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11-07-2016, 09:24 AM | #1 |
Drives: 2003 Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 293
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Refinishing headlight lense vs buying new/near new headlights?
I'm at 265k miles and my headlights have taken a beating on my 2009 hatch... Atlanta construction means I might as well be driving on a gravel road!?!
I'm in the process of revamping the front end of the car and adding Xpel after the paint work. A shop owner told me they could sand down the lenses and then clear coat them for like $120 and they'd look like new. Is that worth my while or should I hold out for some ones that don't look like someone spent 7 years throwing rocks at them??? |
11-07-2016, 11:06 AM | #2 |
I didn't have a ton of pits in mine, but they did cloud over a bit. I had them polished and clear coated by my body shop while they were doing some paint work for me and was super pleased with the results. This was a while back and they've held up.
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11-07-2016, 11:14 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2006 Yaris RS 3-Door Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: YYZ
Posts: 329
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I've had my headlamps polished and the result looks great. The plastic material is still slightly more yellow than original, but perfect otherwise. If your roads are that bad, I would recommend not wasting money on new lenses.
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11-07-2016, 11:19 AM | #4 | |
Drives: 2003 Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 293
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Quote:
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11-07-2016, 12:18 PM | #5 |
Drives: '08 2zr swapped Vios M/T Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Caledonia Ont.
Posts: 2,938
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I've sanded, polished and then clear coated my headlights on both my card and have had no yellowing or clouding come back. If you do it properly it will work for a decade. The key is to re coat with a non yellowing uv resistant clear coat with multiple coats applied. The sanding strips off the faxtory coat which is why the yellowing and clouding happens.
Like you said, not much will protect against rocks and bolts though.
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11-07-2016, 01:31 PM | #6 | |
Drives: 2006 Yaris RS 3-Door Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: YYZ
Posts: 329
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Quote:
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11-07-2016, 01:48 PM | #7 |
Drives: 2007 2-door hatchback Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: USAnotCA
Posts: 750
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what does Toyota dealership parts want for brand new 07-09 shells? any aftermarket? brands?
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11-07-2016, 03:47 PM | #8 | |
Drives: '08 2zr swapped Vios M/T Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Caledonia Ont.
Posts: 2,938
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Quote:
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No one ever wants to give a Yaris the point by... |
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11-07-2016, 04:54 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2007 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 110
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I don't know how bad they are, but if you have the time, you could just do it yourself. Much cheaper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEJbKLZ7RmM
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11-07-2016, 05:54 PM | #10 |
Drives: '08 2zr swapped Vios M/T Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Caledonia Ont.
Posts: 2,938
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^that's the process I did, just make sure you spray the water on the headlight when its cloudy after sanding to see how they will look when finished. This makes it easier to see any areas you missed and to show you how it will look when polished and clear coated
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No one ever wants to give a Yaris the point by... |
11-07-2016, 08:08 PM | #11 |
2000 grid sandpaper
Wet sand in back and forth direction no circle motion till all is removed use plenty of water, water spray btle works best Dry it off after use wax and best to use waxing buffer if possible or elbow grease, wipe clean and repeat with wax sealer. Your light will look new and it takes about 30 min total. Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk |
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11-07-2016, 11:10 PM | #12 |
Drives: 2007 yaris 3 door Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 1,000
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yeah. do it yourself for $20. you'll feel awesome that you made your car look new and you saved $100.
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11-07-2016, 11:57 PM | #13 | |
Drives: 2006 Yaris RS 3-Door Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: YYZ
Posts: 329
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Quote:
The body shop who did the job are family friends of mine, and their standard of work is phenomenally good. Sent from my LG G2 with CM13 using Tapatalk Last edited by tarkus; 11-08-2016 at 10:02 AM. |
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11-08-2016, 11:12 AM | #14 | |
Drives: 2003 Mach 1 Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 293
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Quote:
I could sand it down myself and reclear it... anyone have any suggestions on paint that will work? Although the cars already going to be in the shop for paint work so I'm inclined just to have them do it and avoid the hassle. I've got a newborn so time comes at a real premium at the moment.... |
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12-13-2016, 12:18 AM | #15 | |
Drives: 07SedanS06Taco Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SoCal, SanGabriel
Posts: 53
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Clear coat
Quote:
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12-13-2016, 04:53 AM | #16 |
Drives: '08 2zr swapped Vios M/T Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Caledonia Ont.
Posts: 2,938
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I can't remember the brand, I just went to my local Canadian tire and grabbed a semi gloss or gloss clear coat that was if resistant and non yellowing as per the can. They only jade on brand that matches these requirements.
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02-23-2017, 02:03 AM | #17 | |
Drives: yaris 2009 Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: greece
Posts: 330
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Quote:
American accents. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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02-23-2017, 02:03 AM | #18 |
Drives: yaris 2009 Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: greece
Posts: 330
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