Rain-X Headlight Restoration

[message]

Have yet to see this in store... Anyone hear good/bad about it?
Unlike most kits this one actually involves applying a sealer to protect the raw plastic from future decay.
Rain-X® Headlight Restoration Kit

 

[Atlanta_man]

Have yet to see this in store... Anyone hear good/bad about it?
Unlike most kits this one actually involves applying a sealer to protect the raw plastic from future decay.
Rain-X® Headlight Restoration Kit

I'm tempted to try this or something similar on my sandblasted / tiny pits windshield before replacing it.

 

[message]

Well I'm not terrible impressed with this product. Had high hopes, but like most others it does not last. The sealer is almost like a mineral oil of sorts and washes off before long. I've done my headlights twice now as after about 6 months they began to cloud again.
Only good thing I have to say about it is I was able to do 4 sets of headlights thus far with the same kit and could probably do at least 2 more.

 

[Brique]

Sylvania has a kit too that I've heard good things about. Gonna try that one on my wife's car (my truck doesn't need it yet).

 

[DexTech]

first I used Harbor Freights $10 headlight restoration kit. essentially just sand paper with drill attachments.

After that I apply Meguiars Headlight Protectant about once a month. about $8 a bottle and it goes a long way.

three years and still relatively clear.

for some odd reason the top portion of the headlight lens on the drivers side gets cloudy sooner than the rest of the lens. the top of the passenger side lens isn't as cloudy as the drivers side. can't explain it just something I've noticed.

 

[jgue467]

Try toothpaste for lens cleaning/clearing

Look on youtube, saw a vid the other day, this guy used regular 'whitening' type toothpaste, wet the lens, layered on a bunch of tpaste and rubbed and rubbed for maybe 5 minutes on each lens, circular, edge to edge all directions, then wiped with damp towel, rinsed and repeated wiping with a clean towel and buffed for a minute or two and wow like new! Not sure how it would last but hey its cheap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lZ96BXoT10

 

[clem18]

Decided to try Rain-x... I hope it last better than turtlewax which lasted less than a year.

right lens before




Left lens after

 

[Kmvreter]

Decided to try Rain-x... I hope it last better than turtlewax which lasted less than a year...

Lets us know how it holds up.

 

[clem18]

Latest update is not good. I did it April and now it's back to the before photos :Cry:

 

[Kmvreter]

Latest update is not good. I did it April and now it's back to the before photos :Cry:

Thanks.

 

[Kmvreter]

Look on youtube, saw a vid the other day, this guy used regular 'whitening' type toothpaste...

Gave this a try and it cleaned them up. Not perfect but got rid of the haze.
I'll do something else longterm when needed.

 

[Mc1337sauce]

Just a bit of a tip: use a good sealant like Meguiar's M21 or Ultimate Wax after restoring the headlights to keep them clear. They are just like paint in that they will oxidize quickly unless they are protected. If they are kept waxed they will not fade - I have never had to re-restore a headlight that was properly protected.

Also, if you have heavy oxidation, simply using a bottled product will not restore your headlights. If you do have heavier oxidation and a product like the Rain-X restorer or Meguiar's Plast-X is not working for you, wet sand the headlights with 1500 followed by 3000 grit sandpaper, and use the product (I personally use Plast-X) to polish out the fine scratches until the lens is perfectly clear. Of course, make sure to use sealant after this, and the light will stay clear for years to come.

 

[SN95cobr04]

I used a rag and bug spray. Something about the deet in it. Just spray it on to a rag and scrub your headlights. Worked really good for me and it was only like $4.

 

[Dave Giberton]

It's a plastic lens cover, hit it with a 1000 grit wet dry sand paper if bad and then buff it out with a plastic rubbing compound. it will look good as new.

 

[edwardvmassey]

Sorry to dig this one up but if you want a lasting result, head to your nearest maaco or other body shop (unless you have urethane clear). They'll sand down the lens to about 1000-1500 grit and then give it a few good coats of clearcoat and it'll last for years. Just got my dad's done and they even guaranteed it for life for $50 (i know a guy).
You can always sand it down yourself and use some rattle can clear, I'm sure it'll work just as well.