Headlight Restoration Before and After Pics

EleanorGT500 · May 6th, 2010, 05:22 PM

Ok, so I can't really afford the new headlights, even though I know that is the better route. With that, I decided, after much thought, that something done about the yellow, cracked headlights is better than nothing. I took my $20 bucks to Wal-Mart and got the following:

1. Blue painters tape
2. Latex Gloves
3. Micro-fiber cloth
4. Terry Cloth
5. 3M rubbing compound (Suggested by 6withavengence)
6. Meguiar's Plastx
7. Pack of 100 rough, 150 fine, 220 very fine sandpaper

After my failed attempt of trying the TurtleWax headlight restoration kit that comes with similar items, I wanted to go heavy duty. I DO NOT recommend the TurtleWax kit. It may be cheaper than Meguiar's and 3M's, but you get what you pay for.

Anywho, I went to work and this what I ended up with.

Before:
[IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

After:
[IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

It's not great, but much, much better than before. I was hoping the polish rubbing compound and polish would do a little better job at buffing out some of the sandpaper scratches, but hey, I can't complain.

mcqueen · May 6th, 2010, 05:25 PM

Maybe a finer sandpaper would help. 100 and 220 grit are really rough compared to the 1000-2000 grit sandpapers I use for wet sanding.

iammclovin804 · May 6th, 2010, 05:25 PM

honestly doesn't look any better to me.

EleanorGT500 · May 6th, 2010, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by mcqueen

Maybe a finer sandpaper would help. 100 and 220 grit are really rough compared to the 1000-2000 grit sandpapers I use for wet sanding.

I may try to get out for that. Like I said, I think it could be better. I'll try to get out to home depot tonight and get a finer sandpaper, re-apply the rubbing compound and polish again.

Hopefully will get better.

EleanorGT500 · May 6th, 2010, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by iammclovin804

honestly doesn't look any better to me.

The overall cloudiness isn't much better, but the yellow oxidation is gone.

mcqueen · May 6th, 2010, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by EleanorGT500

I may try to get out for that. Like I said, I think it could be better. I'll try to get out to home depot tonight and get a finer sandpaper, re-apply the rubbing compound and polish again.

Hopefully will get better.

If it doesn't get any better (although I think it will get slightly better) you may jut want to save up the money to buy a set of headlights on ebay (from a reputable seller of course).

03SonicBoom · May 6th, 2010, 06:17 PM

When I did my headlights I used 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 grit, and then used plastic polish. Went from worse than your originals to brand new looking.

Beerhunter · May 6th, 2010, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by 03SonicBoom

When I did my headlights I used 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 grit, and then used plastic polish. Went from worse than your originals to brand new looking.

^^ yes, you can get them looking new again.

mp4 player · May 6th, 2010, 06:22 PM

Yeah, you need to use much much finer sandpaper. They'll get a lot better than that but never perfect.

236Mustang · May 6th, 2010, 06:45 PM

was this the turtle wax kit you bought?

AutoZone.com | Headlight lens restorer kit includes 4 oz. spray lubricant, 4 oz. lens clarifying compound and 3 pcs. 1800-8000 grit restoration pad | Headlight lens restorer kit includes 4 oz. spray lubricant, 4 oz. lens clarifying compound and 3 pcs

cuz it worked great for me...

before

after

EleanorGT500 · May 6th, 2010, 06:46 PM

Ok, so they are much better! Upgraded to a 1,000, 1,500, and finished with a 2,000 grit using 3M's Wetordry brand sandpaper.

They now look better than when I bought the thing, I bought it used so by the time I bought it they had already started to oxidize.

Anyways without further adieu:

Left Headlight complete, Right headlight not complete:

[IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

Up Close on the Left Headlight:

[IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

Both Completed:

[IMG]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

236Mustang · May 6th, 2010, 06:53 PM

ahhh much better man

03SonicBoom · May 6th, 2010, 06:54 PM

Looks much better. At the VERY LEAST, keep them well waxed. I would also suggest spraying some clear coat over them to keep them from fogging up again.

EleanorGT500 · May 6th, 2010, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by 03SonicBoom

Looks much better. At the VERY LEAST, keep them well waxed. I would also suggest spraying some clear coat over them to keep them from fogging up again.

Thanks for the tip. Will do. I'll go pick some after class tonight.

99 BLUE V6 · May 6th, 2010, 07:33 PM

Good job looks great. Now close that hood your hurting my eye's. lol

branden0502 · May 6th, 2010, 07:58 PM

Looks good, nice job

iammclovin804 · May 6th, 2010, 09:11 PM

now that looks wayy better. when i bought mine they were all fogged out but i didn't even use a kit. i just bought new ones ha. but i guess you gotta do what you gotta do.

Codeman · May 6th, 2010, 10:56 PM

I always get fog on the inside. I must just be unlucky. Even my new headlights, I have siliconed the crap out of them, and still somehow get moisture inside them, it is irritating.

travis_afx · May 6th, 2010, 11:38 PM

Those ended up looking pretty good rubbing by hand. With plastic, the finer grit you can finish sand with, the clearer they will end up. A sealant polish would probably make them look even better, since you buffed them by hand. It will help fill any fine scratches left and make them look clearer.

EleanorGT500 · May 6th, 2010, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by travis_afx

Those ended up looking pretty good rubbing by hand. With plastic, the finer grit you can finish sand with, the clearer they will end up. A sealant polish would probably make them look even better, since you buffed them by hand. It will help fill any fine scratches left and make them look clearer.

Thanks for the tips boss. I am going to do some more work on the tomorrow. I am going to try to find a finer grit and seal them up. Thanks again.

May 6th, 2010, 05:22 PM	#1
EleanorGT500 Regular 2000 Mustang v6 N/A Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 93 iTrader: 0 reviews	Headlight Restoration Before and After Pics Ok, so I can't really afford the new headlights, even though I know that is the better route. With that, I decided, after much thought, that something done about the yellow, cracked headlights is better than nothing. I took my $20 bucks to Wal-Mart and got the following: 1. Blue painters tape 2. Latex Gloves 3. Micro-fiber cloth 4. Terry Cloth 5. 3M rubbing compound (Suggested by 6withavengence) 6. Meguiar's Plastx 7. Pack of 100 rough, 150 fine, 220 very fine sandpaper After my failed attempt of trying the TurtleWax headlight restoration kit that comes with similar items, I wanted to go heavy duty. I DO NOT recommend the TurtleWax kit. It may be cheaper than Meguiar's and 3M's, but you get what you pay for. Anywho, I went to work and this what I ended up with. Before: [IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG] After: [IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG] It's not great, but much, much better than before. I was hoping the polish rubbing compound and polish would do a little better job at buffing out some of the sandpaper scratches, but hey, I can't complain.

May 6th, 2010, 06:17 PM	#7
03SonicBoom Moderator 2003 Grand Cherokee Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 6,625 iTrader: 0 reviews	When I did my headlights I used 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 grit, and then used plastic polish. Went from worse than your originals to brand new looking. __________________

May 6th, 2010, 06:45 PM	#10
236Mustang Regular Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Corpus Christi Posts: 442 iTrader: 0 reviews	was this the turtle wax kit you bought? AutoZone.com \| Headlight lens restorer kit includes 4 oz. spray lubricant, 4 oz. lens clarifying compound and 3 pcs. 1800-8000 grit restoration pad \| Headlight lens restorer kit includes 4 oz. spray lubricant, 4 oz. lens clarifying compound and 3 pcs cuz it worked great for me... before after __________________ 1995 Turbo V6 Mustang (auto) Check out my build <---- ET: 14.1@99mph (coupler blowing off/MBC failing ) Built by Iron Horse Motorsports

May 6th, 2010, 06:53 PM	#12
236Mustang Regular Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Corpus Christi Posts: 442 iTrader: 0 reviews	ahhh much better man __________________ 1995 Turbo V6 Mustang (auto) Check out my build <---- ET: 14.1@99mph (coupler blowing off/MBC failing ) Built by Iron Horse Motorsports

May 6th, 2010, 06:54 PM	#13
03SonicBoom Moderator 2003 Grand Cherokee Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 6,625 iTrader: 0 reviews	Looks much better. At the VERY LEAST, keep them well waxed. I would also suggest spraying some clear coat over them to keep them from fogging up again. __________________

May 6th, 2010, 05:25 PM	#3
iammclovin804 Regular 2004 Mustang GT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kaneohe Bay, HI Posts: 342 iTrader: 0 reviews	honestly doesn't look any better to me.

May 6th, 2010, 06:22 PM	#9
mp4 player Hardcore Enthusiast '00 V6 Procharged Mustang Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: WA Posts: 1,345 iTrader: 1 reviews	Yeah, you need to use much much finer sandpaper. They'll get a lot better than that but never perfect.

May 6th, 2010, 06:46 PM	#11
EleanorGT500 Regular 2000 Mustang v6 N/A Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 93 iTrader: 0 reviews	Ok, so they are much better! Upgraded to a 1,000, 1,500, and finished with a 2,000 grit using 3M's Wetordry brand sandpaper. They now look better than when I bought the thing, I bought it used so by the time I bought it they had already started to oxidize. Anyways without further adieu: Left Headlight complete, Right headlight not complete: [IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG] Up Close on the Left Headlight: [IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG] Both Completed: [IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

May 6th, 2010, 07:33 PM	#15
99 BLUE V6 Premium Member 99 V6 BASE NEVER RACED THIS ONE Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: PALM BEACH FLORIDA Posts: 1,377 iTrader: 1 reviews	Good job looks great. Now close that hood your hurting my eye's. lol __________________

May 6th, 2010, 07:58 PM	#16
branden0502 Regular 1995 Mustang V6 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 152 iTrader: 0 reviews	Looks good, nice job __________________ To Obama: He that lives upon hope will die fasting. Benjamin Franklin A government with the strength to give you everything you want, has the strength to take away everything you have.

May 6th, 2010, 09:11 PM	#17
iammclovin804 Regular 2004 Mustang GT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kaneohe Bay, HI Posts: 342 iTrader: 0 reviews	now that looks wayy better. when i bought mine they were all fogged out but i didn't even use a kit. i just bought new ones ha. but i guess you gotta do what you gotta do.

May 6th, 2010, 10:56 PM	#18
Codeman Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Dakota Posts: 2,933 iTrader: 1 reviews	I always get fog on the inside. I must just be unlucky. Even my new headlights, I have siliconed the crap out of them, and still somehow get moisture inside them, it is irritating. __________________ UDP, CAI, True Duals, LTs, 91 Tune from TT, 3.73 gears, Tlok,Windstar upper, GT TB, Ported lower, Comp 218/226 cam, FRPP C Springs, J&M LCA, Tokico Blue shocks and struts, and J&M Full Length Subframe Connectors

May 6th, 2010, 11:38 PM	#19
travis_afx Rebel Of The Sacred Heart '02 GT Join Date: May 2007 Location: OK Posts: 2,338 iTrader: 0 reviews	Those ended up looking pretty good rubbing by hand. With plastic, the finer grit you can finish sand with, the clearer they will end up. A sealant polish would probably make them look even better, since you buffed them by hand. It will help fill any fine scratches left and make them look clearer. __________________ Travis Billings May 6, 1982 - July 5, 2011 Rest In Peace brother, you will be missed.

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