I tried it on Nissan Tino opticals (10 years old), it's perfect ! 1 hour per optical, perfect result ! 30e for the kit (enough for 4 opticals in my case) vs 80e per optical at Nissan's bodyshop.
I bought the kit yesterday (11/27/2010) I used it today I followed step by step as indicated in the instructions. It works...it actually took me approximately 1 1/2 hours because I initially only applied light pressure with the 500 grit paper.
The lens look like new...however, I also tried rubbing compound with the same applicator and a dry cloth and it also work, except for less than a 10th of the kit's cost.
It's cloudy because the protective coating that is sprayed on the lens at the factory is what is actually clouding up. You have to completely remove the coating before polishing. I do not agree with this method as it will only last temporarily. We strip the old coating and spray urethane clearcoat over the lens and it does much better. It's more expensive, but not as expensive as replacement.
The "cloudiness" is a degraded layer that can be a coating, a thermal cap layer, or simply just a degraded layer of polycarbonate. It is very difficult to tell what it is by looking at the degraded layer. The polycarbonate itself degrades as a thin layer on the surface and looks as if it is a degraded coating/layer but in reality it is just the degraded polycarbonate. Either way, we need to remove the degraded layer to restore the headlight lens.
There is no permanent fix after restoration: the lens will degrade again over time. But, it will depend upon UV exposure and the specific lens. 3M has seen several coatings that don't perform as well as the bare lens. The clarity typically is not as good with a coating. Also, it's typical to see a coating chip and flake off the lens after only a few months. Many coatings also yellow faster than the bare lens would. Most paint companies do not recommend their clearcoats for this application.
We experimented with our method for just over 2 years now. Our original test headlamps are on a Toyota Avalon that belongs to my painter's father. He drives on a dirt / rock road daily. No chips, no fading, no flaking, no degradation at all. The clearcoat also fills in pitting imperfections. I didn't respond to debate back and forth, but regardless of recommendations...it's hard to argue with experience. We use 3m products everyday and with the exception of the foam jamb tape, we're fans.
I tried it on Nissan Tino opticals (10 years old), it's perfect ! 1 hour per optical, perfect result ! 30e for the kit (enough for 4 opticals in my case) vs 80e per optical at Nissan's bodyshop.
GUILLAUMET44 1 month ago
wow, talk about a lot of work!!!
djmopa 6 months ago
I bought the kit yesterday (11/27/2010) I used it today I followed step by step as indicated in the instructions. It works...it actually took me approximately 1 1/2 hours because I initially only applied light pressure with the 500 grit paper.
The lens look like new...however, I also tried rubbing compound with the same applicator and a dry cloth and it also work, except for less than a 10th of the kit's cost.
frutriaco 1 year ago
It's cloudy because the protective coating that is sprayed on the lens at the factory is what is actually clouding up. You have to completely remove the coating before polishing. I do not agree with this method as it will only last temporarily. We strip the old coating and spray urethane clearcoat over the lens and it does much better. It's more expensive, but not as expensive as replacement.
bigtiii 1 year ago
Thanks for the comment!
The "cloudiness" is a degraded layer that can be a coating, a thermal cap layer, or simply just a degraded layer of polycarbonate. It is very difficult to tell what it is by looking at the degraded layer. The polycarbonate itself degrades as a thin layer on the surface and looks as if it is a degraded coating/layer but in reality it is just the degraded polycarbonate. Either way, we need to remove the degraded layer to restore the headlight lens.
3MAutoBodyRepair 1 year ago
That is correct. I was replying to pastranarocks199 below as he stated his was still cloudy. I imagine he didn't not strip down far enough.
bigtiii 1 year ago
There is no permanent fix after restoration: the lens will degrade again over time. But, it will depend upon UV exposure and the specific lens. 3M has seen several coatings that don't perform as well as the bare lens. The clarity typically is not as good with a coating. Also, it's typical to see a coating chip and flake off the lens after only a few months. Many coatings also yellow faster than the bare lens would. Most paint companies do not recommend their clearcoats for this application.
3MAutoBodyRepair 1 year ago
We experimented with our method for just over 2 years now. Our original test headlamps are on a Toyota Avalon that belongs to my painter's father. He drives on a dirt / rock road daily. No chips, no fading, no flaking, no degradation at all. The clearcoat also fills in pitting imperfections. I didn't respond to debate back and forth, but regardless of recommendations...it's hard to argue with experience. We use 3m products everyday and with the exception of the foam jamb tape, we're fans.
bigtiii 1 year ago
@3MAutoBodyRepair I recommend using Lamin-X with UV protectant to finish the lens off. It will ensure a long lasting repaired headlight.
somebody5788 1 year ago
i put it my honda civic and my headlight is still cloudly I even did the steps twice and it still did not work.
pastranarocks199 2 years ago