Headlight Restoration

[Emerge]

Hello, I questions about headlight restoration. I have done the diligent work of reading through the forums, but I cannot find the appropriate answer.

I was at autozone and I saw two options:

Meguiars Headlight Restoration Kit - 24.99
Rain X Headlight Restoration Kit - 15.99


Which one is superior?

Are these prices decent, or could I find a better price elsewhere?

Are there any other options I should consider?

[yarrr]

haven't tried rain-x on headlights, but their other products are good.

The meguiars plast-x is good stuff. Works on headlights and the speedo plastic. The "restoration kit" is overpriced towels and crap with the plast-x. Just get a bottle of plast-x for under 10 bucks.

[cali yaris]

^ this is good advice. And, I've recently tried to restore plastic turn signal covers (1990 Toyota pickup), and I can only say, use a power tool. Doing it by hand took HOURS, a good polisher will make short work of the job.

[_S7V7N_]

Are you familiar with wet sanding ? I believe that is what will be included in the kit. How bad are your headlights ? Have you tried rubbing compound over them ? Or if you have a buffer setting it at around 1600 rpm's with some extra cut compound then some polishing compound.

[Emerge]

If it helps, I'll post pictures. The Meiguars comes with a buffer that attaches to a normal drill to make it really easy on you. So, that may be good?

[_S7V7N_]

Pictures help, Do you have any products at home such as rubbing compound and some sort of polishing compound ? If so then all you need is some 2000 grit sandpaper. I should have taken pictures of a 2001 solara i restored the headlights on, they were pretty gone, but i just wetsanded with the 2000, then used some Regular Turtle wax paste Rubbing compound, Then used a layer of wax, they came out pretty darn good.

[Emerge]

Naw bro, I have no products at home. I've never done anything to my car before and thus I have no tools etc. I'll get some pics right now.

[Emerge]

Here they are. I hope they suffice, I have no picture taking skills. :(

At any rate, if they do not suffice, you could always tell me how I should take the pictures and I'll just reupload.

http://thumbnails22.imagebam.com/7573/227a7275728620.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/227a7275728620)

http://thumbnails27.imagebam.com/7573/10a9f775728629.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/10a9f775728629)

http://thumbnails23.imagebam.com/7573/d14cd975728643.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/d14cd975728643)

http://thumbnails24.imagebam.com/7573/6c5cfb75728649.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/6c5cfb75728649)

http://thumbnails26.imagebam.com/7573/dffe8e75728680.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/dffe8e75728680)

[Emerge]

I guess you have to click the thumbnails to see the full picture.

[_S7V7N_]

They're actually not that bad, Since you don't have any type of stuff at home, the kit would probably be the cheapest route. Just read it before you buy it and see if you're comfortable doing the entire process. Like i said some will give you a 1500 grit sandpaper and a 2000 grit sandpaper. You will then wetsand the headlights. The 1500 will be to knock off all the oxidation from the headlight, then the 2000 will be to smooth out the scratches from the 1500. After that it'll have some sort of compound to buff out the scratches from the sanding. Then after that it'll more than likely have some sort of sealant, Or basically...Wax.

I'd try to find some sort of tutorial on whatever product you buy, do an online search and try youtube, You'd be suprised.

[Emerge]

Thanks I'll do just that.

[PETERPOOP]

i heard you can use tooth paste....

[zachryboles]

^+1 dude if it works for cds it should work for headlights lol

[Emerge]

Seriously? Lol

[Nihow]

Rain X Headlight Restoration Kit - 15.99

Great product, comes with 3 pads (basically sandpaper), a lubricant for wet sanding, a plastic polish, and a sealer for a good price. Took my headlights from zero to hero in only a few minutes! I was surprised how great these worked. They're not absolutely perfect now, but considering how trashed my lenses were... I'm happy.

[nazier]

Hello, I questions about headlight restoration. I have done the diligent work of reading through the forums, but I cannot find the appropriate answer.

I was at autozone and I saw two options:

Meguiars Headlight Restoration Kit - 24.99
Rain X Headlight Restoration Kit - 15.99


Which one is superior?

Are these prices decent, or could I find a better price elsewhere?

Are there any other options I should consider?



how much is new head light covers, just get new covers it will save u alot of time and it will up lift the car again,

[UTVitz]

If your headlamps have already turned yellowish/hazy I've used the Meguiars plastic cleaner and polish with good results. If you're in the early stages of hazing I use Plexius available at most motorcycle shops and other than pits from sand/small stones my headlamps look new. Plexius makes the taillamps look shiny like glass and you can make an instrument lens look new.

[Emerge]

So, I tried the Rain X kit.

It did work, but not as well as I expected. It looks much better than my other headlight, but far from "new" or even "newish" type of look promised. Could it have been that I didn't put enough elbow grease while sanding the headlights?

I can post pics if you guys would like.

[Lucas13]

So, I tried the Rain X kit.

It did work, but not as well as I expected. It looks much better than my other headlight, but far from "new" or even "newish" type of look promised. Could it have been that I didn't put enough elbow grease while sanding the headlights?

I can post pics if you guys would like.


By looking at you pictures I can tell that the silicon based clear coat on you headlights is in bad condition, there are many kits available on the market but most of them will not give the proper results and durability, Since you are not close where I live think my services are too far from you, what I can advice is find a reputable Headlight restoration service or if you want to DIY try the 3M restoration kit, I have never tried it since I have professional tools to get the job done but I’ve heard that is better than the other ones.

This is the website of my headlight restoration business www.headlightexpert.com for anyone that may need it in south Florida I’m here to help!

[Emerge]

Thank you very much, I appreciate the help.

[jp_caldwell]

I have used Meguiars but I find that I had to use it at least once a month. I did the wet sanding on lights with 1500 grit, it took about 45 min to an hour for each light and then used the Meguiars on it, then used a spray on wax and it has been fine since.

[RevoluScion]

use GLOSSYLITE.....it's the best easy to use in the market right now and effective. http://www.smartwax-usa.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=50102

[NRW]

i used the Meguiars Headlight Restoration Kit and it worked great!! cleaned the lens really well. i started off by hand and then switched to a drill, which worked a lot faster.

[Lucas13]

Many of the kits out there provide some temporary solution in short time the fade returns, the meguiars kit works fine when the UV protection still in good shape, once is cracked the only fix is resurfacing the lens.

This is how they look after doing a nice restoration