Yellow headlights, fixed for 8 dollars!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 266
Likes: 2
From: Oswego, IL
Yellow headlights, fixed for 8 dollars!
So, after years of looking at the nasty yellow headlights on my SC3 I did something about it! I used the 3M headlight restoration kit, and it worked GREAT! I'm very happy with the results. It worked much better than i had expected. The pictures don't do this job justice. The picture quality is iPhone 3G quality, sorry. The headlights practically sparkle now. It doesn't do a great job of capturing the glossiness (is that a word?), but you get the idea. Here are before and after pics.
BEFORE! ICK!
One done! HUGE improvement. I also used the kit on the GS3 in the background here. It made a big difference in those too, but it didn't start out nearly as bad as the SC. If there is one piece of advice I can give to someone doing this job, it's to purchase the wide 3M green automotive paint tape. It's much better than NAPA stuff I have used before. And tape the hell out of the area all the way around the headlight. Use too much of it rather than not enough. You'll be glad you did and your paint job will thank you.
After it's all cleaned up!
This was rather time consuming, but the extra time spend directly results in better looking headlights.
BEFORE! ICK!
One done! HUGE improvement. I also used the kit on the GS3 in the background here. It made a big difference in those too, but it didn't start out nearly as bad as the SC. If there is one piece of advice I can give to someone doing this job, it's to purchase the wide 3M green automotive paint tape. It's much better than NAPA stuff I have used before. And tape the hell out of the area all the way around the headlight. Use too much of it rather than not enough. You'll be glad you did and your paint job will thank you.
After it's all cleaned up!
This was rather time consuming, but the extra time spend directly results in better looking headlights.
Driver
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: KS
Looks awesome, I was going to post pics of my restoration but my dad deleted the pictures off of his camera, haha. One bit of advice: if you haven't already, use something like Plast-x to ensure it stays crystal. I put it on about four months ago and my headlights look the same as they did when I first cleaned them up! HID output increased by at least 30%.
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I did the same for mine, inside and out. I wet sanded side to side with 2000 grit then used some buffing compound, then polish and lastly wax. Nothing a little bit of elbow grease can't fix.
Last edited by SChema; Aug 22, 2010 at 09:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 266
Likes: 2
From: Oswego, IL
I got this kit at Target. But since I have used it, I have noticed them everywhere. I think they were there before, I just didn't notice them. I've seen them at Wal-Mart, Pepboys, NAPA, advance auto parts. All the usual auto parts spots (at least in this part of the country). They range in price from 8 dollars to 14. Nothing too pricey, no matter where you shop.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 266
Likes: 2
From: Oswego, IL
I used a super old-tech drill. It's from the 1940's. Sadly, i didn't get any pictures of me holding. I pull it out when I want to scare the neighbors; it looks like it's a weapon of mass destruction. The kit comes with the buffing wheels that just attach to the drill.
i used some stuff recently on mine... i was called clean n clear headlights...
all it came with was 2 different grit sand papers and this weird resin...
i just sanded it with 600 then 1000 and it was all white and you couldnt see through it because of the sanding... then i applied the resin thing and it cleared up as i applied and as it dried it got even more clear. i thought it was kinda weird. the resin was some kind of protectant from the uv rays or whatever it is that makes it yellow.
not bad for about 10 bucks
all it came with was 2 different grit sand papers and this weird resin...
i just sanded it with 600 then 1000 and it was all white and you couldnt see through it because of the sanding... then i applied the resin thing and it cleared up as i applied and as it dried it got even more clear. i thought it was kinda weird. the resin was some kind of protectant from the uv rays or whatever it is that makes it yellow.
not bad for about 10 bucks
I did this a few weeks ago. It came out way better then expected.
But three days later water leaked in on the driver side and sat in
the headlight for three weeks lol. It's finally gone away. I'm going
to seal it up soon.
But three days later water leaked in on the driver side and sat in
the headlight for three weeks lol. It's finally gone away. I'm going
to seal it up soon.
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scorpio74
SC430 - 2nd Gen (2001-2010)
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Mar 27, 2013 08:04 AM
