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Beautiful Headlight Restoration!

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  #1  
Old 01-29-2012, 11:56 AM
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Beautiful Headlight Restoration!

So yesterday, I was given the opportunity to restore very oxidized headlights! A buddy on the forums contacted me and told me his wife's headlights were very dim and oxidized. So I drove down and helped clean them up! Once finished, he was amazed as to how clear his headlights are! So now here is the process used and some pictures! Enjoy and tell me what you guys think!

Process used:

1. 1000 grit sand paper
2. 1500 grit sand paper
3. 2000 grit sand paper
4. 3000 grit sand paper
5. Repeat Steps 1-4
6. Meguiars Headlight Restoration
7. Wolfgang Paint Sealant

Before


50/50



After


 

Last edited by CandlestickPark; 01-29-2012 at 09:13 PM.
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luger303 (01-31-2012)
  #2  
Old 01-29-2012, 12:53 PM
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Omg!!! Really? I thought it would scratch the cover but some how you didnt. That looks so awesome. Great work. How long?
 
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Old 01-29-2012, 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by bluedevils95
Omg!!! Really? I thought it would scratch the cover but some how you didnt. That looks so awesome. Great work. How long?
this exact job just took a little over an hour. wasnt that much of a pain really but the sand paper, the 1000 grit will scratch it up, but as you move up the grit scale it starts to even it up. Then once you buff it out, nothing is noticeable under the naked eye! So all in all, use this method ^^^^
 
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Old 01-29-2012, 11:29 PM
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I know i did this to metal to polish it out but never knew you could to this to plastic.
 
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Old 01-29-2012, 11:34 PM
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it changed the look of the car.. great job bro
 
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Old 01-30-2012, 04:31 AM
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i need to do that on my headlights
 
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Old 01-30-2012, 04:38 AM
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Great job they look brand new
 
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Old 01-30-2012, 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by broke_as_ajoke
it changed the look of the car.. great job bro
thank you!

Originally Posted by curryboyy
Great job they look brand new
thank you! thats exactly what the owner said! He had a choice between buying new headlights for $100 or have me come over and cleaning them up for $40 why not?
 
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Old 01-30-2012, 11:54 PM
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I love the 50/50 shot of the headlight, it looks like you did a true 50/50 of the light with one side sand papered and polished and left the other untouched. Awesome.
 
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Old 01-31-2012, 12:23 AM
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im assuming you wetsanded correct?
 
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Old 01-31-2012, 12:27 AM
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Wow, Sandpaper is the way to go. Well done.
 
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Old 02-01-2012, 02:50 AM
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it looks amazing but i feel like on my g the oxidation takes place on the inside of the headlight housing
 
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Old 02-01-2012, 03:30 AM
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They do look new. Nice work
 
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Old 02-01-2012, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by LakeShore_Slate
I love the 50/50 shot of the headlight, it looks like you did a true 50/50 of the light with one side sand papered and polished and left the other untouched. Awesome.
Thank you! Yes this is a common shot for me when I detail. Just take masking tape and go down the center and only do one side!

Originally Posted by jbwrecked
im assuming you wetsanded correct?
Yes! 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000.

Originally Posted by luger303
Wow, Sandpaper is the way to go. Well done.
Thank You!

Originally Posted by Mikey_i21
it looks amazing but i feel like on my g the oxidation takes place on the inside of the headlight housing
Yeah, its a common problem sadly for 2003 and 2004 G headlights, you would have to bake the lens and clean it from the inside out.

Originally Posted by alpa_chino
They do look new. Nice work
Thank you!
 
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Old 02-01-2012, 12:16 PM
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how did you polish it out?
 


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