Headlight restore

Just restored my headlights, turned out great. Took a little elbow grease but the Meguiars kit worked awesome. Pic of 1 finished.

 

Looks good!

 

Looks great! How much did that kit run you?

 

What do the instructions say about sealing it when all is done? Thanks. This is next on my list. Do you have to buff with a cordless drill, or did you do it by hand? Thanks for helping out a fellow TW guy.

 

I purchased the Meguiars heavy duty kit at Walmart for around $25. The kit came with a hand sander with 2 wet sanding discs, 1000 grit and 3000. Also came with a buffer for a drill, and polishing compound. The last thing is the sealer you apply with a provided small sponge. I was impressed with the result. Did my 03 Corolla and my son's 2000 Camry and they both turned out great.

 

John,

Thanks for posting your experience. Almost all cars with modern (plastic) headlight units can usually use this procedure - certainly my 2010 Taco that lives outside could use some modest headlight help.

JohnB

 

Looks great will try this next weekend

 

I’d cover them with a clear lamin x film or some kind of clear protectant too so they stay like that for a long time

 

Looks great guys, and the secret is the SEALER. Make sure you get a good kit with a sealer. Eventually, the lamination on the lens will go, and then you have fuzzy lights (I mean the forward light goes unfocused).
I rescued a few, and that is the difference. Eventually, you will have to admit it, the plastic/laminates will go, but that means you can replace with something more fun!

 

Im a huge fan of the sand and clear coat method. I did polish it afterwards to get rid of any orange peeling. My wifes car looks good to this day and I restored them almost 2 years ago with 2K Clear Coat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEJbKLZ7RmM

$20 USC SprayMax 2K Glamour High Gloss Aerosol Clear

https://www.amazon.com/SprayMax-Gla...qid=1529256431&sr=8-2&keywords=2k+spray+paint

 

I did the same to mine, but I wanted it to last a little longer so I thought clear coating with UV spray paint. Not a good idea lol. It would have worked if I didn't put the final polishing compound, but since I did it just got all runny when the paint hit it. Now one looks perfect and the other is a mess. Will redo it eventually and just do the UV spray paint since I read that last way longer then compound that comes in the kits.

 

I tried some gloss clear spray paint but it took away the clear look and made it appear foggy? I then re did the headlight and used the stuff from the kit and it looked great.

 

I find that putting a coat of liquid Turtle Wax on the lenses whenever I wax the truck has works well.