Buy cloudy headlights and send to shop for wet sanding? or wait for clear?
01-28-13, 06:29 AM
#1
Buy cloudy headlights and send to shop for wet sanding? or wait for clear?
Greetings,
I have no stock headlights. I have an opportunity to purchase cloudy headlights for 40$
Is it logical to buy them, then take them to a shop to be wet sanded and clear coated?
Is that a sure semi-permanent solution or a loop that also must be repeated over and over (albeit less frequently then a cheap kit job)?
If I did wait for clear ones, there is no way to know if they have been cleaned up temporarily with a headlight kit or are truly clear, right?
What do you guys think?
I have no stock headlights. I have an opportunity to purchase cloudy headlights for 40$
Is it logical to buy them, then take them to a shop to be wet sanded and clear coated?
Is that a sure semi-permanent solution or a loop that also must be repeated over and over (albeit less frequently then a cheap kit job)?
If I did wait for clear ones, there is no way to know if they have been cleaned up temporarily with a headlight kit or are truly clear, right?
What do you guys think?
01-28-13, 06:37 AM
#2
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what clear headlights are you talking about?
just buy the oem ones for $40 buy yourself a turtlewax headlight restore kit and be happy. its only $10-15 then clear coat it with laquer
just buy the oem ones for $40 buy yourself a turtlewax headlight restore kit and be happy. its only $10-15 then clear coat it with laquer
01-28-13, 06:42 AM
#3
Scoop them up and buy a restore headlight kit and learn how to do it... Plus you will have to continue to do it regardless in the future... Our headlights yellow pretty quickly.. well they do down here in florida for sure!!
Its simple, easy process to do! Use a little elbow grease and some pateince and they will look great!!
01-28-13, 07:40 AM
#6
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id say just pick those oem ones. what i use to clean mine is that scratch off stuff thats in the yellow bottle and then put a coat of wax on the lense. takes all of 5 min and the wax keeps the sense clear for well over a month
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01-28-13, 04:49 PM
#11
This:
Did my headlights like this about 3yrs ago, and not a hint of fading or yellowing since then...and I never put a clear coat. I go over the headlights about every 3 months (when I wax the car) with some simple Plast-x and a dry towel and give them a little buff. I actually started with an 800 grit, then 1k, 1.5k, 2k and 3k then polished with Plast-x, and a pure carnuba with a buffer. Havent looked back since then.
Did my headlights like this about 3yrs ago, and not a hint of fading or yellowing since then...and I never put a clear coat. I go over the headlights about every 3 months (when I wax the car) with some simple Plast-x and a dry towel and give them a little buff. I actually started with an 800 grit, then 1k, 1.5k, 2k and 3k then polished with Plast-x, and a pure carnuba with a buffer. Havent looked back since then.
01-28-13, 05:14 PM
#12
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i used the 3M Headlight restore kit. Worked very well. You sand it, rubber sand, wet sand, buff and use the wax provided. IT took me 2 hours without power tools and really transformed it, not new, but like new condition.
01-28-13, 05:21 PM
#13
2hrs?! With what I mentioned above should only take about 45min without power tools, 30 min with a cordless drill or buffer...and its more involved, and gets the lenses crystal clear..Not saying you did anything wrong, just seems like a really long time to polish headlights.
01-28-13, 05:27 PM
#14
Clear coating is the permanent, low maintenance solution, other wise do whats done in the aforementioned video and keep it waxed once every 3 months, otherwise they will start to fade and get cloudy again in about 4-5 months.
Don't just buy the little kits at autozone, you want to actually sand with several different grits of sandpaper, and you want to polish it with several different cut cleaners. Starting with the heavy duty stuff and working your way down to finer and finer cuts until you glaze it and then wax it.
But yeah having them clear-coated will be nice and permanent.
Don't just buy the little kits at autozone, you want to actually sand with several different grits of sandpaper, and you want to polish it with several different cut cleaners. Starting with the heavy duty stuff and working your way down to finer and finer cuts until you glaze it and then wax it.
But yeah having them clear-coated will be nice and permanent.
01-28-13, 05:53 PM
#15
Lexus Test Driver
I used to use Meguiar's Ultimate Compound on all my lights every time I washed my car. I must say it really helps, but it can only do so much, I think you're better off wetsanding and polishing. I do hope the clean lenses are affordable though, I totally want them 