So I got sick of looking at the yellow, scratched headlights on my ladys 04 XF coupe, and tried out mothers headlight restorer kit. After lots of sanding and buffing look good now but still not perfect. Ok product, be ready for lots of work lol.
Started like this:
19d7f221-5ea5-4bbe-a2a5-dc6214fa248c.jpg
finished like this:
3e589d5f-c75c-44c2-a782-dfa89cd6077c.jpg

 

I've been using mother's also,been buffing away for about an hour a day.Mine were really bad and dealer wouldn't replace when I bought it.Mine look like the inside is stained but it might be an illusion.I figure a couple more days and it should look almost new again.

 

It works pretty good, just alot of elbow grease. It kind of looks like the inside is messed up on hers too, but I think if I keep at it, it will be good

 

you all will need to tint the the headlamps or some kind laminx to stop the hazing after you get them right or the hazing will come back

 

i did a lite tint an never had a problem since

 

Thanks for the info Old Man

 

how does the tinting work ? is it a stick on like window tint ?

 

yes it is you apply it the same way

 

I had also tried all that :
1. used 'BlueMagic' headlight restorer - results not good.

2. used CCP '5 minute headlamp lens restorer' - result better, but still not too good

3. Meguiar's HEAVY DUTY Headlight Restoration Kit - Hooray !!! - they now look like new.
This kit comes with :
a. 1000 & 3000 grit pads along with foam holder.
b. Easy Buff pad ( for the Plastx Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish
c. the above mentioned polish
d. Headlight Protectorant ( restores the UV protection when the job is done )
e. a MicroFiber towel
f. a tiny water bottle for wetting the pads

Not too hard to use, took about 1 hour per headlight, and mine were REALLY bad.

 

My headlights are not so much yellow as they are "cracked". It appears to be on the inside of the lense but im not sure its really hard to tell, they kind of look like hairline wrinkles. is it possible to get these out doing the same thing you guys did?

 

Pat,try using the 3m headlight restoration kit.I used it on my trashed headlight and it worked very well.You need a variable speed drill but its well worth it.I too thought a lot of the crazing or fogging was on the inside but its deceiving most of the area I thought was on the inside came clear.I also have some areas where it looks like it is cracked right thru but I think these are just deeper scratches.I didn't take a lot of time on mine I just wanted to clean them up.I took about 45 minutes I would say on my one bad light.The kit comes with enough to do 2 lights so I might go back and try and get it perfect.Compared to what it was the kit does a great job just follow the directions they are easy enough.

 

Before & after, 3M kit

 

Ok does anyone have a preference of the right kit to buy? I think someone mentioned that Mother's was no good. I was in Pep Boys yesterday and I saw:

3M kit with drill adaptor $20
Turtle Wax kit with small hand pads $8
RainX kit with small hand pads no price

Of the 3 above, I liked the RainX because it came with a small pump bottle of protectant and I felt this could be added maybe monthly or quarterly. The Turtle Wax kit came with a protectant soaked towelette as it appeared the 3M kit did. I see the Meguire's kit is mentioned above. What's the price on that? One of the kits I looked at yesterday (may have been Meguire's) came with a yellow buffer to install on a drill but had no sanding pads - just a liquid polish. My lights are really bad so I think I need the pads.

Any suggestions here would be great.

 

MeguiarsDirect.com: Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit

This be what you want. I used the 3M and it works just fine (very similar).

get Lamin-x ( http://www.lamin-x.com/Automotive-Products-s/47.htm ) or xpel ( http://www.xpel.com/products/headlight_protection.asp ) film.

 

Please take a look at my headlights, im pretty sure i uploaded them correctly. When i run my hand on it it feels smooth but ive tried plast-x with a whole lot of elbow grease and not much of a difference. I was just wondering if that 3m restoration kit can do the job for these or will i need to have them professionally done or replaced?

Thanks [IMG]file:///C:/Users/Rizk/Pictures/pats%20phone/DSC_0073.jpg[/IMG]

 

Mine had a very similar problem just not quite as large,mine where more fogged with some areas that looked cracked like that and the 3m kit took them out nearly 100% you just need to make sure when you use the coarse grit you go over it long enough to get them out.I think you should give the 3m a try .

 

Plastx works best to maintain the lens clean and clear once finished with the refinish process. I tried Plastx by itself with absolutely no improvement. You must sand off the old layer of clear coat. It appears your layer of clear coat has crackled and must be removed completely or you are wasting your time.

I have only used the 3M brand and it worked perfect for me.

James

 

I agree with you that it is the clear coat, but shouldn't it have some texture if it was the clear coat pealing away?

 

I am not there to determine that. Spend the $20 at Walmart and give it a try.

 

thanks i plan to get the 3m on monday and see what happens, im just worried that it is the plastic lense itself cracking