Headlight Restoration DIY
#1
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Headlight Restoration DIY
Did a DIY for the Meguiar's headlight restoration kit on my RX-8. Hope you all enjoy and Subscribe to my channel if you enjoy!
Last edited by Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2; 04-24-2019 at 01:16 AM.
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Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2 (04-23-2019)
#3
Smoking turbo yay
I did mask the surrounding area and still got a bit of spray on.
Not a big deal. You can use some diluted alcohol to clean it off without harming the paint.
Not a big deal. You can use some diluted alcohol to clean it off without harming the paint.
#4
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After having the coating cure since last week, i was able to remove the overspray with the all mighty handy dandy denature alcohol. Haha.Like you said, not a big deal, no damage to the paint and was easy to remove even after fully curing.
#6
I used this same kit about a year ago, headlights looked good for a couple of months. After ~6 months every little imperfection started showing, now it's looking hazy again. But I did have to drive in shitty winter conditions, all the gravel and road grime being flung at me probably didn't help.
#7
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I used this same kit about a year ago, headlights looked good for a couple of months. After ~6 months every little imperfection started showing, now it's looking hazy again. But I did have to drive in shitty winter conditions, all the gravel and road grime being flung at me probably didn't help.
#9
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#12
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#13
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I'm kind of wondering about using the acetone vapor method.
Remove the factory protective layer (ultra-fine grit sandpaper?).
Put some acetone in a 12v heated mug with a funnel cap.
Let the vapor smooth out the plastic.
Then put a protective film (like this) over the headlight.
Just make sure the mug liner and funnel are acetone compatible (no ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic, etc https://www.plasticsintl.com/chemical-resistance-chart)
Put some acetone in a 12v heated mug with a funnel cap.
Let the vapor smooth out the plastic.
Then put a protective film (like this) over the headlight.
Just make sure the mug liner and funnel are acetone compatible (no ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic, etc https://www.plasticsintl.com/chemical-resistance-chart)
Last edited by NotAPreppie; 04-25-2019 at 09:19 AM.
#14
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I'm kind of wondering about using the acetone vapor method.
acetone vapor method
Remove the factory protective layer (ultra-fine grit sandpaper?).
Put some acetone in a 12v heated mug with a funnel cap.
Let the vapor smooth out the plastic.
Then put a protective film (like this) over the headlight.
Just make sure the mug liner and funnel are acetone compatible (no ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic, etc https://www.plasticsintl.com/chemical-resistance-chart)
acetone vapor method
Remove the factory protective layer (ultra-fine grit sandpaper?).
Put some acetone in a 12v heated mug with a funnel cap.
Let the vapor smooth out the plastic.
Then put a protective film (like this) over the headlight.
Just make sure the mug liner and funnel are acetone compatible (no ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic, etc https://www.plasticsintl.com/chemical-resistance-chart)
Has anyone tried this?
#15
Project Seca
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Ehh I don't know how I feel about that. I'll stick to either a drill mounted polishing pad with the compound I mentioned like I have been using now for a considerable amount of time, or the same compound but using a 3" air powered polisher to do the work and probably get significantly better results.
#16
Smoking turbo yay
Having acetone near any painted surface? Nope, I don't trust myself doing that. I tend to have butter fingers...
If you take the headlight assemblies off the car, that could work.
If you take the headlight assemblies off the car, that could work.
#17
Project Seca
iTrader: (10)
Mind you my example was a polish all by hand... The last time I went all out with a good wet sand and polish (followed with sealing and UV protecting), it lasted years without deterioration or fading.
#18
i guess for a quick fix that solution can work.
But nothing beats polish and ceramic coating.
I had my rx8 headlights removed and gave them to a friend who polished them thoroughly.
Finally added two layers of ceramic coating.
Before they were yellow as a lemon and foggy as a bus window in winter.
Now they look like new (apart from spider-web like cracks that cannot be fixed (they are still sealed thought, so no condensation yet))
But nothing beats polish and ceramic coating.
I had my rx8 headlights removed and gave them to a friend who polished them thoroughly.
Finally added two layers of ceramic coating.
Before they were yellow as a lemon and foggy as a bus window in winter.
Now they look like new (apart from spider-web like cracks that cannot be fixed (they are still sealed thought, so no condensation yet))
#19
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i guess for a quick fix that solution can work.
But nothing beats polish and ceramic coating.
I had my rx8 headlights removed and gave them to a friend who polished them thoroughly.
Finally added two layers of ceramic coating.
Before they were yellow as a lemon and foggy as a bus window in winter.
Now they look like new (apart from spider-web like cracks that cannot be fixed (they are still sealed thought, so no condensation yet))
But nothing beats polish and ceramic coating.
I had my rx8 headlights removed and gave them to a friend who polished them thoroughly.
Finally added two layers of ceramic coating.
Before they were yellow as a lemon and foggy as a bus window in winter.
Now they look like new (apart from spider-web like cracks that cannot be fixed (they are still sealed thought, so no condensation yet))
#20
Well i don't know for sure. Maybe Meguar. But yeah, a year or two should be if i take care of the headlights. Like making sure there are no bugs or accumulated dirt on them
#21
///// Upscale Zoom-Zoom
The issue is you cannot reverse the increasing auto oxidation of polycarbonate as it ages. You can treat the surface to remove the exposed crystalline surface but it will continue to occur.
#23
///// Upscale Zoom-Zoom
So has anyone had the restored lights last more than 12-16 months?
#25
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Yep! Even Mazda's in-shop repair procedure/product uses a clearcoat afterward to prevent UV-related polycarbonate failure. I didn't clear mine last time and they are well on their way to dingy again -- going to use the clear and do a more thorough job on the polishing before hand, next time.
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