headlight restoration with 1500, 2000, PLastX - Page 4

mmrfr · 09-09-07, 07:18 AM

Use the orange pad instead of the white and then one last time with the white.

EFMJR · 10-23-07, 01:12 PM

I used Mothers® PowerPlastic™ on my GS400 and it took the cloudyness away, but it came back like two months later. It worked pretty good, and relitively fast. Its not gonna work to polish out scratched, more of a cleaner/polish.

http://www.mothers.com/products/

On my wifes Honda accord the headlights looked almost sandblasted. I hand sanded with 400 wet, 600 wet. 1000 wet, 1500 wet, (could not find 2000 so the polishing took longer), I dont recommend using a power sander here, too easy to mess up. just cut the paper into quarter sheets and trifold and do it by hand that way you can control pressure ect and actually feel the surface. I also recoomend masking off everything sarounding the headlight since it only takes one slip with the paper across a painted surface to ruin a day.

I then broke out the Porter Cable and used; If you dont have a polisher, you can do this by hand, but take lots of advil/tylenol beforehand cause your arms and sholders will be sore. You can buy a cheap buffer at most discount tool store (harbor freight) or auto parts chain, I got one at walmart for like $13. They dont work as well as the Porter Cable, but will do the job, and save your arms.

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,4,13

After that one you shouldnt be able to see scratches at all, it will be almost clear, but not quite crystal clear. Just kinda milky look to it. Then when all looks as good as it gets you move on to;

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,4,14

Make sure you cange your pad (or cover) and polish till its as clear as you desire. When all is done you can use the mothers, plast-x or just put a good coat of wax on it. By sanding you have removed the uv/scratch resistance coating (you can sometimes see it as you sand through it.) so the wax will help protect from the UV/ect and keep them from clouding up.

Hope this helps. the turtle wax above has always been availible, cheap and done the job well for me. I know there are probably better products out there, but you can pick these the turtle wax at wallmart or almost any parts chain store (autozone, Kragens) ect. Ive used it many times and it seems to work well on plastic.

hope this helps someone. Its not that big of a job, just take your time and be patient for best results. this is not a 15 min job. took me like two hours. just turn on your favorite tunes, grab a drink or two of your choice and tell the kids/wife/girlfriend/mom/ect to leave you alone and have some one on one time with your baby. It a good feeling to do something this easy and see the before after, and know you did that, and it greatly improves the look of your car.

EFMJR

-Samurai- · 12-10-07, 03:27 PM

I used plastX on my celica, one of my headlights was a little yellow, but the PlastX cleaned it right up, I think that stuff is great.

CyBorG · 01-02-08, 09:48 PM

i went to autozone and one of the employees was offering to do this for $10. He used S-2000 and bluemagic and afterwards, it looked brand new

GSteg · 01-03-08, 05:12 AM

-1000 grit (wetsanding) with a Porter Cable
-cutting pad with rotary
-polishing pad with rotary

I'm happy with the result

RedPhoenix · 01-07-08, 08:52 PM

You looking for a step between? They make finer grit than 2000 btw. I can get 3000 by me. Not sure if it will help anymore

It came out really nice btw

eskaeone · 01-10-08, 08:40 PM

hey GSteg does that retrofit 4 your head lights work with your auto leveler?

GSteg · 01-10-08, 09:27 PM

Yup. Everything functions like OEM. The autoleveling and horizontal/vertical adjustments all work. My car came with OEM HID so I was able to retain the OEM ballast and wiring.