how do you guys get your headlights so clean?? what to use?
#2
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: BayArea2RockyMountains
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I sprayed mine with Windex. Sanded it down going left to right with 2000 Grit sandpaper. Then i applied some headlight cleaner and cleaned it off. Now its nice and shiny. I do this once a month
#5
if its oxidized get 3m plastic cleaner and plastic polish (the best!).
if scratched wet sand according to how bad
-if its bad start with 1000 till smooth, then 1500 for twice as long, then 2000 for twice as long as the 1500 to make sure all the sanding marks are out. after wet sanding buff it with gritty compound then buff it with polish. i did this and my headlights had that rainbow shine to them.
-if its not bad then start with 2000 and then buff
if scratched wet sand according to how bad
-if its bad start with 1000 till smooth, then 1500 for twice as long, then 2000 for twice as long as the 1500 to make sure all the sanding marks are out. after wet sanding buff it with gritty compound then buff it with polish. i did this and my headlights had that rainbow shine to them.
-if its not bad then start with 2000 and then buff
#6
Racer
iTrader: (1)
1) 1500 grid sand paper, wet sanded the lens (yes it will get really cloudy) this is to get it smooth, and any pits out use as much water as u can, and if u are leaving the lenses on the car, mask off the area first. you know you are done when u run ur hand over the lens and it feels smooth. for a bit extra added protection, add a few drops of car wash soap in the water to make it more "slippery"
2) 2000 grid sand paper, also wet sanded the lens, also gets the lens cloudy but removes the fine scratch lines. you know u are done when the lense feels really smooth, and where you saw you had fine scratch lines, are now gone.
3) 3000 grid sand paper, you might not be able to find this, but meguirs makes a 3000 grid sanding block. i used this instead. also wet sand! use plenty of water. you may still see ur headlights fairly cloudy.
4) meguirs plastX, i used a whole bottle on both my headlights (but that is because mine were really really really bad). you can hand buff, but for a much better result, use a polisher. i used my car polisher w/ a foam applicator disc on low speed. i did probably upwards of a dozen passes until the lens was completely clear.
all in all, i did it over the weekend over 2 days.
2) 2000 grid sand paper, also wet sanded the lens, also gets the lens cloudy but removes the fine scratch lines. you know u are done when the lense feels really smooth, and where you saw you had fine scratch lines, are now gone.
3) 3000 grid sand paper, you might not be able to find this, but meguirs makes a 3000 grid sanding block. i used this instead. also wet sand! use plenty of water. you may still see ur headlights fairly cloudy.
4) meguirs plastX, i used a whole bottle on both my headlights (but that is because mine were really really really bad). you can hand buff, but for a much better result, use a polisher. i used my car polisher w/ a foam applicator disc on low speed. i did probably upwards of a dozen passes until the lens was completely clear.
all in all, i did it over the weekend over 2 days.
#7
5% Club. Killing it!!!
iTrader: (15)
if its oxidized get 3m plastic cleaner and plastic polish (the best!).
if scratched wet sand according to how bad
-if its bad start with 1000 till smooth, then 1500 for twice as long, then 2000 for twice as long as the 1500 to make sure all the sanding marks are out. after wet sanding buff it with gritty compound then buff it with polish. i did this and my headlights had that rainbow shine to them.
-if its not bad then start with 2000 and then buff
if scratched wet sand according to how bad
-if its bad start with 1000 till smooth, then 1500 for twice as long, then 2000 for twice as long as the 1500 to make sure all the sanding marks are out. after wet sanding buff it with gritty compound then buff it with polish. i did this and my headlights had that rainbow shine to them.
-if its not bad then start with 2000 and then buff
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#10
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (3)
i bought a kit from advanced auto, they give you 1000 and 1500 grit sand paper you wet sand with both, 1000first and 1500 2nd. Then they give you buffing compoud and cloth i used an actual 3m buffing compound and buffer be carful if you do this you cant apply too much heat or you'll burn the plastic housing. Then for the final step they give you sealant(like clear coat) a few coats of that stuff and these headlights look brand new.
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