Performed a headlight restoration
#16
Driver School Candidate
I went ahead and ordered the 3M kit again from Amazon and will post before and after pics of my sons 04 Es330 which are mostly hazed over but not terrible. I had used the kit on my wife's 08 Civic and I can tell you those headlights suck! Fortunately the 330 and my F150, which I will do as well are nice and easy to do. I like the vinyl wrap and will show my boy the video and see what he thinks. Lucky for me, he doesn't have the urge to do modifications to the ES330 like he did the 04 F150, and why should he? That car is slicker than snot!
#17
Yes, these cars will save you a ton in mods because there really isn't much available. Sort of why I'm in this car, all I could bring myself to do was the rear sway. Everything else is so finely tuned I don't want to mess with it. Like the intake, normally I like engine noise but they did such a good job at keeping it tuned throughout the rpm range that I really can't bring myself to touch it. I can't find any point where there is resonance which is really good, on my wife's car it hits right at around 60, the intake makes a noise, poor design.
#18
I did the baking soda and vinegar trick today. Worked pretty good! Just use a wax,polish afterwards and it lasts for awhile. I did it in spring so this was my second use. Get a small container of baking soda and use just enough vinegar to make paste. It will foam up so don't panic! Rub it in firmly in circular motion them wipe off with cloth soaked in water. Dry and polish. I used Turtle wax Ice. Cheap method!
#19
I had the same questions.
I went with the Mothers ReNu headlight restoration kit for a few reasons:
Then I also bought some 2500 grade sand paper and some Glossy Clear spray paint for the clear coat.
That's all really. Came out to $30 total.
I went with the Mothers ReNu headlight restoration kit for a few reasons:
- Drill attachment for polishing AND sanding
- Polish for headlights
- various sand paper grades
Then I also bought some 2500 grade sand paper and some Glossy Clear spray paint for the clear coat.
That's all really. Came out to $30 total.
#21
Driver
Thread Starter
Or you can do a really good sanding to remove the failed clear coat and oxidation and do a clear coat to basically restore your headlights to 'new' (nothing will beat a factory paint job)
I chose a kit that had a polish and the tools to make sanding easier (sanding pads that can go on a drill with a pad). I also bought paint to do a new clear coat. Other kits are just various grades of polish to do a deep clean then a polish.
There are several ways to skin a cat.
#22
Great explaination. I just did mine on a whim with toothpaste but may opt to do the more permanent method in the future, probably when spring comes around. Basically you just keep scratching things progressively finer and finer until they are optically transparent. Then coating it fills everything in nice and smooth.
#23
Good PM guys! We're a new vendor here in CL. We specialize in headlight restoration, projector retrofit and custom headlights or tail lights. Please take time to visit our intro thread or our website (http://www.OrganizedGarageStatus.com) for more information on our services.
We guarantee the headlights to look brand new and not foggy and will never fade or turn yellow ever.
We guarantee the headlights to look brand new and not foggy and will never fade or turn yellow ever.
#25
#26
#27
So the process itself is straight forward. Your headlights oxidize over time and you have two options. You can polish it and use some abrasive to remove the oxidation and redo that polishing every several months.
Or you can do a really good sanding to remove the failed clear coat and oxidation and do a clear coat to basically restore your headlights to 'new' (nothing will beat a factory paint job)
I chose a kit that had a polish and the tools to make sanding easier (sanding pads that can go on a drill with a pad). I also bought paint to do a new clear coat. Other kits are just various grades of polish to do a deep clean then a polish.
There are several ways to skin a cat.
Or you can do a really good sanding to remove the failed clear coat and oxidation and do a clear coat to basically restore your headlights to 'new' (nothing will beat a factory paint job)
I chose a kit that had a polish and the tools to make sanding easier (sanding pads that can go on a drill with a pad). I also bought paint to do a new clear coat. Other kits are just various grades of polish to do a deep clean then a polish.
There are several ways to skin a cat.
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