HID retrofit output weak on one side

Good info, thanks!

 

The Sylvania kit goes up to 2000 then compound buff, a spray on activator then a rub on UV coat.

 

The clearcoat treatment stops at 800 grit because it forms a thick layer of paint that has mass so it benefits from mechanical adhesion to the 800 grit roughness to stay in place just like any other paint layer. It is thick enough to fill in the roughness and leave a very smooth outer surface by surface tension. I like this because it mechanically protects aged lenses which then last for years like new.

The Sylvania treatment is a thin chemical layer that screens UV but is not mechanically protective and has nearly no mass so it can rely solely on chemical adhesion. It needs to be sanded to such fine grit because it is not thick enough to smooth out the surface upon addition.

How long does the Sylvania treatment last for?

 

The issue is that there is maintenance involved, whether it be every so many months or annually. Not to mentions that will also vary depending on your environment and whether you can park out of the elements. The headlights on my truck are faded on the top edge, annoyingly so. Toyota wouldn't warranty them as "it does not affect my light output". My truck is a 2015 (owned since late 2016) and I take better care of it than I do myself. haha I have used MeKees 37 High Def Paint Sealant or Optimum Opti-Seal on my headlights (amongst other areas) almost as long as I have owned the truck, I chose those due to the longevity and UV protection they claim. I do not have a garage that will fit my truck and there is no shade where I work so that also effects the headlights.

What I am getting at is the "UV Coat" (or any other manufactures coatings) that comes with these kits are a temporary solution or a sacrificial layer. Just like waxes, sealants and coatings are that you apply to your paint. They will wear off sooner or later, some lasting longer than others, but they WILL degrade over time. BUT applying a clear coat is as permanent as you can get, often times better than what you can get from OEM on vehicles headlights that are prone to headlights fading. Clear coat on vehicles lasts a very long time, which is why it is the preferred method for headlights. The bit of extra time in my opinion is worth it.

To each their own though, there are many ways to do many things. Thats why there are products for every option.

 

That probably depends on the user but I suspect a year at best. It's guaranteed for as long as you own the car but that doesn't have any good reviews so that is an issue. I mainly got it to hold me over until I can afford some new OEM headlights. For the time and effort I'd rather spend the money on OEM every 10 years or so.

 

How does the warranty work? Do they buy you a new set of OEM headlights? Do they just send you a new kit?

Being that my 2015 is getting pretty bad and it's about 5 years old doesn't want to make me spend $600+ on a new set of OEM headlights to have them last another 5 years. I would rather fix my current ones for less than $50 for at least the next 5 years or more without monthly maintenance.

It comes down to marketing with those "headlight restoration" kits. It's a temporary solution at best most times. I agree it's possibly not a bad "hold over" or just before you sell a vehicle, but for what some of the kits cost you could just fix it permanently for the same price or cheaper. It's like using a spare tire as a permanent solution to a flat tire......

 

My new projectors and ballasts arrived last week. Put them in my spare set of headlights. Depo with black trim. Really liking the switch from the all black I had previously. Looks cleaner.

 

So much better. Thanks to everyone who helped narrow it down to the bowls. I would have never known. I’m a retrofit newb.

 

Don't forget to level off the top steps and make any height adjustments with a full tank. The cutoff should be 2" lower than the center of the projectors height at 25'.

 

They’re just below my wife’s car side mirror level. Didn’t have a wall close enough on level ground so I parked my wife’s car at the end of a court and parked facing its side probably 25-30 ft. Away. Drove the other night across Sacramento and didn’t get flashed.

 

Looks great! Glad you were able to get it done so quickly too!

 

Thanks! Very happy with it. Perks of being a stay at home dad