Lexus gs 350 headlights
Looks like the clearcoat on the headlights is wearing off. Best bet is to take it to a body shop have them sand them and reclear it.
You can use a plastic compound like scratch x or any other light abrasive compound. But using compound is a temporary fix. Best to clearcoat it!
You can use a plastic compound like scratch x or any other light abrasive compound. But using compound is a temporary fix. Best to clearcoat it!
The only sand paper I would recommend is extremely fine paper 2500-3500 grit. But clearly his clear coat is starting to peel off. So if he sand and polishes it will only be temporary fix. The right way is to sand and then professionally clear coated.
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Driver
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 106
Likes: 7
From: KY
Ryder, can you tell if the scratches are on the inside of the lamps? I would say that if the scratches are on the outside, I would recommend new housings.
It's a costly choice, but short of you doing the super fine grit, which should be done as wet sanding, then using a clear coat, it's the only other option...
If you are to try to clean them up yourself...
1. Remove the headlight housings.
2. Use a bucket and fill with water... If you have hard water in your area, use distilled water instead.
3. Use extremely fine grit sand paper, and dip into headlight, then with water on sand paper, and water on headlight, sand the headlight.
4. When sanding is complete, completely dry headlamp, then tape off and use newspaper to help protect rest of headlight.
5. Use a clear coat spray, which can be bought at possibly pep boys, or other places. I bought my clear coat at Hobby Lobby.
6. Spray each headlight with clear coat lightly. DO NOT spray so much that it causes runs.
7. Let dry for at least 4 hours, or depending on what can says. But once they have dried for a bit, spray at least a second coat on.
8. Let dry for 8-10 hrs.
9. Reinstall and enjoy
It's a costly choice, but short of you doing the super fine grit, which should be done as wet sanding, then using a clear coat, it's the only other option...
If you are to try to clean them up yourself...
1. Remove the headlight housings.
2. Use a bucket and fill with water... If you have hard water in your area, use distilled water instead.
3. Use extremely fine grit sand paper, and dip into headlight, then with water on sand paper, and water on headlight, sand the headlight.
4. When sanding is complete, completely dry headlamp, then tape off and use newspaper to help protect rest of headlight.
5. Use a clear coat spray, which can be bought at possibly pep boys, or other places. I bought my clear coat at Hobby Lobby.
6. Spray each headlight with clear coat lightly. DO NOT spray so much that it causes runs.
7. Let dry for at least 4 hours, or depending on what can says. But once they have dried for a bit, spray at least a second coat on.
8. Let dry for 8-10 hrs.
9. Reinstall and enjoy
Ryder, can you tell if the scratches are on the inside of the lamps? I would say that if the scratches are on the outside, I would recommend new housings.
It's a costly choice, but short of you doing the super fine grit, which should be done as wet sanding, then using a clear coat, it's the only other option...
If you are to try to clean them up yourself...
1. Remove the headlight housings.
2. Use a bucket and fill with water... If you have hard water in your area, use distilled water instead.
3. Use extremely fine grit sand paper, and dip into headlight, then with water on sand paper, and water on headlight, sand the headlight.
4. When sanding is complete, completely dry headlamp, then tape off and use newspaper to help protect rest of headlight.
5. Use a clear coat spray, which can be bought at possibly pep boys, or other places. I bought my clear coat at Hobby Lobby.
6. Spray each headlight with clear coat lightly. DO NOT spray so much that it causes runs.
7. Let dry for at least 4 hours, or depending on what can says. But once they have dried for a bit, spray at least a second coat on.
8. Let dry for 8-10 hrs.
9. Reinstall and enjoy
It's a costly choice, but short of you doing the super fine grit, which should be done as wet sanding, then using a clear coat, it's the only other option...
If you are to try to clean them up yourself...
1. Remove the headlight housings.
2. Use a bucket and fill with water... If you have hard water in your area, use distilled water instead.
3. Use extremely fine grit sand paper, and dip into headlight, then with water on sand paper, and water on headlight, sand the headlight.
4. When sanding is complete, completely dry headlamp, then tape off and use newspaper to help protect rest of headlight.
5. Use a clear coat spray, which can be bought at possibly pep boys, or other places. I bought my clear coat at Hobby Lobby.
6. Spray each headlight with clear coat lightly. DO NOT spray so much that it causes runs.
7. Let dry for at least 4 hours, or depending on what can says. But once they have dried for a bit, spray at least a second coat on.
8. Let dry for 8-10 hrs.
9. Reinstall and enjoy
You can do it yourself but I am sure a body shop could do it for less then $100.00
If I were to do it myself, I would buy a 2k urethane clear coat spray from an auto body paint supply store. This is the same 2 part mixing as you would on a regular spray gun but in a can form. Sand out all the old clear coat, and final sand to 600-800 grit.
A fine tack coat is the first spray coat, then I would wait the flash time (whatever the can says) once clear has flashed 2nd coat would a heavy wet/flow coat. If you keep spraying light coats of clear you will build up ridges and clear will not look flat.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 734
Likes: 3
From: CA
Hey guys so I took car to Longo Lexus. They told me it was from the outside and not the inside.
They polished the headlights and it was sparkling like brand new headlights!
My car is under warranty. They did not charge me for anything.
They polished the headlights and it was sparkling like brand new headlights!
My car is under warranty. They did not charge me for anything.
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