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View Full Version : Well, here's my first outing with headlight polishing...

Nick Chapman
01-13-2007, 03:59 PM
Finally got a good pair of headlights to work on. Geesh, you'd think with this being a Mustang site and all that I really wouldn't have that much trouble getting a pair of nasty yellow headlights :D

Here's a couple of before picks....Not very pretty and in serious need of some help!

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/800headlights_010.jpg

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/800headlights_012.jpg


First I washed them up really good, then wetsanded them with 1500 grit. Polished them up with a good compound to get the sanding scratches out of them, then a good final polishing.........and here are the results!

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/800headlights_013.jpg

Here's a good close up. I couldn't get the rock chips out. Maybe I will play with that at another time...

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/800headlights_016.jpg

Let me know what you guys think.

Nick
cool cat
01-13-2007, 04:01 PM
Looks good. How much to do a 96 Civic?
barronj
01-13-2007, 04:03 PM
Good job!

I need to do that to my wagon. I just have to get them off the car first...
sleeperLS
01-13-2007, 04:03 PM
Good job man. Mine are beyond being fixed have a crack in em. so its dull inside too :(
Nick Chapman
01-13-2007, 04:14 PM
Looks good. How much to do a 96 Civic?


Since I' still playing with this, I'll do them for $20. Let me know if your interested.

Nick
84grn
01-13-2007, 05:14 PM
My goodness!! It looks good! I'm happy :)
Justa4banger
01-13-2007, 05:48 PM
what compound did you use to polish the lenses with? i have some VW lense that are in bad shape.
LIL_SLOW_RIDING_COUPE
01-13-2007, 06:56 PM
they look real good.........
kangol
01-13-2007, 06:58 PM
That is clearly a vast improvement.
WhtEdge
01-13-2007, 07:59 PM
Looks good. Let us know how long they stay clear. I have done a few pair and they started to fade back within a few months. Keeping a coat of wax on them helped a lot though.
TorchRedStang
01-13-2007, 09:04 PM
:o
Wow! Those look great Nick. My wife ended up buying me a new hood for Christmas and I am getting it painted in the next few weeks... wanna do some work on my headlights while i've got them out? I would love to have them looking as good as new again.

BTW... my wife felt really bad that you spent so much time on my hood because she had already bought me my new hood (Cobra R Hood) :o

Let me know if you want to practice your buffing on my old hood though!
Da Prez
01-13-2007, 09:14 PM
wow that looks awesome, i am gonna have to get you to do my headlights...
slow99
01-13-2007, 10:52 PM
Wow, that's nuts...Nick you're the fuckin' man!
Nick Chapman
01-14-2007, 09:10 AM
Thanks guys. This was my first outing with really bad lights, so I have no idea if they are going to fade back to the way they were or not. I really don't see why they would since I've wetsanded and buffed. I'll throw a couple of good coats of wax on them just to be safe, and I'll keep in touch with the owner to make sure nothing is abnormal. But I just can't see them returning to their dull and faded state again very quickly.


Matt, I'd be happy to work on your headlights while you've got them out. We'll have to figure out a place to meet up so I can get them from you. Also, I'd be more than happy to take your hood for a while. Give me a call when you get this and we'll talk a little more about it.


Nick
propellerhead
01-14-2007, 09:36 AM
I'd like to know if they will stay clean or do they get dull right away.
Nick Chapman
01-14-2007, 09:56 AM
I'd like to know if they will stay clean or do they get dull right away.


Guess time will tell. I would imagine they will stay looking like this since I've sanded the "bad" layer off, then buffed with an semi aggressive compound, then polished with a lighter compund, then wax. I'll keep tabs on this pair, and keep you guys posted on the long term results. If they do turn back quickly, I will be totally shocked.
propellerhead
01-14-2007, 10:07 AM
Yes, I'm curious. If the factory lights have a hard coating on them to keep them clear, then that coating is gone. I don't know if car wax will be as durable. If there wasn't some special coating, then taking that outer layer off would make them like new.
Nick Chapman
01-14-2007, 12:34 PM
Yes, I'm curious. If the factory lights have a hard coating on them to keep them clear, then that coating is gone. I don't know if car wax will be as durable. If there wasn't some special coating, then taking that outer layer off would make them like new.



Newer headlights have a thin film coating over them to protect them. But the older ones do not have this. Only the plastic that you see.
evil jose
01-14-2007, 01:14 PM
Damn Nick that looks awesome. How about some details on those headlights. Look like SN95 lights right? How old are they? Do you need to have the headlights off of the car in order to clean them? My mom's 95 Taurus SHO's headlights look terrible. I'd like to have you try and clean them out and see what you can do with them.
Nick Chapman
01-14-2007, 01:18 PM
Damn Nick that looks awesome. How about some details on those headlights. Look like SN95 lights right? How old are they? Do you need to have the headlights off of the car in order to clean them? My mom's 95 Taurus SHO's headlights look terrible. I'd like to have you try and clean them out and see what you can do with them.



I think they are out of a 94 GT.

Shouldn't need them out of the car. I just wanted these out so I could have some time to get my process down and have a day or 2 to work on them.

If you'd like for me to work on her headlights, just send e a PM and we'll talk about it. Or just give me a call when you get some free time.

Nick
evil jose
01-14-2007, 01:22 PM
I think they are out of a 94 GT.

Shouldn't need them out of the car. I just wanted these out so I could have some time to get my process down and have a day or 2 to work on them.

If you'd like for me to work on her headlights, just send e a PM and we'll talk about it. Or just give me a call when you get some free time.

Nick

Well do man.
Back N Black
01-17-2007, 02:52 AM
definetly going to have you to my wife's jeep lenses...they are doing the famous yellowing too...just started though so we can get it stopped! nice work :D
PooterWS6
01-17-2007, 09:19 AM
Since I' still playing with this, I'll do them for $20. Let me know if your interested.

Nick
LOL, damn I should have asked you when you came over to pick up the washer/dryer last night...

Kristens Prelude headlights are getting pretty yellow...

What polishing compound did you use after sanding? I think I may mess with hers when it warms up outside....
8mpg
01-17-2007, 09:45 AM
LOL, damn I should have asked you when you came over to pick up the washer/dryer last night...

Kristens Prelude headlights are getting pretty yellow...

What polishing compound did you use after sanding? I think I may mess with hers when it warms up outside....

id hope you mess around with her headlights...doesnt have to be warm out :D
Ferendon
01-17-2007, 10:24 AM
I've done this many times, and trust me, getting rid of the rockchips is more work than it's worth, unless some trick I don't know about. And not all headlights can be fixed, at least not in one treatment. I've had headlights that had to be done 3 or 4 times to get them clear again. I've used Micromesh to do it, I've buffed them, and done with sandpaper and rubbing/polishing compounds, and to be honest, the method you used is the easiest....