Head Light Restoration Procedure

[sailsmen]

Head Light Restoration.

I have used Crystal View (the best sealant), Rain X and Turtle Wax. All three systems work. However, eventually the headlight surface becomes so pourous that the sealant has a short life.

I decided to try an automotive clear Polyurethane UV resistant paint.

The products you will need are;
Rain X or Turtle Wax head light restore kit
Masking tape and garbage bags
U-Pol automotive clear Poly paint
Wax, grease remover
Tack Cloth.

Remove the head lights. Removing the front grill facilitates head light removal.
Clean the head lights to remove dirt.
Follow the Rain x or Turtle Wax restoration procedure - using only the sanding pads and lubricant followed by the polish. DO NOT use the sealant!
Tape and bag the head lights.
Use wax and grease remover.
Prop the head lights so they are parallel to the ground to minimze runs
Wipe with a tack cloth.
Spray U-Pol, initially if a frost look appears the coat is not thick enough, continue coating until a uniform wet look is obtained.

I don't know how long this will hold up. The surface of the head lights is compromised, there was a very faint checker board pattern covering the surface. The U-Pol has filled it in.

I will post again when U-Pol fails!
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/DSCN1509_2_.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/DSCN1505_2_.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/DSCN1507_2_.jpg

[boatmangc]

Last time I had a set bad enough I could see patterning in the lense, I pulled them out, wet sanded them with 1500 then 2000 then 3000 then polished them with some Menzerna polishes. Zaino'd the snot out of then and forgot about them.
I just continied sealing them with Zaino each time I did the car.

4 years later the guy that bought the car from me started noticing that they were starting to yellow again.

I like the idea of squirting them with the poly bomb! Thanks Billy.

[Shaijack]

Billy I will let you use mine as a test bed. When we having lunch I have something to show you. It's big and blue.

[sailsmen]

So long as you keep your pants on you can show me.;)

[montyd]

the way you do it is very similar to the way i do it. im a professional painter in a gm( i know i know but someone has to chow them the light) dealership body shop. the way i do it is sand(wet or dry) with 1000-1500 grit sandpaper antill the yellow is gone. then i spray clear coat right over the top of it with out poilishing. the upol clear your using should cover up the 1500 grit scratches also. i have done close to a hundred lights and non have peeled off in any condition and they will never fade back out either unless they yellow from the inside.but good job on your system, it looks like it works well if you dont have a paint gun and its much more cost efficient for someone that doesnt have a gallon of clear laying around!

[ctrlraven]

Mine are starting to look pretty weathered so I will give this a try.

[Roadwarrior]

May have to look into this on my 2nd. set of used MM's headlights, but I still have the original headlights that I replaced that are REALLY yellow & opaque. :(

[drobin]

I've heard, but have never tried that toothpaste works very good--imagine that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donald (drobin)

[Mike]

Billy I will let you use mine as a test bed. When we having lunch I have something to show you. It's big and blue.

A big lie :( You should prolly go see a Dr. about that :rolleyes:

[Baconbit]

Sailsmen, just curious how your lights and the U-Pol clear has held up?

[sailsmen]

Looks like the day I did them. It appears they will continue to hold up.

[Baconbit]

Sailsman, Im getting ready to do my headlights and I wondered if u polished the headlights then upol or upol over the final sanding then use polish over the upol?

[sailsmen]

I did not polish the Upol, it's a hard paint and I don't know how hard it is to polish.
To answer your question I have not polished or put any headlight sealant on the Upol.
I have put Zaino Z-CS, a paint sealant on the Upol.

To clairfy after sanding I polished and then painted w/ Upol. Do not use the sealant that comes with the kit. You can use a paint sealant after the Upol cures.

They still look like the day I painted them.

[lji372]

too late, used the sealant. worst part about the kit. time to sand that crap off and buy some spray :D

[bigmerc'03]

x-pel is awesome beyond awesome with a 5 year warrenty mine still look new after 3 years of georgia heat

[sailsmen]

Look like the day I painted them 5 years ago.:D

[drobin]

CM,

I'm on my 43rd tube of toothpaste.

DR

[Lowndex]

Any experience/opinions for those of us who bought replacement headlights and are using one of the protective films?

https://clearmask.com/lightgard/

[sailsmen]

Several years ago several members advised they were trying it. The initial results were favorable.

I don't recall anyone reporting back on the long term.

Maybe if you start a new thread on it some will chime in.

[Keith]

I can tell you one thing NOT to do. I have an Infiniti G35, not long for my stable after buying my DTR a couple months ago.

Last time I did the light covers I tried painting them with clear paint. Did not think of the UV thing. Bad mistake. The covers simply hazed over all again right underneath the paint. Now, to sell the G35, I have to sand / buff through the paint just to get to the plastic surface.

UV paint - probably Smart.
Non-UV paint - Dumb

Keith "Marauder Rookie in Houston"

[sailsmen]

I recently bought a can of clear enamel, national known brand. Followed the directions exactly.
It was pure solvent and ruined the paint on what I was clear coating.

There's paint and there's paint.