Headlight Restoration...great product!!

2tone · 03-14-2009, 04:12 PM

Hey, just thought i'd share this...

mods - if this needs to be in "show and shine" please move it; i thought it'd get more exposure here.

sorry if this is a repost, but i didn't see anything posted about it before. i found this product in the mazda 3 forum. my girlfriend picked up a nice used mazda 3 a month or so ago. the car is in great shape; the only obvious sign of wear was the headlights! they were flat out disgusting. i was just about to do the wetsand/polish/wax method but kept reading that some people said it would lead to quicker oxidation next time by sanding down the outer layer of the plastic. anyway, i eventually found this in a thread over there and ordered it.

while it's not 100%, it is damn near close, and damn easy to do! i recommend it for anyone; i used it on my 8 and it restored a little shine, although it wasn't bad to begin with.

it's hard to tell in the pics, but the difference is night-and-day with minimal effort. i taped off to be safe, but in their videos on their site they don't. oh, that is oxidation crap, not just dirt/grime on the headlight. cleaning and polish alone did absolutely nothing, this was a well spent $35.

http://www.ibc34.com/Before-and-After.html

BEFORE is below; AFTER is in 2nd post

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2tone · 03-14-2009, 04:13 PM

After...

Aipex8 · 03-14-2009, 07:44 PM

Thanks for the post. My headlights are getting a couple of spots. I've been using Meguiars clear plastic polish which will make it go away for a few months, but it slowly creeps back. Might have to pick up some of this.

BTW, my girlfriend just picked up a Ti Gray 3 too. His and hers Mazdas! How cute!

2tone · 03-14-2009, 08:52 PM

ha ha, it's a nice car; i like not having to drive the 8 for every little errand, and for it's class it drives really nice. yours match though, i have a black 8, so not QUITE as cute...

if you were in the area i'd give you some, it really only takes a drop or two...i guess it's nice to have extra for in the future.

WantedTwo · 03-15-2009, 03:10 AM

Thanks for the post, I just picked some up

fannin522 · 03-15-2009, 08:31 AM

sweet thx for info ive been needing something to clean up my head lights

rx 8speciale · 03-15-2009, 12:12 PM

thanks for the info im geeting one.

2tone · 03-15-2009, 12:41 PM

glad i could help!

Sebastian1802 · 03-15-2009, 09:19 PM

Works Perfect on my Nissan Maxima 00

SiLVeRE8 · 03-15-2009, 09:38 PM

wow i gotta get some of this

9krpmrx8 · 06-10-2009, 05:32 PM

The link doesn't work, is this a sanding method? The plastx works ok but only for a few days. I noticed I have a lot of chips in the plastic, will this help?

ZumnRx8 · 06-10-2009, 05:33 PM

PlastX works for like 2 weeks, but if you use a buffer it can last alost a month or more

9krpmrx8 · 06-10-2009, 05:38 PM

Use a buffer to remove it? How many coats?

ZumnRx8 · 06-10-2009, 05:48 PM

I use a single coat. It works real good and is worth the $2 instead of having yellow foggy lights and sure beats paying $2k for new ones or paying a lot of money for professional cleaning

9krpmrx8 · 06-10-2009, 05:58 PM

Ok, the link is working. Which one do I order, the one step?

2tone · 06-10-2009, 06:47 PM

9k...i forget which one, it was like $25 or $28 i think, for one tube.

FYI - the haze on the headlights DID come back!! So this product certainly doesn't correct the issue. i guess like others said, once the oxidation starts, it will keep coming back!! but for how easy it is to use, and how little amount it takes, i still think it's worth it...just reapply and 2 minutes later you're good to go!

chickenwafer · 06-10-2009, 07:26 PM

The whole reason OEM headlights take a long time to oxidize is because they have a UV hardener that eventually wears out. Nothing will prevent oxidation unless you put it back on.

I really like this product: http://tourenn.amazonwebstore.com/Gl...B001CYC2ZY.htm

GlassyLite. It polishes your headlights, and then re hardens them so oxidation doesn't come back. It works really well

krijpipudht · 06-10-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiLVeRE8

wow i gotta get some of this

Just did mine.
I have a 3M kit.

Come over, I'll help you do it.

SiLVeRE8 · 06-10-2009, 09:39 PM

I did mine long time ago with the mequiars plastX... lol I give it a quick polish everytime I wash my car to prevent it from oxidizing. Thanks for the offer though Tony!

9krpmrx8 · 06-10-2009, 10:11 PM

3m kit? More info please.

krijpipudht · 06-11-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8

3m kit? More info please.

Reason I picked 3M is the kit comes with everything including pad holder that connect to drill.
It's make job whole lot easier. Especially, during buffing.
Beside, a kit is just around $20 that could do couple cars.

Actually, I only used half of the system.
My head light is not that bad, just some light scratches and barely visible oxidation.

I tried Plastic X, but it won't remove scratches

So I used 3000 grit + foam buffer + Plastic X.
(3M kit comes with their paste too, but it is in one-time-use package.
I don't need that much, so I just use Plastic X that I had already open)

Result is awesome!

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SiLVeRE8 · 06-11-2009, 02:18 AM

I was checking the 3M kit out and looks great! If you want to remove scratches 3M kit is the way to go

9krpmrx8 · 06-11-2009, 09:30 AM

Can you buy the 3M kit locally?

krijpipudht · 06-11-2009, 04:32 PM

I got mine from Auto Zone.

Brian Major · 06-11-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenwafer

The whole reason OEM headlights take a long time to oxidize is because they have a UV hardener that eventually wears out. Nothing will prevent oxidation unless you put it back on.

I really like this product: http://tourenn.amazonwebstore.com/Gl...B001CYC2ZY.htm

GlassyLite. It polishes your headlights, and then re hardens them so oxidation doesn't come back. It works really well

this is m concern as well, i've thought of just cleaning my existing lights and putting a lamin-x kit over the headlights to seal them.