the surface activator thing again and let it sit.
• Remove tape, water it down good, and dry very very good.
• Finish by applying the new clear coat sealant on in continuous strokes. Overlapping is fine if done quickly, but after a minute DO NOT TRY TO ADD A SECOND COAT OF SEALANT. (I didn't listen to instructions and now part of the light has dried streaks)

DONE! and it was only $20. Will try to get up close pics later on after I let the lights dry about 6 hours. Kit says 1 hour should be dry but recommends 4-6 for best results.

Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit

Pictures below are before and after. Before pics had the included tape applied to paint already and is what they looked like PRE-SANDED. Before pics don't show how milky/hazy the lights get while you're sanding. I had gloves on and phone screen wouldn't work so didn't include those pics. Hopefully this lasts at least a year.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...77b512ba0c.png
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...3481f36147.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...1a19957d50.png

Awesome results!

Excellent results. Please update this thread in 6 months and a year for us to see how well it's holding up. One of the main reasons I am putting off doing this is learning that it may haze up faster after removing factory clear coat. This kit seems to come with the necessary clear coat however.

any one can do polishing, its what you use to protect it from going yellow again. I seal the headlight with Opti coat and see how it held up in the TX sun.

Same, i have the 3m kit but have not gotten around to it for that reason (clear-coat and re-fading after X amount of time). I also recently purchased the sylvania clear coat that comes with the kit separately on amazon to try out since i've heard good things about that coat...

How long have you had it on? Held up fine so far? If it works in TX sun then may be worth while purchase depending on how long it lasts..

I will take a pics tomorrow from the white TL that I restore from March 2017. They actually did a great job.

Will definitely update in a few months, hopefully with good results. Though because of the 1 hour process and the $20 price tag, I honestly wouldn't mind doing this again if in 6 months it starts fading.

Closer pics.

Unfortunately, now that lights are nice and clear again...I can see all the dust built up inside I didn't completely clean when I baked them last year :yuck: It really bothers me that the projectors are dusty and I can't wipe them AHHH

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...4750fc669b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...ece2e437b5.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...a1ed3b2f79.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...61abd6f3fe.jpg

I may just have to do this as well judging from those pics.

Great job!

Restored mine with a Meguiar's kit with similar results. Haze came back in 12-15 months, even with sealants and care. Restored again with a 3M kit, similarly clear results and put clear vinyl on them (similar film to phone screen protectors) and it's lasted close to three years now with little or no change in clarity. I recommend doing a UV-protecting clear vinyl film... inexpensive in a bulk roll (so it's cheap to cut a new piece if you mess up. The pre-cut ones are easier to work with, but just hope you get it right the first time.

Just MO... YMMV

Pictures as promised, 4 months under Texas sun :D

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...0db871dbf8.jpg


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...532c635f67.jpg

disconcerting to hear that in 12 months I'll possibly have hazing on these but at $20/kit and less than an hour labor, I really don't mind doing again.

The thing with the vinyl films is I wonder how it'll look. I have the 3M clear protective on hood, fenders, and bumper and REALLY don't like the way it looks.

Thanks for posting this, I will buy this kit and apply it this weekend.

Peewizzle, OSRAM should be paying you for advertising because you made me want to get this kit over the other. Great results and very easy to do.https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...0a49cf442f.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...ea98daecf1.jpg

I had some of the materials in the kit left over so decided to clean up my 2G TL. I'm actually surprised it came out decent since the left over sandpaper was practically worn and I had pretty much zero of the kit fluids left.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...5e2563318f.png
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...e2c9d21e51.png
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...dce1aab00d.png

I can squeeze out about 6 cars out of this kit. I also used my own 600 grit to start.

Thank you for all of the info. I may have to pick up this kit from Advance Auto today. It's $19.99 over there and they have a 35% coupon right now. Coupon: WDE367

I hope you guy know that any 1500-3000 grid sand paper will work right? just make sure the surface wet all the time during sanding process and for polishing I used M105 to get the gloss finish. Then wipe the entire lens down with 90% IPA and apply protect coating of your choice =).

Here is what mine looks like after being polished.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...stored-956752/

I would have picked up the sandpapers on my own as well but only the sylvania kit seems to have the proper clear coat.

I just did this with decent results... Think i will go over it again with the 1000 grit then 3000.

Question: Is there a product I can buy independent of a kit that will protect my headlights?

I used Opticoat product.

The opti coat seems to be very expensive.

^^^^ well for me it worth it because so far the product did its jobs, no sign of begin fading.. After all I live under TX sun

wet sand
then mix mineral spirits with Helmsman Gloss Spar Urethane clear to thin it out in a small cup and wipe it on your headlights.
been doing this since the late 90s and never had a problem. you will have alot left over for other cars.

fyi theres also vids on youtube

Use Optimum Opti-Lens, it's made specifically for headlights. Opti-coat works well too, though.

I use what's around the house. Wet sand it down, compound, polish and wax seal.

You can just use rubbing compound AutoZone and it would only be $3.00. Same results.

Next time around I will switch and try opti-coat. Like guitarplayer16 mentioned, I will try the opti-lens version. That's next summer though and I will update the durability of sylvania uv coat.

If you living on mid to northern states chance headlight going yellow about 5 years. I had tried polish and not apply sealant and the headlight got yellow about 5 months later.

Sylvania kit yellowed on my car after a year, I redid them them by westanding and spraying clear, then resanding and polishing.

I ended up finding a bottle of the stuff that comes in the Meguires kit... Headlight protectant. Headlights look so much better.... Not perfect but night and day difference.... It is more a light output thing than a vanity thing for me so good enough.

btw, I used 320 1000 and 3000 grit paper to wet sand first... Lastly wax.

This was discussed in another thread as well... here's what mine looked like using the Meguiar's kit (still looks great a few months later): https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p.../#post16045509 .

Pat

Will be trying this my headlights are a mess!!

Sounds like a great way to get yellow and cloudy headlights next week

I picked up a spare set of 07-08 headlights (for an upcoming project) and used the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit on them today.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...16d7917fbf.jpg

Before
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...1c6680a27a.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...8285426ef8.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...bec246504d.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...83d91e9937.jpg
After
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...9a03de584c.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...2c5039a988.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...9cb7e59391.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...0bd87f89eb.jpg

You want to First Tape up the area around the headlight. Then you want to have three different grades of sandpaper first 1500 Second 2500 and last 3,500. Use them in that order from most abrasive to least abrasive this will remove the factory UV protectant which deteriorates and causes the yellow fogginess. Afterwards you want to get a medium compound polish and polish to a clear scratch free shine and for better results finish with one lighter polish or compound. Then apply wax every 3 months for protection and you should be good

Same principle as sanding the headlights, with the exception of scratches. Polish them afterwards.

The problem with your suggestion is not sealing and protecting them from the elements again. That's why your procedure will quicken the yellowing process the second time around.

You've sanded or rubbed off all the clear coat and left bare plastic which is even more vulnerable to UV

There is a thin plastic film (possibly some sort of clear coat) that protects the headlights. Sanding it down will remove it, it will not be removed with rubbing compound.