polishing discolored headlight lenses

[Donald]

I have an Armourall kit I am going to use on my Jeep's headlights as soon as it gets a little warmer.

I was reading on Amazon the details of the Sylvania kit (for $36) and it said it was the only kit to include a container of clear coating to be applied after the headlights are cleaned and will protect against UV rays.

Would something like Nu-Finish wax provide the same UV protection?

 

[FiremarshalRob]

I wouldn't pay that much for the Sylvania kit.

Use a good wax like Collinite 476s, and apply several coats.
Its very durable.

RL

 

[mikered30]

Double Horn probably makes the best kit and is cheaper than the Sylvania kit. It also contains the clear coat spray.

 

[Sayjac]

I've used the Crystal View Headlight Restorer kit several times. One of the things I like is it includes clear coat sealer (CV#2) packets to make the job last. Also, a drill is not required to do the job. Packet cost's ~$17 at Wally and is the same kit Wally charges ~$40 to do in the TLE.

I once emailed CV to ask a question about making the CV#2 last even longer. They said to use a synthetic auto protectant/polish like Turtle Wax Ice, Meguires-NXT, Astro Shield, and Eagle One-Nano wax. Not sure if Nu-Finish would fit in that category. Said a standard wax would tend to melt with high temps.

Never heard of Double Horn before now, but it seems interesting. Other than having to buy and use the extra painters tape, looks reasonable.

 

[Petersubaru]

Scroll down to the middle of the monitor..quite involved but seems to work.. http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-...nna-fix-15.html

 

[Corvette Owner]

I used Meguiar's PlastX on my kids headlights, it worked great and it is suppose to have UV protection. Meguiar's also makes some other plastic cleaners too, I have used them, but PlastX is great. It is $7.99 a bottle.

 

[FastEddie]

Originally Posted By: Petersubaru
Scroll down to the middle of the monitor..quite involved but seems to work.. http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-...nna-fix-15.html

That's pretty much the same way I do my headlights (as most people I know too), but often we start off w/ much more aggressive sandpaper and work our way to about 3000 grit. Makes buffing much easier.
Then I just put whatever sealant I protect my car with on the headlights too.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
I used Meguiar's PlastX on my kids headlights, it worked great and it is suppose to have UV protection. Meguiar's also makes some other plastic cleaners too, I have used them, but PlastX is great. It is $7.99 a bottle.


For me PlastX only worked some in the areas where it was lightly discolored. If you could feel it with your finger then the PlastX did little.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
I used Meguiar's PlastX on my kids headlights, it worked great and it is suppose to have UV protection. Meguiar's also makes some other plastic cleaners too, I have used them, but PlastX is great. It is $7.99 a bottle.


For me PlastX only worked some in the areas where it was lightly discolored. If you could feel it with your finger then the PlastX did little.


I too have use the PlastX with only OK succuss as the fogging returns quickly. I sometimes start out using a mild compound such as "Chrome Polish" followed by the Meguiars PlastX. The headlight lenses look fine after polishing and several polishings are ususlly required to get the best final results but, nothing will make the headlight lensed look new again. It's an ongoing process.

I do have one headlight lense that seems to have some fogging under the lense and, there is notheing that can be done about this except replacement. But till I need both lenses, polishing will have to do.

 

[grampi]

Save yourself some money and just pick a can of Tutrle Wax rubbing compound. It does exactly the same thing as these lense restoration kits and costs less than $3.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Save yourself some money and just pick a can of Tutrle Wax rubbing compound. It does exactly the same thing as these lense restoration kits and costs less than $3.


I agree with grampi and would like to also add that...we assume that people know what we're thinking/talking about while writing in forums...When using compound, make sure that the rag/cloth or whatever your using as an applicator, is damp/wet. One of the ideas behind the actual lense polish product is that, not only is it a fine grit but too, it's already in liquid form. One doesn't want to open just pop open a can of, for example; Turtle Wax or DuPont rubbing compound heavey grit and just start applying it to the dry lense. Do use some caution!

 

[charbaby]

Another thing is...Know what type of headlight lense you have. I mean, some are just the lense/plastic and others have a clear coating on them that starts to flake/chip off as it's weathering over time. I have both! One cars' lense polishes up very well and the other cars' lense coating is comming off little by little as I keep polishing the lense. At some point, the coating will all be gone and I'll just have the plastic lense to polish. That's fine by me!