Cleaning the car headlights, just take some glass cleaner? On No! Not like the old days?

[Don2222]

Hello
Wow? It is not just dirty glass headlights you can just wipe off!!
So here are the easiest steps I found!!
Anything else to consider?
1. Mask area around headlight to absorb splatter.
2. Using a gentle cleaner, spray on plastic headlight lens and wipe off the dirt. I used a vinegar solution in a spray bottle.
3. Use special plastic cleaning polish like Meguires PlastX Polish with a high speed polisher. I used an HF air polisher 2400 RPMs but a 15,000 or 21,000 RPMs would even be better. Apply and grind polish.
I removed the application from the polisher and manually spread the polish all over the plastic lens. Then put the pad on and polished until the lens was clear.
Repeat step 3 three times to complete the polishing.
4. Use the buffer pad to make it shine.
5. Use a paper towel or dry micro fiber cloth to polish corners and any missed spots.
6. Spray on the protector 1st coat and allow 3-5 mins to dry and spray on second coat for a lasting clean shine.
Pic 1-3 - before pics 2007 Camry
Pic 4 - mask around headlight
Pic 5 - spray cleaner
Pic 6 - cleaners and buffers
Pic 7 - Spray cleaner and wipe off
Pic 8 - spread polish
Pic 9 - polish with high RPMs repeat 3 times
Pic 10 - Buff with buffer pad
Pic 11 - wipe corners and missed spots
Pic 12 - spray 2 coats of protector like Meguires headlight protector
Pic 13 - remove masking tape
Pic 14-16 All done - looks like new!
Hopefully this will last a while!

 

[EbS-P]

Nice work!

 

[gthomas785]

I need to do this on my 07 Yaris, the headlights are really bad. I even have the polishing kit my brother gave me. Thanks for reminding me to try it out.

 

[Don2222]

That is quite the difference. I read somewhere that you can use toothpaste as the polishing agent, but have never tried it.

Hi
When the headlight kits first came out they were expensive and there was only enough to do it a few times.
Now Meguires has the good stuff cheap at Walmart and plenty for many many times!
These are made special jist for this.
Headlight Plastic Polish
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Meguiar-...and-Polish/16550253?athbdg=L1600&from=/search
Headlight Coating
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Meguiar-...7804-4-Oz/191830787?athbdg=L1600&from=/search
Also you can get the Ryobi polishing pads cheap at Home Depot that work on a regular drill.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-B...-4-Piece-A92402/319700948#ratings-and-reviews

 

[vbu]

I did the same thing to my work beater the other day. I went from candle lights to super bright lights, night and day difference. Should've done this a long time ago. I used this kit and it worked excellent, it is super clear and not one flaw in the finish

 

[gthomas785]

How long would you say the whole process took to polish your headlights?

 

[vbu]

How long would you say the whole process took to polish your headlights?

20 minutes per side, if that. The kit I showed comes with everything you need

 

[gthomas785]

20 minutes per side, if that. The kit I showed comes with everything you need

Great I will try it if not tonight then tomorrow. thanks for the motivational before/after pics it really makes me want to give it a shot now, just have to find where I put that kit lol

 

[Don2222]

I did the same thing to my work beater the other day. I went from candle lights to super bright lights, night and day difference. Should've done this a long time ago. I used this kit and it worked excellent, it is super clear and not one flaw in the finish
View attachment 314230

View attachment 314228 View attachment 314229

Excellent- that looks great!
My friend says that if the spray protector has UV block then it should stay clean for 2 years!!

 

[johneh]

One suggestion! spray with a UV-protectant clear coat
Will last much longer

 

[vbu]

One suggestion! spray with a UV-protectant clear coat
Will last much longer

The 3M kit comes with clear coat wipes, didn't want to get overspray on the paint work

Excellent- that looks great!
My friend says that if the spray protector has UV block then it should stay clean for 2 years!!

That's what I read as well. The 3M kit comes with clear coat wipes, really easy to put on and supposed to protect it for several years. We'll see how long it holds up here in the south

 

[zrock]

20 minutes per side, if that. The kit I showed comes with everything you need

That is if you just have a standard headlight with a thin clearcoat. My old truck had some sort of super thick clear coat on it or a thin class film over the headlight.. To get them to polish out properly this all had to be removed and took me a hour plus per side to get it off with the sander..

 

[Don2222]

Hello
One other thing I found is that the headlight lenses may not be smooth and need to be smoothed out for even better results with very very fine sand paper! Has anyone done this?
https://store.detailking.com/headlight-sandpaper#:~:text=600 Grit: Should be used,this is the most aggressive.&text=800 Grit: Should be used,headlight lenses have medium oxidation.
Hello
One other thing I found is that the headlight lenses may not be smooth and need to be smoothed out for even better results with very very fine sand paper! Has anyone done this?
Headlight Sandpaper.
Harbor Freight had these 5” stock-on which can be cut to 3” for the air polisher cheap.

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-...s-with-aluminum-oxide-grain-5-pack-58287.html

 

[zrock]

i would grab some paper over 1000-1500 as well.. will make the final polish much easier to achieve getting the sanding marks out..

 

[vbu]

The 3M kit comes with 500 grit and 800 grit for the coarse sanding. The finishing pad is 3000 grit. After sanding it with the 3000 grit it is super smooth

 

[gthomas785]

All done!

 

[Don2222]

The 3M kit comes with 500 grit and 800 grit for the coarse sanding. The finishing pad is 3000 grit. After sanding it with the 3000 grit it is super smooth

3,000 grit - way to go! Thanks for the info!

 

[Don2222]

This looks like a good kit for the money?
https://www.harborfreight.com/delux...rhIF-pa-zQTMneKVkqsC_ZwAJDU3dNWxoCwRoQAvD_BwE

 

[Don2222]

Actually for a few more dollars, this looks like a very good deal. 30 sanding pads for each grit!
Amazon product ASIN B07Y7YRWPH