Time for new headlights need some advice
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 198
Likes: 4
From: FL
Time for new headlights need some advice
Well now that it's almost Christmas time I decided the next "mod" to get are some headlights.. Mine currently are so cloudy when I turn on my HID's my lights look green.. I have tried every headlight restoration kit on the market and none of them seem to work. So I was looking at these http://www.protuninglab.com/20062009is250.html from pro tuning lab. I have read though the whole thread of the "Replica 2011-2012 LED headlights (Alibaba)" and the thread seemed to kind of died. So my question to everyone is do you think i should just go ahead and buy a pair of these or have any other suggestions? If i could i would love to just swap out the lenses from my old ones to some new ones but litterly NOWHERE do they sell just the lens. I also do not want to spend $1000 on some new headlights from sewell so im really confused on what path to take here. PLEASE HELP any advice ill take you guys are awesome!
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 370
Likes: 2
From: AB
Are you sure it is nothing on the inside?
You can always use a DA polisher on the outside. Sounds like you don't have much to lose by trying. You could always try a cheap single action polisher. Although a SA will likely leave light swirl marks it still sounds like your headlights are so cloudy that it wouldn't really be a step back anyway. But if you try it, make sure you tape off the paint. I used a dremel tool with a polishing bit on a pair of scratched old glasses to see what it would do. It was at least an improvement.
You can always use a DA polisher on the outside. Sounds like you don't have much to lose by trying. You could always try a cheap single action polisher. Although a SA will likely leave light swirl marks it still sounds like your headlights are so cloudy that it wouldn't really be a step back anyway. But if you try it, make sure you tape off the paint. I used a dremel tool with a polishing bit on a pair of scratched old glasses to see what it would do. It was at least an improvement.
If you have dull cloud headlight lens there's a life hack solution. I've never tried it but I heard you can use toothpaste and brush off your lens, rinse it off with water, if you prefer the other way use the products in store, But here's the thing. some people later after would sand it down to smooth it out and prep clear coat on evenly for a nice clean clear lens look that wont get cloudy again. Correct me if I'm wrong people.
I have tried various restoration kit for my 2006 IS350 and finally found one that works wonder. I wet sand with 3 different sand papers followed by Plast X and buff off wtih microfiber. After all the work, I finally installed Lamin X protection film on it and it looks better than new.
If that kit is not sufficient enough, try the heavy duty kit
Headlight before
Headlight after
Headlight after with Lamin X blue tint
If that kit is not sufficient enough, try the heavy duty kit
Headlight before
Headlight after
Headlight after with Lamin X blue tint
Last edited by FSportIS; Dec 2, 2014 at 12:32 PM.
This thread doesnt make sense. The oxidation you see on headlights is only on the surface. Sanding it off with high grit automotive grade sandpaper and polishing it should fix it right up. Then you just clear it with uv protectant.
What exactly happened when you used those kits and sanded your headlights?
Edit: some people beat me to it.
What exactly happened when you used those kits and sanded your headlights?
Edit: some people beat me to it.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 198
Likes: 4
From: FL
Its funny you should post this because i have tired both of these kits and they made them better but still after about 2 weeks with my florida heat it seems that they just go back to the way they were.. Is there maybe some type of film I can put over them to protect them?
Its funny you should post this because i have tired both of these kits and they made them better but still after about 2 weeks with my florida heat it seems that they just go back to the way they were.. Is there maybe some type of film I can put over them to protect them?
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Its funny you should post this because i have tired both of these kits and they made them better but still after about 2 weeks with my florida heat it seems that they just go back to the way they were.. Is there maybe some type of film I can put over them to protect them?
1. Apply headlight protectant on it every week.
2. Apply a headlight coating like some members suggest.
3. Apply clear bra that contains UV protection. There are 2 brands I would recommend: 3M and Lamin X. I have 3M on my 2012 IS250 and in 3 years, the headlight is still brand new. I have Lamin X on my IS350 for couple months now. The third picture in my previous post is the Lamin X.
Solution #3 or #2 are the best in my opinion.
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Driver
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver/Toronto
A must try solution: Wetsanding
1. start off with a cleaned and wet surface, tape up painted area around headlight
2. use 2500 grid sandpaper to sand the headlight in ONE DIRECTION (keep surface lubricated by water sprays)
3. use 3500 grid sandpaper (The healight should feel super smooth, but looks hazy)
4. Use a compound of your choice and buff the headlight for about 3 minutes (I used meguiars ultimate compound, you can use any)
5. Use a polishing agent to polish the headlight for 4 minutes( I used meguiars ultimate polish, but there are better ones)
6. optional: Use a sealant (Opt-coat)
DONE
P.S. toothpaste only works if its has very very light haze, so forget about it.
1. start off with a cleaned and wet surface, tape up painted area around headlight
2. use 2500 grid sandpaper to sand the headlight in ONE DIRECTION (keep surface lubricated by water sprays)
3. use 3500 grid sandpaper (The healight should feel super smooth, but looks hazy)
4. Use a compound of your choice and buff the headlight for about 3 minutes (I used meguiars ultimate compound, you can use any)
5. Use a polishing agent to polish the headlight for 4 minutes( I used meguiars ultimate polish, but there are better ones)
6. optional: Use a sealant (Opt-coat)
DONE
P.S. toothpaste only works if its has very very light haze, so forget about it.
I just posted a thread like this one the other day looking for a cheaper alternative for the ones on sewell to get that led look... the response I got was: buy it right the first time, otherwise you'll end up buying it twice...
There was a fellow member on here (you may have heard about) that bought these headlights and had to return them three times over as the LEDs kept dying, or just didn't work right outta the box.
Also, on the chance that you do get a functional pair, the LED strip looks nothing like oem, and looks cheap tbh. Its thicker, and the LED's are not close together (looks like christmas lights). These lights aren't that bright either by the way!
There was a fellow member on here (you may have heard about) that bought these headlights and had to return them three times over as the LEDs kept dying, or just didn't work right outta the box.
Also, on the chance that you do get a functional pair, the LED strip looks nothing like oem, and looks cheap tbh. Its thicker, and the LED's are not close together (looks like christmas lights). These lights aren't that bright either by the way!
Its funny you should post this because i have tired both of these kits and they made them better but still after about 2 weeks with my florida heat it seems that they just go back to the way they were.. Is there maybe some type of film I can put over them to protect them?
Take out your lights. Wetsand them down with 1000 grit paper. Then wetsand them with 1500 grit paper. Then clear coat them with QUALITY clear coat, not rattle can clear coat. If you don't have a spray gun to shoot good clear coat on them, take em to a body shop to have them cleared.
Trust me, im a painter at a body shop haha.
Trust me, im a painter at a body shop haha.
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