New_2_4runners
New member
Just some pictures of how well the 3M kit works.
Headlight Restoration
- Thread starter New_2_4runners
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Cosmic Shel
Junior Member
Looks Terrific!! Thanks for posting this, as I need to do mine this week. They aren't bad, but could use a little shine.
Looks great!
I love the 3000 grit disk this comes with it I'm thinking of the right one. One thing I don't like about these kits is the big jumps in grit numbers. Like trying to take out 800 grit sanding mark with 3000g.
Are you using anything to protect them now?
I detail vehicles on the side and usually they will start to cloud over in a year or so depending on how much sun exposure they see without good protection. But usually you can just repolish them without the sanding and they will look good again.
Most "waxes" and sealants won't help much. Even the headlight coating products (similar to paint coatings) barely last 2 years.
Two best options for preserving them are using headlight, or paint protective film, or leaving them ruff sanded and spraying them with 2 part clear coat.
Sorry for hijacking your thread. Again, they look great.
Researching and doing my own headlights is what first got me into detailing.
I love the 3000 grit disk this comes with it I'm thinking of the right one. One thing I don't like about these kits is the big jumps in grit numbers. Like trying to take out 800 grit sanding mark with 3000g.
Are you using anything to protect them now?
I detail vehicles on the side and usually they will start to cloud over in a year or so depending on how much sun exposure they see without good protection. But usually you can just repolish them without the sanding and they will look good again.
Most "waxes" and sealants won't help much. Even the headlight coating products (similar to paint coatings) barely last 2 years.
Two best options for preserving them are using headlight, or paint protective film, or leaving them ruff sanded and spraying them with 2 part clear coat.
Sorry for hijacking your thread. Again, they look great.
Researching and doing my own headlights is what first got me into detailing.
Very true!
I've seen a video of someone replacing their old headlight film. His was 7 or more years old and looked beat, but underneath the headlight looked new.
Tire Torcher
New member
I used the same 3M kit a year ago, I used nothing to protect them and they were cloudy again in 3 months. That's on the BC coast where sun is not very intense. I polished again and they came out great, 3 months later, back to cloudy. It's amazing how long they last from new, but once they get cloudy they sure "re-cloud" again fast. I should probably put protector on, but the fact is, it's probably as fast to re-polish as it is to apply protector.
volkinator
New member
3M makes other kits that have a headlight clear coat. It's a thin UV blocking film that when applied correctly, should last a couple years.
New_2_4runners
New member
^^yup, that’s the ticket, you just spray UV clear coat over it when you’re done.
foldinglemon
New member
Yep - used this exact kit on ours. Results were similar, but the headlights have age cracks or something which were visible. They're turning cloudy fairly quickly again, I'll have to go and check how bad they are now though.
Maybe I'll do it again with that UV coating people are suggesting here.
Maybe I'll do it again with that UV coating people are suggesting here.
I bought these two items off of amazon, you get enough sanding paper to clean a number of headlights. you'll need to use some elbow grease because there's no drill attachment but you can go from 800 to 900 to 1000, to 1500, to 2000 to 2500 and finally to 3000 if you want, I think i only used 800, 1000, 2000 and 3000.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZ6TG05/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
once I have the headlights sanded down as finely as you can with the 3000 paper I used this stuff on a buffing pad, also on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AR7KVA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
results are better than any kit i have ever used, not dissing the 3M kit but the setup above costs less and leaves you with enough extra to do some friends vehicles if you want!
Hope this helps someone.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZ6TG05/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
once I have the headlights sanded down as finely as you can with the 3000 paper I used this stuff on a buffing pad, also on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AR7KVA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
results are better than any kit i have ever used, not dissing the 3M kit but the setup above costs less and leaves you with enough extra to do some friends vehicles if you want!
Hope this helps someone.
Stormstaff
New member
I'm glad this was brought up. I work part-time in a store that sells paint supplies to body shops and it amazing how many people don't know to re-clear the lights afterwards
Bluesky 07
Senior Member
Granted mine were already in decent shape when I bought my '07 back in 2014 but I use PlastX from time to time and it keeps them crystal clear. I know I need to clearcoat them eventually though.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
I used an automotive aerosol 2K clear coat on my headlights after buffing and they've started to peel a year later on the top edge closest to the hood.
Then I tried the Sylvania restore kit on my mom's Sequoia and liked the wipe-on clear coat that came with that kit but time will tell if it holds up. A lot less masking and prep work than the spray-on clear I tried on my truck. Don't have to worry about overspray.
Then I tried the Sylvania restore kit on my mom's Sequoia and liked the wipe-on clear coat that came with that kit but time will tell if it holds up. A lot less masking and prep work than the spray-on clear I tried on my truck. Don't have to worry about overspray.
I always chime in with Duragloss's Plastic Polish.
Just did my 2003 headlights prior to a road trip last month.
To my surprise (I normally fire up the rotary polisher; but misplaced my box of pads and it was -13F), I got 75% of the result with 30 seconds each side via a microfiber cloth.
I do this 2-3 times a year typically.. have purchased clear film (PPF), yet to install.
Just did my 2003 headlights prior to a road trip last month.
To my surprise (I normally fire up the rotary polisher; but misplaced my box of pads and it was -13F), I got 75% of the result with 30 seconds each side via a microfiber cloth.
I do this 2-3 times a year typically.. have purchased clear film (PPF), yet to install.
I’m no detailer but spent a good amount of time reading up on this issue.
I won’t bore you with what I’ve tried but the one I tried that works the best is the 2 part clear coat spray. So far I get about a good 1 - 1/2 year without any maintenance. The other good solution which is easier to apply is, spar urethane and mineral spirit. Use a 1:1 mixture w/ a clean blue shop towel. Folded to where you can dip into the mix, and just slightly coat the lens after you’ve sanded, polished the headlight. At first when you apply it, it may look as if there’ could possibly be streaks, don’t freak out. Once applied, it should level out and smooth itself. When you dip the towel into the mixture make sure you don’t use too much or else it’ll run. Best part about this is, if you mess up, wipe the surface w mineral spirit to remove the 1:1 mixture and start again. Comes out looking like new.
I won’t bore you with what I’ve tried but the one I tried that works the best is the 2 part clear coat spray. So far I get about a good 1 - 1/2 year without any maintenance. The other good solution which is easier to apply is, spar urethane and mineral spirit. Use a 1:1 mixture w/ a clean blue shop towel. Folded to where you can dip into the mix, and just slightly coat the lens after you’ve sanded, polished the headlight. At first when you apply it, it may look as if there’ could possibly be streaks, don’t freak out. Once applied, it should level out and smooth itself. When you dip the towel into the mixture make sure you don’t use too much or else it’ll run. Best part about this is, if you mess up, wipe the surface w mineral spirit to remove the 1:1 mixture and start again. Comes out looking like new.
Slixx, you must have found that huge thread on Autogeek about spar urethane.
If you are coating them with clear coat, or urethane, just remember that to leave them rough sanded to give the coating something to hold on to.
The clear coat will have a much harder time holding on to a completely smooth polished surface.
Don’t worry about how unclear they are after they are just sanded, the clear coat will fill in the sanding marks and make it look nice and clear.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If you are coating them with clear coat, or urethane, just remember that to leave them rough sanded to give the coating something to hold on to.
The clear coat will have a much harder time holding on to a completely smooth polished surface.
Don’t worry about how unclear they are after they are just sanded, the clear coat will fill in the sanding marks and make it look nice and clear.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
lightfreak
New member
I have a can of this clear coat, gonna try it when the weather warms up
https://www.napacanada.com/en/p/MAX3680061
YouTube
https://www.napacanada.com/en/p/MAX3680061
YouTube
