Head light restoration

MAKAENA · 02-12-2013, 10:24 PM

Hey guys,

My car has 51k and both head lights are lightly pitted from highway driving and I would like to-clean them up. Has anyone had their head lights redone or detailed? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Vic311 · 02-12-2013, 10:35 PM

You can DIY it for sure.. you want to wet sand with a 500 - 1000 then 3000 grit ..then polish with Meguiars Plastx by hand or with a d/a orbital

PrimoM3 · 02-13-2013, 12:05 AM

IMO- take it to a professional because it's easy to screw up and make worse.

THE TECH · 02-13-2013, 09:00 AM

If you do the wet sanding on them, make sure you install a clear bra on them right after since you will have removed the outer coating on the housing.

m3p40 · 02-13-2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE TECH

If you do the wet sanding on them, make sure you install a clear bra on them right after since you will have removed the outer coating on the housing.

What are the implications of not having that coating?

Also can this be done on the windshield? My windshield is crazy pitted.

Krozi · 02-13-2013, 12:19 PM

If you refinish them, you also remove the UV protection layer. So keep that in mind.
The headlights will be much more prone to fading after that. You could probably even get them clear coated somewhere.

MAKAENA · 02-13-2013, 02:40 PM

thanks guys! Waiting on a reply for a memeber here that details cars.

Grail05 · 02-13-2013, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3p40

What are the implications of not having that coating?

Also can this be done on the windshield? My windshield is crazy pitted.

it will turn yellow....

yes people have done clear bra // protector film on windshield to avoid rockchips.

m3p40 · 02-13-2013, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean05

it will turn yellow....

yes people have done clear bra // protector film on windshield to avoid rockchips.

Na not the clearbra I mean the wet sanding to get rid of the pits. Is that possible on the windshield?

Templar · 02-14-2013, 08:26 AM

I've detailed my car multiple times.

The pits, like rock chips, are something you have to think about. As mentioned earlier, if you remove the UV coating by wet sanding/polishing, you'll need to do something about protecting the headlights.

If you're like me, you will probably just learn to live with some pitting until they get out of control.

THE TECH · 02-14-2013, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3p40

What are the implications of not having that coating?

Also can this be done on the windshield? My windshield is crazy pitted.

With the coating removed, they are susceptible to yellowing and further clouding.

No, I would not recommend you touch the windshield. It takes very special tools and skills to polish glass. If the pits are bad enough, just replace the windshield.

Gray_Panther · 02-14-2013, 09:33 AM

YouTube "presta headlight restoration"

I am a detailer, you can see some of my threads on here for proof, and will be adding this to my arsenal come springtime.

You sand away then this product adds UV protection so it won't turn yellow.

I know Auto Concierge uses it and he is one of the top people I look up to.

rjd598 · 02-18-2013, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gray_Panther

YouTube "presta headlight restoration"

I am a detailer, you can see some of my threads on here for proof, and will be adding this to my arsenal come springtime.

You sand away then this product adds UV protection so it won't turn yellow.

I know Auto Concierge uses it and he is one of the top people I look up to.

I've never seen any of your threads here lol

Vic311 · 02-18-2013, 01:07 AM

LOL

eclipsisNA · 02-18-2013, 10:42 AM

Worked on the OP's lights yesterday, results were about a 90% improvement. Some of the deeper pits are still there, but visibly reduced. Wet sand and then polish. Before:

After:

Before:

After:

sensi09 · 02-19-2013, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipsisNA

Worked on the OP's lights yesterday, results were about a 90% improvement. Some of the deeper pits are still there, but visibly reduced. Wet sand and then polish.

Can you share what product you used to seal them with?

tmntmn · 02-19-2013, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipsisNA

Worked on the OP's lights yesterday, results were about a 90% improvement. Some of the deeper pits are still there, but visibly reduced. Wet sand and then polish. Before:

After:

Before:

After:

looks better then new

Vic311 · 02-19-2013, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic311

You can DIY it for sure.. you want to wet sand with a 500 - 1000 then 3000 grit ..then polish with Meguiars Plastx by hand or with a d/a orbital

Wet sanding then polishing definitely the way to go in this case.. still say OP should have DIY'd it.

Also for protection afterwards ..Meguairs headlight protectant

sensi09 · 02-20-2013, 03:51 AM

For the headlights on an old acura, I used fourstar UPP (just a regular paint sealant). If I had a choice though, I'd use something like opticoat

02-12-2013, 10:24 PM	#1
MAKAENA Private 5 Rep 82 Posts Drives: Looking for a E92 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: 405 South iTrader: (1)	Head light restoration Hey guys, My car has 51k and both head lights are lightly pitted from highway driving and I would like to-clean them up. Has anyone had their head lights redone or detailed? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
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02-12-2013, 10:35 PM	#2
Vic311 Banned 42 Rep 1,463 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	You can DIY it for sure.. you want to wet sand with a 500 - 1000 then 3000 grit ..then polish with Meguiars Plastx by hand or with a d/a orbital
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02-13-2013, 12:05 AM	#3
PrimoM3 Chemofski 54 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: '13 X5M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Coast, U.S. iTrader: (0)	IMO- take it to a professional because it's easy to screw up and make worse. __________________ '13 Individual Frozen Brilliant White ///M3 Coupe Ordered 2/15/12 \| Euro Delivery on 9/21/12 \| U.S. Redelivery on 12/6/12 \| Motor Dead on 7/15/13 '13 Space Gray/Mugello Red X5///M Pavement Punisher \| Snow Muncher \| Family and Board Hauler \| Roadtripper
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02-13-2013, 09:00 AM	#4
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	If you do the wet sanding on them, make sure you install a clear bra on them right after since you will have removed the outer coating on the housing.
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02-13-2013, 12:19 PM	#6
Krozi Colonel 167 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoFla - Bonita Springs iTrader: (24)	If you refinish them, you also remove the UV protection layer. So keep that in mind. The headlights will be much more prone to fading after that. You could probably even get them clear coated somewhere. __________________ 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White//Fox Red//6MT// Florida Bimmer - Join us on FaceBook!
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02-13-2013, 02:40 PM	#7
MAKAENA Private 5 Rep 82 Posts Drives: Looking for a E92 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: 405 South iTrader: (1)	thanks guys! Waiting on a reply for a memeber here that details cars.
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02-14-2013, 08:26 AM	#10
Templar Lieutenant Colonel 268 Rep 1,883 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: One of the coasts... iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [10.00]	I've detailed my car multiple times. The pits, like rock chips, are something you have to think about. As mentioned earlier, if you remove the UV coating by wet sanding/polishing, you'll need to do something about protecting the headlights. If you're like me, you will probably just learn to live with some pitting until they get out of control. __________________ '11 BMW E92 ///M3 - ZCP and DCT '15 Ford F-250 - Lariat, 6.7 Powerstroke Turbo-diesel
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02-14-2013, 09:33 AM	#12
Gray_Panther Brigadier General 1553 Rep 3,234 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	YouTube "presta headlight restoration" I am a detailer, you can see some of my threads on here for proof, and will be adding this to my arsenal come springtime. You sand away then this product adds UV protection so it won't turn yellow. I know Auto Concierge uses it and he is one of the top people I look up to. __________________ 2012 BMW 128i 6MT Deep Sea Blue Metallic
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02-18-2013, 01:07 AM	#14
Vic311 Banned 42 Rep 1,463 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	LOL
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02-18-2013, 10:42 AM	#15
eclipsisNA Colonel 350 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: 2013 Estoril 328i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beverly Hills, CA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 BMW 428i [7.76]	Worked on the OP's lights yesterday, results were about a 90% improvement. Some of the deeper pits are still there, but visibly reduced. Wet sand and then polish. Before: After: Before: After:
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02-20-2013, 03:51 AM	#19
sensi09 Lieutenant Colonel 30 Rep 1,789 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: socal iTrader: (1)	For the headlights on an old acura, I used fourstar UPP (just a regular paint sealant). If I had a choice though, I'd use something like opticoat
	Appreciate 0 Quote