Headlight Restoration Help

[FuSSionZ]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post on this forum so I hope that you will be able to help me

First of all I would like to apologise for being a little bit simple. I'm not that much of a technical person.

I purchased a Restoration kit from Halfords for £19.99 and to be honest I feel like it was the biggest waste of money I have ever spent. My headlights had what seemed to be oxidisation on them so I started by using the sponge drill adapter and attacked them with the cream the kit provided. However, after spending about 20 minutes with it, I noticed that it was little to no different from what I started with. I did not take any pictures before trying the kit but here are some images of what it's currently like.

I have read on this forum that 800 Grit Dry and Wet sand paper works a dream. But I don't want to try this unless it doesn't work and makes it worse, not to mention where I would get it..


Left

Right

Any idea where Im going horribly wrong?

Thanks,
FuSSionZ

 

[Lee coley]

You really need to flat them down.. Honestly using anything like 1500 will not touch them try 800 then work up to 1500.

Awaits the 'use 2000 nothing else comments'

But what do I no I've only been doing it 13 years.

 

[Timmsy]

Tbh from what ive read those kits arent great and require quite a bit of work to get the desired effect.

I recently did mine on my Ph1 with wet & dry and some fast cut on the rotary polisher. However if you dont have a DA or rotary you can work it on by hand or some scratch x but it will just take a bit longer

You wont want to go for anything more aggresive than 1200 IMO, i started with 1500 and it was perfect. Take a look at my thread below

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?724396-headlight-correction-with-rotary-polisher

or my project thread with more pics

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?721416-Titanium-Ph1-172

 

[Timmsy]

You really need to flat them down.. Honestly using anything like 1500 will not touch them try 800 then work up to 1500.

Awaits the 'use 2000 nothing else comments'

But what do I no I've only been doing it 13 years.

Yes you may have been doing it 13 years but seriously anything more than 1200 is a waste of time! Many have already proved this to be the case and i do believe its come up quite recently

800 on plastic lights is just creating more work for yourself IME

 

[Lee coley]

In all fairness really depends on how bad they are. Mine completely gone.

This was after 1500/2000

 

[FuSSionZ]

You really need to flat them down.. Honestly using anything like 1500 will not touch them try 800 then work up to 1500.

Awaits the 'use 2000 nothing else comments'

But what do I no I've only been doing it 13 years.

Im quite tempted just to do exactly that. I recently bought some 182 Projectors from eBay and one of them is new and the other is slightly oxidised so this is why I was wondering. Plus, it looks so much better with cleaner headlights.

when you say work up to 1500 from 800, I presume you mean working through the different types like 800>900>1000 etc?

Thanks
FuSSionZ

 

[Lee coley]

Started with a 500 abralon disk. (This alone left them in a better condition) please don't go buy 500 from your local bnq/halfords/motor factors and scratch the hell out of the lenses.

 

[Lee coley]

800,1000,1200,1500 can't get anything in the middle unless you go specialist.

 

[Lee coley]

After

 

[FuSSionZ]

Yes you may have been doing it 13 years but seriously anything more than 1200 is a waste of time! Many have already proved this to be the case and i do believe its come up quite recently

800 on plastic lights is just creating more work for yourself IME

What do you suggest then? I don't to create any more issues with scratched up headlights.

Thanks,

FuSSionZ

 

[The Russian.]

This is my work I did for my mate, done a lot of these now for family and friends and started with 800 grit, soapy water In spray bottle to keep spraying down and wiping to unveil what it was looking like.

So il keep using that process.

Used megs 83&82 ok cutting and polishing pads.

 

[FuSSionZ]

Wow that is defiantly the result that I am after!
Megs 83 & 82? Is that Polish then?
Thanks,
FuSSionZ

 

[Lee coley]

Location mate?

 

[FuSSionZ]

Just outside of Leicester.
Thanks,
Ross (FuSSionZ)

 

[Lee coley]

Bit far from me but I'd be happy to help

 

[FuSSionZ]

Bit far from me but I'd be happy to help

I would be happy for anyone to help by all means. After all I don't want to mess it up anymore!

Thanks,
Ross

 

[Lee coley]

I'm in s.yorkshire I can do them if you can justify the travel up

 

[lemonnobby]

I've done my first one properly the other day
1200,1500,2000,3000 then on my rotary 3m ultrafina then plastic x
came up like new.

 

[Timmsy]

I've done my first one properly the other day
1200,1500,2000,3000 then on my rotary 3m ultrafina then plastic x
came up like new.

This should be the way the OP should do it.

Will maintain that you don't need anything harsher than 1200.

 

[Jamie182turb]

Just pay someone who knows what there doing instead of f**king them up! Had mine done £40 no hassle like new job done

 

[[Dave B]]

This should be the way the OP should do it.

Will maintain that you don't need anything harsher than 1200.

I'll be doing this next week as mine look like the OP's, planning on using similar grit then some menz polish on a DA, hopefully that'll do the job. Some of the pics on here look like new afterwards!

 

[lemonnobby]

I was going to go lower as there were some deep marks but i thought ill go 1200 you can work back. but once your fudged it that's it.

 

[Edges]

I'm half way through doing mine and I'd be happy to help! Just outside Leicester too

 

[Carl with a C]

I need to get this done too. Would do it myself but getting lots of conflicting advice and in my experience always f**k up things like this! Anyone able to help in the Cambridgeshire area? More than happy to compensate you for your time and since being a 182 owner I'm always looking for an excuse to go for a drive!!!

 

[CrippsCorner]

Done these a few times now... last time I went 1200/1500/2000/2500/Scratch-X/Mer and the result isn't too bad

 

[Carl with a C]

Done these a few times now... last time I went 1200/1500/2000/2500/Scratch-X/Mer and the result isn't too bad

Sounds like the way to do it from what I've been reading. Are you using a polisher or by hand? Whereabouts in Essex are you mate?

 

[FuSSionZ]

Thanks for all the help everyone! Sounds like there are a lot of ways to do it.
I myself am going to try 800 > 1000 > 1200 > 1500 > Polish. Ill let you all know how it goes!

 

[Timmsy]

personally i'd add a 2000 on top of that just to be sure... makes for less effort polising to

 

[FuSSionZ]

personally i'd add a 2000 on top of that just to be sure... makes for less effort polising to

Good idea. Ordered a 2000 as well
Thanks.