1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

New Headlights - UV Protect - Wax or Ceramic Coat

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by APG85, Feb 26, 2025.

  1. Feb 28, 2025 at 6:54 AM
    #21
    cthoma70

    cthoma70 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2024
    Member:
    #443254
    Messages:
    32
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chester
    Vehicle:
    2023 Tocoma SR5
    Curreently none
    I used Adam's Graphene Advance, while I coated the truck I did the lights as well. I had already got the coating, so I just added to my lights.
     
  2. Feb 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
    #22
    mxl556

    mxl556 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2015
    Member:
    #168314
    Messages:
    56
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 Tacoma Trail
    I always wax plastic lenses, front and back and I believe it extends the life of plastic. I use old fashioned carnauba waxes (Mother's) as spray on ones (have some silicone in them) are not as effective but easier to use. And while the new ones do not leave white residue, they are not as effective from my experience. Do not know much about ceramic coatings, never had any of that done. I was never a fan of clear film solutions for rock chips on the hood or lights as film fades and turns ugly and it hard to remove. Not to mention if applied to painted surfaces, the areas that were covered with clear film will never match the rest.
     
  3. Feb 28, 2025 at 8:51 AM
    #23
    TacoGuy2453

    TacoGuy2453 Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2017
    Member:
    #225959
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    Central NJ
    Vehicle:
    2021 Tacoma TRD Off Road DCLB SSM
    Usually, they end up being coated by the Hybrid solutions ceramic spray coat I use on the rest of the truck. I would imagine the only way they may possibly be protected from uv rays is if the product your using has some sort of protection built in, other than that it probably isn't worth the extra time and product you're using to try and achieve such. On my 2005 when the headlights got to that point, I purchased a restoration kit and resealed them after and they looked brand new. Unfortunately, I don't have any before and after pictures.
     
  4. Feb 28, 2025 at 9:21 AM
    #24
    TAZMINATOR

    TAZMINATOR Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2017
    Member:
    #232493
    Messages:
    2,091
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma
    Monthly? I had my headlights cleaned back in October... they still look new since. If it turns out looking awful, I can do it again.
     
  5. Feb 28, 2025 at 9:26 AM
    #25
    stealthmode

    stealthmode Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2014
    Member:
    #143869
    Messages:
    2,496
    Gender:
    Male
    Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2016 Short N Stubby Bed- MGM
    Front and Rear lifts Tires ECGS bushing Lots of other crap +HP sticker
    I think there are actual UV resistant clear wraps now a days. If you're serious about keeping them tip top, ask around amd see what shops say. It would offer chip protection and enviromental (UV) at same time.
    The tech in wraps/films and tints have come a longs ways.
    Cheers
     
  6. Feb 28, 2025 at 9:58 AM
    #26
    drizzoh

    drizzoh itsjdmy0

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2020
    Member:
    #332922
    Messages:
    2,270
    First Name:
    Andrew
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2021 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4x4
    I ceramic coated my previous set of headlights (with the proper ceramic maintenance) and they were still faded and peeling in under 3 years here in AZ. Got my new set XPEL'd. I have used Lamin-X in the past, and even that lasted only 2 years before it started aging. The difference was I could remove that, and the headlight was perfect underneath. PPF is the way. We'll see how the XPEL compares to the Lamin-X, but it has a 10-year guarantee and a really well-known shop installed it, so I'm not too worried about it.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2025
    Rainoffire and jmneill like this.
  7. Mar 3, 2025 at 4:33 AM
    #27
    APG85

    APG85 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    Member:
    #190184
    Messages:
    55
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Blue Pearl Tacoma TRD
    Leather Seats
    Thanks for all of the replies and tips. Think I'll just go with traditional wax for now. The new OEM lights weren't cheap (installing them was a chore) and I want to keep them looking good.
     
    TRSAndrew and cthoma70 like this.
  8. Mar 3, 2025 at 1:05 PM
    #28
    TRSAndrew

    TRSAndrew Instagram: @apissues Vendor

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2012
    Member:
    #69858
    Messages:
    3,348
    Gender:
    Male
    ATL
    Vehicle:
    ‘22 4Runner, ‘14 F150, and I’ve had 4 Tacomas (‘12, ‘15, ‘16, ‘18), 2 FJs
    PPF then ceramic coat then wax :)
     
  9. Mar 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
    #29
    Taco_mike73

    Taco_mike73 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2019
    Member:
    #311413
    Messages:
    3,190
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    York, PA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Cement SR5 DCSB 4x4
    Lomax tonneau cover, oem bed lights, AJT Design chrome delete, black out badges & tailgate letters, AVS hood deflector & vent visors, Solkie tech hood supports, interior LED lights, Tufskinz mud guards, RedArc TowPro Liberty, bed mat, kicker speaker upgrade, Hikari ultra H11 low beams, Diode Dynamics SS3 fogs in yellow, Meso customs total taillight stage 1. Coming soon: Compact powered sub install Future mods planned: bigger tires (265/75/16) BILLSTIEN 5100 lift
    APG85[OP] likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top