Headlight polish...
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,703
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From: Des Moines, Iowa
Headlight polish...
So got a $20 3M kit a while back for polishing up headlights... While they don't look brand new they do look quite a bit better! My parents gave me a IR right angle die grinder that worked perfect since the 3M polisher had a 1/4in shaft on it... I would add a word of caution to those who will use the kit with a air tool... Keep your speed LOW if you are using a sanding disk... I swirled the lens a couple times real bad that took forever to polish back out... I think 3M meant this kit to be used with a cordless drill that runs slower... either way I think it was worth the $20! take a look!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 105
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From: North Central Ohio
That did work good! But if anyone wants to save money, go look on you tube at the people who used tooth paste. I used colgate on mine and it worked just as good but it took a little longer. There are videos on you tube and it's pretty crazy. Perfect for saving money.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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I've tried polishing and polishing and polishing mine but they just won't come back. The lens plastic is just tinted yellow and the plastic , and the chrome inside the headlight bucket is gone as well. It's worn down somehow. I think because water got in the headlights. I just ordered a new set off ebay for $140 including shipping. I've been polishing headlights and tailights on everything I've owned and this is the first pair that wouldn't come back
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 114
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From: South-East Tx.
Did mine and it looked better, but mine had tinny cracks on the inside, even with silver-star bulbs was not good enough, so wife found some ones for $157.00 for a pair on ebay don't know where made but new and man with the new bulbs what a differance.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,958
Likes: 228
That is an improvement. I bet you can see better at night now too.
This stuff called Crystal View seems to work the best from what I have seen. It seals the light after its cleaned up.
Headlight Restoration | Headlight Cleaner
This stuff called Crystal View seems to work the best from what I have seen. It seals the light after its cleaned up.
Headlight Restoration | Headlight Cleaner
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2010
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I used the 3M. It worked good. The only issue I really had was the polishing around the areas around the stamped markings.
J
J
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Des Moines, Iowa
Once the headlights get yellow you do have to sand... I actually went 500, 1500, 3000, then the buffing compound... I think the main problem is not being able to buff both sides since there are ridges inside the lens. If both sides were flat like newer car lenses were it would be easier to buff the yellow out. The 3M kit doesn't come with a sealer but I use the Meguires Plastix to final coat and seal them... Then about 6 months down the road i use the Plastix again to rebuff and reseal them...
PS: I had the same problem with my chrome pealing inside the light bucket from water seeping in the front... I got a good used light bucket that was yellow too... It had good chrome inside so i pulled the lens off buffed it and resealed it with silicone.
I also actually removed the front grill and headlights to do this operation just because i took the lens off and resealed them with silicone. It also made the front end acessable to put 2 air horn cones in with new regular horns... I went from a beep beep... to a HOOOOOONK HOOOOOONK!
PS: I had the same problem with my chrome pealing inside the light bucket from water seeping in the front... I got a good used light bucket that was yellow too... It had good chrome inside so i pulled the lens off buffed it and resealed it with silicone.
I also actually removed the front grill and headlights to do this operation just because i took the lens off and resealed them with silicone. It also made the front end acessable to put 2 air horn cones in with new regular horns... I went from a beep beep... to a HOOOOOONK HOOOOOONK!
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