ripsweetness Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 OP if all else fails buy one of the kits that they sell to restore headlights on older cars. I paid 12.99 at auto zone and polished my headlights on a 95 dakota. They came out really good and could save u full replacement cost on your headlights. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 20, 2009 Author Share Posted April 20, 2009 I'll have to look into that. $12.99 is a lot better than $300, even if it doesnt work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkOblivion000 Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Take a look at Meguiar's PlastX plastic and glass polisher. Do some sanding with 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 sandpaper, and then rub a bit of the polisher on that and rub it around. I used that to clear my front emblem badge that was all cloudy and it worked pretty well. Give it a shot. Then there is another thread on these forums where a cheap aftermarket replacement headlight was brought up. The quality is still up in the air; someone bought them, and cracked them open in the oven, and apparently a year later something was bubbling up or whatnot, but still, much cheaper than OEM replacements. Might want to take a look. http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109582 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Do ask darkoblivion has suggested. Wet sand starting at 300 grit going in a up and down motion then switching to a right to left motion (DO NOT GO IN CIRCLES) Do about 5 rounds of switching off going each way for about a minute each then go up to a 600 grit and repeat. Ass you take the contaminent off the surface you will feel it getting much easier to move the paper across. Be sure to always keep diping the paper in a bucket of water to keep it plenty wet. Pick up some Plastix and once you've done the 2000 you'll notice they are clear already but the plastix will finish them off. Let them sit for about an hour or 2 fully open to allow the plastix to fully cure. Reassemble and TA DAH!!!! OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 yeah i just got some PlastX for myself at autozone like 15 minutes ago, before reading this thread. LOL. just wanted to do a search to see what results people were getting with the stuff. after i saw some 07+s LGTs the other day, i realized how really bad mine were looking. also, the wife's car is pretty bad too, so i'm gonna give a whirl. Costs $7.99 at autozone. definitely worth the try at least. i didn't get any 2000+ sandpaper though. i'll try to post pics when i clean them (probably tomorrow or thursday when it stops raining). good luck with yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice_rocket Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 But you have to clean the inside of yours.. not the outside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 both the inside and the outside are dirty once i do mine, and show you the results, you'll be going to autozone yourself and i gotta do the wife's car too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rice_rocket Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Oh yes certainly do the plastic polish... actually toothpaste works just as well.. just try to wax it after you are done so that it stays Oh... and I also claybar'ed my headlights.. seemed to do a pretty good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 toothpaste works but is not good to use. Its abrasives are to harsh to the finish and will do more damage than good. If they are really that bad than plastix by itself wont do much good either. You'll need to clear sand them by the process I posted above. OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 For instance this is a truck we gave my brothers friend. Before http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u280/garrett804/pete%20truck/IMG_1031.jpg After http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u280/garrett804/pete%20truck/IMG_1033.jpg OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Here's another of that truck. http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u280/garrett804/pete%20truck/IMG_10151.jpg OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkOblivion000 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 You should definitely not skip out on that 2000. Skip a grain in the middle if you have to (like 500... or 1000) but 2000 is what makes it nice and smooth before you polish. Get it at autozone, cost you like $7 or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_luv Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 windex is great to clean the inside and out and make sure you use kimwipes to get a nice polish. Mr.350 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteyjr Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Permatex sells a kit at auto part stores called Headlight restoration. It comes with a paste polish and graded sand papers (1000 up to 2000 I think) it worked great restoring my WRX lights and even used it to bring my Leggy back to new. Also used a mini ball polish to help the process and would make it easier to get inside your lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Yeah the permatex kit works great. And don't skip from 300 to 2000 you need that middle I generally use 300, 600, 2000 when I do headlights. OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 21, 2009 Author Share Posted April 21, 2009 thanks for all the info guys! its gonna be a great weekend to rip the front off the car again! i'll definitely be posting up the results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamondgraymetallic21 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I used epoxy in my headlights to secure my halos and it's been fine for at least 6 months...no weird breakdown or cloudy-ness. So I'm doubting it's the epoxy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 i just used the plastX stuff. goodness, that stuff works wonders! haha. headlights look great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTTuner Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I shelled out 400+ bucks for new headlights last year because the lenses were so badly pitted. Those aftermarket ones for half the price see like a pretty good deal. TY makes some decent stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 25, 2009 Author Share Posted April 25, 2009 Ok guys... I ended up with the Permatex restoration kit, and it works very well. Its not COMPLETELY like new, but I'm pleased with the results.... Before: http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs003.snc1/2782_522858126682_72100768_30992700_8266583_n.jpg After wet sanding with 1000,1500,2000, and 2500, before polishing (I was a little nervous at this point): http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs003.snc1/2782_523099323322_72100768_31000742_588239_n.jpg After polishing with the stuff in the kit: http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs003.snc1/2782_523099338292_72100768_31000743_7757041_n.jpg It still looked a little cloudy overall, so i went back and wet sanded with 2500 again, this time very very gently. Then I polished again, then I used some Maquires Cleaner Wax, and then some Maguires Quick Detailer spray: http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs003.snc1/2782_523099353262_72100768_31000744_3700538_n.jpg As I said, I'm very pleased with the kit but dont expect a miracle without a lot of elbow grease! Its not like new, but unless you knew i messed with it, you wouldnt notice it a bit. Once I get the other headlight done and the car back together, I'll post 100% finished pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 nice! looks a TON better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocHolladay23 Posted April 25, 2009 Share Posted April 25, 2009 yeah it does, have you guys tried that to get rid of pits on the outside of the lense and not just to get rid of the yellowing? Mine look pretty chipped/pitted, not too deep so I would think it would work pretty well [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] You want stickers? Hit me up here!!! You want a shirt? Hit me up here!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absolutsnwbrdr Posted April 26, 2009 Author Share Posted April 26, 2009 doc, I'll definitely recomend the Permatex restoration kit! here are my final results: http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs003.snc1/2782_523129098652_72100768_31002239_2670915_n.jpg $14 for the kit sure beats $400 for new headlights! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocHolladay23 Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 wow those look really great! I'm sold, thanks for the info/results, I'll see how mine go later this week [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] You want stickers? Hit me up here!!! You want a shirt? Hit me up here!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjk77 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 can you get this at autozone? damn. when i open up my headlights i gotta do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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