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I have used Blue Magic also they also make the clear sealer protectant.
Headlight restore kits
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I've done the whole process and even added the protectant after and it was done. looks good for awhile and then it deteriorates quickly. I think you need to either spray with clear after or add a film to it. The original headlights come sprayed with some type of coating.
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Novus might work too. Great plastic cleaners come in 3 grades. Of course you should still apply a protective coat of some sort afterwards.
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Have never had much luck with any of the off the shelf headlight restore products. Most work when applied but after a few weeks headlights go right back to the way they were.
The only thing that I have found to work for an extended period of time is using a rubbing compound and my PC buffer or you can do it by hand but the buffer makes it much easier. Last a good 9 moths or so but I usually hit them up every six months or every other wax job.
The only thing that I have found to work for an extended period of time is using a rubbing compound and my PC buffer or you can do it by hand but the buffer makes it much easier. Last a good 9 moths or so but I usually hit them up every six months or every other wax job.
I just used 3m kit. Comes with 3 grit disks and polish sponge with polish. Mine were very yellow/ cloudy. This kit was simple and looks exactly like new...very happy. I think on Amazon is $13. I got mine at advance auto. There is enough to material to do at least 5 cars. I used 1 of each disk. And sure I can use the a few more times.
Attachments
Here are some videos showing products/processes.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=3m+headlight+restoration+kit
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=3m+headlight+restoration+kit
Once the protective clearcoat fails, the lenses will fade, no way around it. The restore products work great but require elbow grease.
I'm lazy. To quickly and easily remove the yellow oxidation, spray a cloth rag with any brand (or scent for that matter) bug repellant and wipe the lens. I don't know how, and I don't know why...but it instantly removes the oxidation. Takes 5 seconds per light. Then follow-up with a good coat of your favorite wax or polish. Kinda frightening that we spray this on our skin! I use a generic $3 aerosol can from Target. But I've also used "Off" brand backwoods scent, and unscented. Also used Cutter brand.
For ****s n giggles, I am experimenting on a friend's toyota to see which product keeps the lights from turning yellow again. She bought the Turtle Wax restore kit that comes with a product that you wipe on after cleaning to prevent future fading. We restored one headlight following the kit's instructions (word for word). Wiped the other clean with bug repellant. On the bug repellant lens, i wiped it after cleaning with BananaBoat 30spf sunscreen. Two weeks today, so far neither seem to be fading.
I'm lazy. To quickly and easily remove the yellow oxidation, spray a cloth rag with any brand (or scent for that matter) bug repellant and wipe the lens. I don't know how, and I don't know why...but it instantly removes the oxidation. Takes 5 seconds per light. Then follow-up with a good coat of your favorite wax or polish. Kinda frightening that we spray this on our skin! I use a generic $3 aerosol can from Target. But I've also used "Off" brand backwoods scent, and unscented. Also used Cutter brand.
For ****s n giggles, I am experimenting on a friend's toyota to see which product keeps the lights from turning yellow again. She bought the Turtle Wax restore kit that comes with a product that you wipe on after cleaning to prevent future fading. We restored one headlight following the kit's instructions (word for word). Wiped the other clean with bug repellant. On the bug repellant lens, i wiped it after cleaning with BananaBoat 30spf sunscreen. Two weeks today, so far neither seem to be fading.
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Damn good info.. Im drinkin a vodka lemonade now I wonder if thatll work.
, my two apps of that Blue Magic worked out good. Still could use another app.....
, my two apps of that Blue Magic worked out good. Still could use another app.....
This morning a coworker mentioned her headlights were all yellow. We tried the Bug Spray method. Spray on, wait 20 seconds and wipe off. Unbelievable that this stuff is approved for use on humans. I wish I had taken before/after pics. The brand was Repel, Sportman's Max, 40% Deet.
hahaha crazy, right!? I've used that stuff for days at a time when camping. Oh well. For the headlights tho, I don't wait. Just spray onto the cloth and wipe away. Glad it worked for you.
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This same topic came up over on the SBFT forum and of all things mentioned, it came to the point that a simple" apply and wipe "of brake fluid was the easiest fix.
http://sbftech.com/index.php/topic,28943.0.html
http://sbftech.com/index.php/topic,28943.0.html
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I just cant trust some of those methods. Did anyone ever here from them months later. Many of those old tips can damage the plastic (melt) in time or shall I say in the long run.
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I got a good solid 2 years out of Opti-coat 2.0 on the headlights before I noticed any fading. Optimum has since come out with a headlight specific product and also reworked/renamed and doubled the price on their opti-coat so I can't say how the new ones work.
I've never tried their official headlight sealant; it is $70 for enough to do 5-6 cars so it isn't really designed for the do-it-yourself person. I like the opti-coat 2.0 because I could do the headlights when I did the rest of the car. And I could get 3 cars out of a single $60 syringe of it.
Having it parked outside all the time and mostly facing the same way the headlight that gets the most sun is just starting to fade again to where it looks a little cloudy at the 3 year mark.
I've never tried their official headlight sealant; it is $70 for enough to do 5-6 cars so it isn't really designed for the do-it-yourself person. I like the opti-coat 2.0 because I could do the headlights when I did the rest of the car. And I could get 3 cars out of a single $60 syringe of it.
Having it parked outside all the time and mostly facing the same way the headlight that gets the most sun is just starting to fade again to where it looks a little cloudy at the 3 year mark.
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I used the 3M kit that RPM90001 suggested and it was a quick, simple process that worked wonders. My covers hadn't yellowed but they were very fogged up on the outside. The came out looking like new and even after a year of road salt and everything else they held up great.
Just be sure that whatever kit you get allows you to use your power drill as a buffer, otherwise there will be a lot of elbow grease involved.
Just be sure that whatever kit you get allows you to use your power drill as a buffer, otherwise there will be a lot of elbow grease involved.
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4,166 Posts
I did the Ridgeline headlights yesterday. I used the Meguiar's PlastX with the foam abrasive headlight pad I got with New Wipe kit. It came with New Wipe stuff I use on the OEM black hard Tonneau Cover to keep it looking new. I just keep using the dirty foam pad over and over. I keep in a small zip lock baggie.
I just put some PlastX on pad and rub back and forth around light take small microfiber towel cloth that came with kit to clean PlastX off.
The drill buffer came with the Meguiar's kit but never buffer pad.
I also put some old fashion original Rain X water repel on windshield and side windows of Ridgeline.
I just put some PlastX on pad and rub back and forth around light take small microfiber towel cloth that came with kit to clean PlastX off.
The drill buffer came with the Meguiar's kit but never buffer pad.
I also put some old fashion original Rain X water repel on windshield and side windows of Ridgeline.
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