Best headlight restore kit?

[Pep]

Anyone got any recommendations for a good headlight restoration kit?

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Just rub down and 2k clear mate.

The restoration kits don't do anything special. You can machine polish them without the 2k and ceramic coat them but clear coat ads UV protection etc.

If its for the Boxter(?) the lights come out so easily you can just rub them down in the warm.

 

[Pep]

Just rub down and 2k clear mate.

The restoration kits don't do anything special. You can machine polish them without the 2k and ceramic coat them but clear coat ads UV protection etc.

If its for the Boxter(?) the lights come out so easily you can just rub them down in the warm.

2K clear as in lacquer them?

 

[Robbie Corbett]

2K clear as in lacquer them?

Yes

2K 2in1 Headlight Clear - SprayMax

www.spraymax.com

I guess this would a kit of sorts:

SprayMax Headlight Renovator Primer 250ml & 2K Clear Coat 250ml 684099 German | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for SprayMax Headlight Renovator Primer 250ml & 2K Clear Coat 250ml 684099 German at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

In reality any 2K lacquer/clear coat will probably be fine.

 

[Robbie Corbett]

To add, I've done 3 sets of headlights now, 2 with 1K and the last with 2K, the 2K was by far the best. Its harder and polishes better. The 1K lights scratch quite easily when you wash the car. My father did his lights with one of the restoration polish type kits and they have yellowed in less than a year.

 

[Pep]

What do you polish them up with first?

 

[Robbie Corbett]

What do you polish them up with first?

I wet sand them, if there is no damage I use 600 paper until all the yellow has gone, then go up to 800 then 1200 before spraying. If the headlights aren't too bad I would start with 800.

Once dry I rub down with 1200 to remove orange peel then just get the rotary polish with compound. Others use 1500 then 2000 then polish but 1200 then 1200 with soap seems to work fine for me with no visible sanding marks after.

If you are no clear coating most kits seem to have you start at 6-800 then work up to 2000 before polishing. But you need to add some form of UV protection otherwise they just go s**t again.

 

[Pep]

I wet sand them, if there is no damage I use 600 paper until all the yellow has gone, then go up to 800 then 1200 before spraying. If the headlights aren't too bad I would start with 800.

Once dry I rub down with 1200 to remove orange peel then just get the rotary polish with compound. Others use 1500 then 2000 then polish but 1200 then 1200 with soap seems to work fine for me with no visible sanding marks after.

If you are no clear coating most kits seem to have you start at 6-800 then work up to 2000 before polishing. But you need to add some form of UV protection otherwise they just go s**t again.

Whats your address mate and I’ll post them down to you 😂

 

[Robbie Corbett]

No worries mate.

Touring Rob
3 Coral Reef
DA SEA

 

[Bluebeard]

1500 wet and dry, 2000 wet and dry, machine polish with some compound, et voila;

 

[Robbie Corbett]

PS - loads of body shops offer headlight restoration now, they don't even charge that much from what I've seen so might be worth finding a local one and doing that?

 

[Robbie Corbett]

1500 wet and dry, 2000 wet and dry, machine polish with some compound, et voila; View attachment 1617345View attachment 1617346

Then you sold it before they went s**t again? 🤣

MR2?

 

[Krarl]

800 grit (for bad headlights)
1000 grit
1500 wet and dry
2000 wet and dry
3000 wet and dry
compound/polish
Ceramic coating

 

[Mr Squashie]

Cheap chemicals, wipe on and wipe off. £20 and takes about 15 minutes. Doesn't last more than a few months, but there's enough in the bottles to do it a few more times. Would probably last longer if you coated the lenses in something afterwards though idk

 

[Bluebeard]

Then you sold it before they went s**t again? 🤣

MR2?

2002 Mr Two, yes. They lasted a good two years before they started going again. Proper cheap s**t plastic though, so so thin.

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Found a picture of the first set I did:

3 years so far.

 

[Bluebeard]

View attachment 1617362View attachment 1617363
Cheap chemicals, wipe on and wipe off. £20 and takes about 15 minutes. Doesn't last more than a few months, but there's enough in the bottles to do it a few more times. Would probably last longer if you coated the lenses in something afterwards though idk

You got a link?? I like the sound of these.

 

[Mr Squashie]

You got a link?? I like the sound of these.

Here ya go chap

Cheap Car Parts Online | Car Parts 4 Less UK - Big Brands, Low Prices

www.carparts4less.co.uk

 

[BIFCAIDS]

I saw a video of a guy fixing A6 headlights with a heatgun, RedBull can and a piece of hose. Insta fix, hole in the side of the bottom end of the can, put the hose in, tape it up to seal and then blow the heatgun down the top of the can. Not a clue what's going on but it fixed the headlights ha ha ha.

 

[Robbie Corbett]

I saw a video of a guy fixing A6 headlights with a heatgun, RedBull can and a piece of hose. Insta fix, hole in the side of the bottom end of the can, put the hose in, tape it up to seal and then blow the heatgun down the top of the can. Not a clue what's going on but it fixed the headlights ha ha ha.

Thats acetone smoothing/polishing. They fill the can with a little acetone and then heat it unit it vaporises, the vapor kind of reflows the surface layer on a plastic lens.

Seems to work well however it can also damage plastics and can cause microfractures to appear on the surface.

 

[Jekyll]

@Daniel just be aware it's not long lasting.











Post in thread 'Headlight restoration - Duxback' https://www.cliosport.net/threads/headlight-restoration-duxback.837952/post-12118717

I'm not slating the product as it does a good enough job for a quick fix, but long term, I don't think you can beat the proven flat and polish with ceramic coating finish.

 

[Bluebeard]

@Daniel just be aware it's not long lasting.











Post in thread 'Headlight restoration - Duxback' https://www.cliosport.net/threads/headlight-restoration-duxback.837952/post-12118717

I'm not slating the product as it does a good enough job for a quick fix, but long term, I don't think you can beat the proven flat and polish with ceramic coating finish.

It’s fine for selling cheap bangers though mate. 😂😂

 

[Mr Underhill]

 

[Jekyll]

I knew that's what it would be for, but wasn't sure if it would be for one of your personal fleet cars also.

 

[T3gav]

Any recommendations for a ceramic coating?

 

[Krarl]

Any recommendations for a ceramic coating?

I've used Gtechniq crystal serum lite on mine, spot on

 

[RifRaf]

Anyone recommend anyone in the Wolverhampton / West Midlands area to restore Headlights on a 55 plate 182 ?

 

[Bankrupt_drunk]

3m do a really easy to use kit. It's basically a 2000 wet sand block, but the clever bit is a clearcoat wipe, which means you can easily add some protection.
3M 39173 Quick Headlight Cleaner and Restorer Coat Wipes https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079QL8BYK/?tag=cliospnet01-21

 

[RifRaf]

Thanks Bankrupt_drunk, really struggle for time with work and the family, so hoping to take the easy option. I will have a look at the kit though.