3M Headlight correction + clean pics

[wilyoldave]

Well I have had the 172 for a month now - Ive fitted an alloy foot rest, KN panel filter, clear repeaters and my old JVC headunit, but today I tackled one of the things that was bugging me the most!

The headlights! they were crap.....really spoiled the front of the car.

So after looking at various options decided to have a go myself with the 3M headlight correction kit (£19 ebay!)

So masked them up.

500 grit....

800 grit....

P3000 Trizact....

Polished....

Finished and car cleaned....

Overall very pleased with the results - headlights look really good now.

Few tips:-

1 Double mask around the edges,
2 Cover up everything you can when doing it as s**t goes everywhere!
3 Take your time, dont push to hard! I probably spent more time sanding than you really need to but the results were definitely worth it.

Overall the best £19 ive spent in a long while and tbh it was a a simple process to obtain amazing results

 

[RDH]

Great results for £19!

 

[scotty10]

great result going by those pics thats made me really want to give it a go now

 

[wilyoldave]

Do it - if I can without buggering it up anyone can!

 

[Daniel]

£19 for a kit?? That's a bargain!

*goes off to ebay*

 

[wilyoldave]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251169282311

Ordered on Sunday - turned up Tuesday - spot on!

 

[Daniel]

Is it re-useable?

Like can I do 4/5 cars with it?

 

[wilyoldave]

No not re-useable - just enough to do 2 headlights. I suppose what is left is enough to keep on top of keeping the headlights nice n shiny.

 

[jonesyblue87]

sold!! just bought me a kit :approve:

 

[George182]

Yep, just bought one too.

Cheers!

 

[jesus]

They're the worse I've seen! Excellent job on tidying them up.

 

[Callum 197]

Awesome job! Looks 100 times better

 

[Rhauri]

Awesome, nice 172 n all. Your camera captures the shade Monaco really well too doesn't it?

 

[CrippsCorner]

I did this to mine and it looked fantastic for a few months but then started fading again anyone had this?

 

[lokqust]

I've just ordered the kit because mine are horrendous and have gone through yellow and are almost bloody orange. Ill post up some before and afters next week some time.

A good wax on the lights prevents a lot of the damage from coming back so in told.

 

[wilyoldave]

I waxed mine - i reckon a quick polish every couple of months will keep them looking good.

 

[mozzer_morrey]

This post came just in time, i was just searching for a way of cleaning mine. Thanks, ill definitely be buying this kit

 

[adamlstr]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251169282311

Ordered on Sunday - turned up Tuesday - spot on!

Thanks for the link, that's exactly what I'm after !

 

[Unlucky Alf]

Ordered a kit lastnight, mine are terrible!

 

[The Fatty]

I ordered one last night to. The seller must wondering about his sudden peak in sales lol

 

[adamlstr]

I ordered one last night to. The seller must wondering about his sudden peak in sales lol

:rasp: Think I ordered the last one, let's hope his stock system is accurate!

 

[wilyoldave]

I reckon I should ask for commission:rasp:

 

[Christopher]

Great results!

 

[JamesBryan]

I need to do this to my lights again.

Would have thought 500 grit is a bit too much though :S

I suppose as long as you refine it then there's no problem.

 

[jack_davey]

They are laquered from the factory, the yellowing and the blistering is the lacquer perishing.
You can flat and polish the lacquer off, or flat all the old lacquer off and relacquer them

 

[Amos91]

I was going to pop in and get this. I've got a 2200rpm drill And the instructions say 1400-1600rpm. What did you guys use? Wonder if I can get away with it...

 

[davo172]

Great job mate :approve: how long did it take to do ?

 

[wilyoldave]

Davo172 - just over 2hours for the pair , you probably could do it a bit quicker, i did spend probably a bit to much time on the first 2 stages.

Amos91 - I used a cordless drill rated @ 1500 rpm so just right but used both batteries up pretty quickley, I then switched to a corded drill rated at 3100 rpm but it does have variable speed control so I just turned it right down, it looked similar to the cordless so i went with that. I guess if you cant alter the speed of your drill then just dont push to hard and keep moving it - dont stop in one place! Good luck!

 

[tomrob1234]

Just got myself one too

 

[adamlstr]

Thread bump, thanks Dave - I used this kit on my newly acquired xenons (hat tip to JMS) and they look fantastic!

 

[wilyoldave]

nice one adalis.

 

[largespiced]

Just done this today! Amazing kit. Prob took around an hour both sides. I think I would polish for longer next time, was a bit too worried about marking the bumper and wing (and Burning the plastic)
I seem to have left a small margin around the outside on one of them but it's nothing compared to how they where.

Well worth doing for 20 quid

 

[Slammed172]

Would have thought 500 grit is a bit too much though :S

No sh*t ! Exactly my thinking. I wouldn't have thought anything below 1k would be needed.

That said it is 3M, and their FCP is rough as f*ck.

 

[goldy...]

http://youtu.be/_t1RBw0IGXA?t=1s

heres the link for a how to if anybody's interested?

 

[182tev]

Does the kit come with masking tape ??

 

[goldy...]

not according to the video from the manufacturer, unless they have added it to the kit after they made the video....

 

[adamlstr]

Does the kit come with masking tape ??

Nope, but this should be in your man-drawer anyway.

 

[lokqust]

Doesn't come with tape. Used it today and it made a massive difference.

 

[davo172]

May well get one of these and have a bash at mine !

Think I will place my 172 xenons needed URGENT in the wanted section before I start

 

[Cup M@]

Just bought mine today can't wait to get them done