Headlight restoration problem.

[Typhoon]

Hi all,

I originally started with the 3M kit to restore my headlights and ended up with the issue I’m about to state so I then got another kit that has 8 different gradients of sandpaper / steps so that it’s more intense and I’ve ended up with the same issue.

I’ve followed instructions to the tee, exactly as it says but the headlights look fantastic until I turn the actual lights on and then it’s all cloudy.

Any ideas? Is it a case of more polish over the top? Was it not sanded correctly etc?

Thanks.

 

[Daniel]

You’ve done an awesome job mate. But unless you can get your polisher inside the lights, that’s as good as you’ll get them.

 

[Stefan.]

You’ve done an awesome job mate. But unless you can get your polisher inside the lights, that’s as good as you’ll get them.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the cloudiness (when the lights are on) wasn't there before he started polishing?

 

[Typhoon]

You’ve done an awesome job mate. But unless you can get your polisher inside the lights, that’s as good as you’ll get them.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the cloudiness (when the lights are on) wasn't there before he started polishing?

Yeah, the cloudiness wasn’t there before.

Basically failed an MOT the other day on drop links, and one of the minors was headlight lense slightly defective both sides so thought I’d polish them up and clear that off the MOT retest as well, but this looks worse than it did I think and I think it’ll probably be a major fail now.

 

[Daniel]

Ok, so having studied the pics properly, I think this is actually a you problem.

I think the lights were so bad, when you finished sanding there was some old but good clear coat on the light still. hazy bit. You flatted it and polished it and it looks fine. But under bright lights you can see the actual degradation of it.
Go around the misty patch with a sharpie. Turn the lights off. Let them cool down completely. That bit inside the sharpie marks, you now need to start the process again and get it back down flat with the rest of the light.

 

[Typhoon]

Ok, so having studied the pics properly, I think this is actually a you problem.

I think the lights were so bad, when you finished sanding there was some old but good clear coat on the light still. hazy bit. You flatted it and polished it and it looks fine. But under bright lights you can see the actual degradation of it.
Go around the misty patch with a sharpie. Turn the lights off. Let them cool down completely. That bit inside the sharpie marks, you now need to start the process again and get it back down flat with the rest of the light.

View attachment 1756875

The kit I had used stages 600-800-1000-1200-1500-2000-2500-3000 grits.

Would you do all of those stages again?

 

[Typhoon]

This was the light before:

 

[Daniel]

The kit I had used stages 600-800-1000-1200-1500-2000-2500-3000 grits.

Would you do all of those stages again?

No Mate. Go from 1200 up will be fine I’d have thought.

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

I really think there just has to be more sanding and then polishing on these. Choose a small area that you think is the worst and redo all of your sanding over that small area. Maybe you can do it to just the size of a matchbox. Make sure that when you go through each stage, probably from 1000 grit, it is sanded evenly. Keep going until you’ve finished with the sanding and then give it a good polish. Check that area and I’m sure you’ll see it will come up way better than what you have already done.

 

[Matt Cup]

Watching this with interest as I’ve completely fucked up the missus headlights when trying to correct them 😬

 

[Typhoon]

I really think there just has to be more sanding and then polishing on these. Choose a small area that you think is the worst and redo all of your sanding over that small area. Maybe you can do it to just the size of a matchbox. Make sure that when you go through each stage, probably from 1000 grit, it is sanded evenly. Keep going until you’ve finished with the sanding and then give it a good polish. Check that area and I’m sure you’ll see it will come up way better than what you have already done.

I used two kits on this headlight, so it all got double sanded, if that makes sense. That’s why I’m slightly baffled that it’s not sanded enough or whatever. I’ll give it a go tomorrow though, I appreciate it, and thank you @Daniel too!

Hopefully can get it sorted for its MOT Monday morning.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Buy some new lights mate. HTH 👍

 

[Typhoon]

Buy some new lights mate. HTH 👍

I’ve debated it but won’t get them before Monday lol

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

I did my own headlights recently which you can see on my Clio projects thread. I didn’t have much time to spend on them so the result is not as good as as I would’ve liked. In the future I will have more time and I will redo every step I did. When you go down each thickness of grit, you must make sure that it is an even finish and then move onto the next level. It’s just a steady time consuming process of making sure that the preparation is really good before you polish it. Anyone who does any kind of work like this will always tell you that the preparation is so important. It’s just a little time-consuming but don’t give up as you’ve already made a good effort.

 

[Matt Cup]

I did my own headlights recently which you can see on my Clio projects thread. I didn’t have much time to spend on them so the result is not as good as as I would’ve liked. In the future I will have more time and I will redo every step I did. When you go down each thickness of grit, you must make sure that it is an even finish and then move onto the next level. It’s just a steady time consuming process of making sure that the preparation is really good before you polish it. Anyone who does any kind of work like this will always tell you that the preparation is so important. It’s just a little time-consuming but don’t give up as you’ve already made a good effort.

How do you know when one grade is finished and to move onto the next?

 

[ex-Chinese Dave]

When it is even all over the lense. Once you have reached this point, you are just repeating everything with that grade of grit. When I did mine everything was wet and dry and not dry. I don’t think anyone recommends doing this without using water or water with a little detergent mixed in. If, for example, you are using 1000 grit then when you feel that you have reached the point that everywhere has been done evenly, you need to wipe all the water and dust off and let it dry and then inspect it. Just look carefully and make sure everything looks uniform over the lense and then proceed with the next level of grit.

 

[Sash]

I’m no expert but I’ve seen far worse pass MOT!

 

[Typhoon]

I’m no expert but I’ve seen far worse pass MOT!

Would be ok if they didn’t turn the lights on 😂

 

[Rob]

Are you doing this by hand or machine, phoon?

 

[Typhoon]

Are you doing this by hand or machine, phoon?

Doing it with a drill attachment mate.