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Headlight Restoration

Claying, polishing, waxing... share your secrets in here.
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swilsco
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Headlight Restoration

Post by swilsco » Wed Apr 19, 2017 2:55 pm

Hi all,

Thought i would throw up a post for anyone else looking at restoring their headlights. I used the following product:
  • Quixx Headlight Restoration Kit & Lens Sealer
It has three sanding paper grit levels - 2000, 3000, and 5000. There are 4 pieces of sandpaper per each grit level. So that works out at 2xsandpapers per grit level for each headlight. Also included is plastic polish and a spray sealant.

Anyway, this thread is useless without photos, so here goes:

Before (left):
WP_20170419_10_02_17_Rich.jpg
WP_20170419_10_02_17_Rich.jpg (155.37 KiB) Viewed 2895 times
After:
WP_20170419_11_42_42_Rich.jpg
WP_20170419_11_42_42_Rich.jpg (168.61 KiB) Viewed 2895 times
Before (right):
WP_20170419_10_02_28_Rich.jpg
WP_20170419_10_02_28_Rich.jpg (148.92 KiB) Viewed 2895 times
After:
WP_20170419_12_32_31_Rich.jpg
WP_20170419_12_32_31_Rich.jpg (136 KiB) Viewed 2895 times
Did take a couple hours but the result is worth it considering the kit is only about £10. I recommend.

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patriot66
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Headlight Restoration

Post by patriot66 » Wed Apr 19, 2017 9:29 pm

They look super clean and shiny now. A bargain at only £10 ! :thumbsup:
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RickRob
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Headlight Restoration

Post by RickRob » Wed Apr 19, 2017 10:06 pm

Another post that reminds me to add another "to do" to my list!

Great job :thumbsup:
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RyanB88
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Headlight Restoration

Post by RyanB88 » Thu Apr 20, 2017 10:17 am

Just bought this kit for my zed. Will post my results up too!
Z4 now sold :(

Current - M235i :thumbsup:

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Danderton
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Headlight Restoration

Post by Danderton » Thu May 18, 2017 10:46 am

I ordered this kit on Amazon at 10.20pm last night, it was in my desk at 9am this morning. Wizardry!

Planning on doing my headlights on Saturday weather permitting. Will post pics if I get it done.

Dan
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Model: Sterling Grey 3.0i Z4 Roadster
Upgrades: M Steering Wheel : ZHP : 224 Alloys : Black Kidneys : Clear Repeaters : Pioneer X580DAB : Stubby

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flimper
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Headlight Restoration

Post by flimper » Thu May 18, 2017 3:37 pm

Is this job idiot proof?
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Chris_D
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Headlight Restoration

Post by Chris_D » Thu May 18, 2017 6:21 pm

flimper wrote: Thu May 18, 2017 3:37 pm Is this job idiot proof?
C'mon. It's idiot proof, but it aint Flimper proof! :evil: :lol:
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flimper
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Headlight Restoration

Post by flimper » Thu May 18, 2017 6:27 pm

fair point :)
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Pugwash69
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Headlight Restoration

Post by Pugwash69 » Sat May 20, 2017 1:18 am

I've done this restoration on one of my other cars. I also fitted some Lamin-X afterwards, as it forms a very protective top layer.

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MACK
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Headlight Restoration

Post by MACK » Sat May 20, 2017 11:13 am

flimper wrote: Thu May 18, 2017 3:37 pm Is this job idiot proof?
It is but when you've just started sanding the lenses you will probably s**t yourself! But don't worry they do come up great in the end. Its not always necessary to sand headlights though. Depending how far gone they are sometimes just using a bit of compound like G3 etc with a cloth by hand etc is enough to bring them back, followed by a bit less abrasive finishing polish then sealer etc to protect from UV. A friend of mine does this quite regularly at his garage on customers cars or sales cars. Its quick/easy/cheap and avoids the post sanding panic first time out!
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Danderton
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Headlight Restoration

Post by Danderton » Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:00 pm

Finally got round to doing mine at the weekend. Some shots (excuse the phone quality)
Before:
Image

Image

After:
Image

Image

Image

I'll be honest I was expecting to be amazed, but wasn't blown away. It's definitely an improvement and for a tenner it's good value, maybe my expectations were too high for 14 year old headlights thinking they would turn out as new. Used about half the sandpaper and not much of the polish and sealant so plenty left to have another go at a later date.

It's still an improvement so i'm happy. Probably because in the back of my head I'm looking for an excuse to source some clear headlights! :D

Dan
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Model: Sterling Grey 3.0i Z4 Roadster
Upgrades: M Steering Wheel : ZHP : 224 Alloys : Black Kidneys : Clear Repeaters : Pioneer X580DAB : Stubby

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MACK
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Headlight Restoration

Post by MACK » Tue Jun 06, 2017 3:12 pm

Danderton wrote: Mon Jun 05, 2017 11:00 pm Finally got round to doing mine at the weekend. Some shots (excuse the phone quality)
Before:
Image

Image

After:
Image

Image

Image

I'll be honest I was expecting to be amazed, but wasn't blown away. It's definitely an improvement and for a tenner it's good value, maybe my expectations were too high for 14 year old headlights thinking they would turn out as new. Used about half the sandpaper and not much of the polish and sealant so plenty left to have another go at a later date.

It's still an improvement so i'm happy. Probably because in the back of my head I'm looking for an excuse to source some clear headlights! :D

Dan
They do look a lot better. I've tried both the non drill based and the drill based kits and you do get better results with the drill based. I suppose there's no surprise there! If OCD kicks in and you were to do them again (or clear ones if you get them) then I can recommend either the 3M or Autogylm kit, I've been well impressed with both, definitely better than the meguires (all three are similarly priced) which only uses the drill for polishing not sanding.
Silver 05 3.0i SE
Mods inc - F/L Xenons Clear Ind Rear Lights M Sport Seats & Wheel Eibach/B4 3.64 DIFF (SOLD)

White E89 20i M Sport
Mods inc- B12 kit, M3 Arms, 18" Zito 935's with PS4's, Decat & Remap, Switchable Exhaust Flap (SOLD)

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buzyg
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Headlight Restoration

Post by buzyg » Tue Jun 06, 2017 5:55 pm

Great results guys. Will certainly keep this thread in mind for the future. :thumbsup:
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