Headlights - Like New Again!

My Headlights were badly oxidized and yellowed. I was considering buying new headlight assemblies. I have heard of products that claim to renew old headlights but never really saw any good results. People that showed me their end results always looked like a scratched up headlight.

I bought three products:

#1) 3M(tm) "Headlight Lens Restoration System" = $16 Walmart
http://www.walmart.com/ip/3M-Headlight-Restoration-Kit/13023890

#2) Turtle Wax(tm) "Headlight Len Restorer kit" = $10 Walmart
#3) Meguiar's(tm) "PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish" = $13 Autozone

The Turtle Wax(tm) kit was nice but it was a lot of hand work, and you end result was determined by how long your arms could hold up.

The hands down winner was The 3M(tm) System. It works on any drill and I have used it on several cars. It works even better when combined with the Meguiar's(tm) PlastX Polish WOW!. In just 5 mins I just saved $150.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Oxidation
• yellowing
• hazy
• see
• through
• like
• new
• Cover
• 3M
• Head
• light
• Lenses
• Lens
• Restoration
• System
• Walmart
• Turtle
• Wax
• Turtlewax
• Restorer
• kit
• Meguiar's
• PlastX
• Clear
• Cleaner
• Polish
• Autozone
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• how-to
• GTI

[GMathis512]

i tried the turtle wax, and stupidly i did it in the dark, so i couldnt tell which pad was which and it worked on one (the one i started with) but made the other worse I'm pretty sure, i need to try the 3m stuff, this is the only thing holding my gti back from looking great. Also, is the restoration kit reusable?

[GallowayChicago]

@GMathis512 The 3M Kit comes with pads that are really good for only one use, but 3M sales more pads separately. You can do this for about $30 or you can buy glass lens replacements for a lot more.

[dickcheese663]

when do you use the Meguiars's plastiX polish?

[GallowayChicago]

@dickcheese663 I used the 3M system first then instead of using the last 3M step I Polished the lens with the Meguiar's(tm) "PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish"

Update: Because I did not seal the lenses after polishing them The have re-clouded slightly. no where near as bad as it was originally. I may have to re-polish with Meguiar's(tm) "PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish" then use some Opticoat eyeglass sealant from Walmart.

[GallowayChicago]

UPDATE: The newly Cleaned and Polish Lens is more susceptible to returning to the cloudy state without a finishing coat to protect it from the UV (sun) and Acid Rain. I am looking for a cheap finishing coat.

If anyone has any suggestion let me know. A local body shop suggested I use a UV Acrylic Clear Coat, but they could not source any for me.

[GallowayChicago]

The hands down winner was The 3M(tm) System. For under $20 it works on any drill and I have used it on several cars. It works even better when combined with the Meguiar's(tm) PlastX Polish WOW!.

[rothkoaintdead]

i like the way he says "McGuires"

[fireworkfreak100]

Turtle Wax will work as well. i used it too and it work

[daryl2slo]

thank you for the feedback. i actually have an 03 gti, and the lens are looking foggy i was going to pick up glass lens but their $90. being a college student it hurts my pocket so i figured id go this route and seeing from your results it works well.

[Atomczyk]

@GallowayChicago

meguiar's just came out with a kit that comes with the plastx, buffer & finishing coat!

goes by the name of "Meguiar's Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit"

hope that helps & thanks for posting the video im about to do the same with my hazy headlights on my golf :]

[jeffrey19621]

Thanks , gave me insights on how to deal with this myself . Good presentation.