Topic: Which headlight resto kit should I buy?

[aaronk]

It's finally time to address the issue of the sandblasted, chipped, yellowed and generally terrible looking headlight covers on my Mazda Protege5. I feel that it is at a point now where I am seeing reduced light on the road due to the poor condition of these lenses.

There is a number of products out there one can choose - I have seen this Meguiar's headlight restoration kit advertised a lot at Canadian Tire. It looks like a liquid that is applied to the lens, then using an attachment for a power drill one would 'buff' on the solution and wipe clean. They also advertise a 'heavy duty' kit, so it makes me question if the 'light duty' kit will actually do the job. I have also heard of kits that require you to actually sand down the lens and apply multiple coats of product - would this result in a better finish? Anybody out there use these kits?

~ Aaron.

[rrocket]

It's finally time to address the issue of the sandblasted, chipped, yellowed and generally terrible looking headlight covers on my Mazda Protege5. I feel that it is at a point now where I am seeing reduced light on the road due to the poor condition of these lenses.

There is a number of products out there one can choose - I have seen this Meguiar's headlight restoration kit advertised a lot at Canadian Tire. It looks like a liquid that is applied to the lens, then using an attachment for a power drill one would 'buff' on the solution and wipe clean. They also advertise a 'heavy duty' kit, so it makes me question if the 'light duty' kit will actually do the job. I have also heard of kits that require you to actually sand down the lens and apply multiple coats of product - would this result in a better finish? Anybody out there use these kits?

~ Aaron.

I've used several of them.  They all work.  I did a write up for restoring headlights with various grits of wet sandpaper.  Check it out:  http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php/topic,57534.0.html

[inco]

I would be very leery of having to sand the surface. Much better to polish it and not destroy the surface in my mind. While it's true that all of the products have to remove the surface layer so to speak, they are less harmful to the structure of the lamp covering.

Take a look at some of the work that Canuck35 has done on some of the cars that he has 'cleaned up'. 'Nuff said?

[johngenx]

3000 grit is easy to use.

[rrocket]

I would be very leery of having to sand the surface. Much better to polish it and not destroy the surface in my mind. While it's true that all of the products have to remove the surface layer so to speak, they are less harmful to the structure of the lamp covering.

Take a look at some of the work that Canuck35 has done on some of the cars that he has 'cleaned up'. 'Nuff said?

3000 grit is less abrasive than the buffing balls and polish....

[Winklovic]

The March issue of Consumer Reports will have a test of headlight resto kits.  You have to be a subscriber to read it online.  Here's a preview.
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/01/tested-headlight-lens-cleaning-kits-that-restore-shine.html

[rrocket]

The March issue of Consumer Reports will have a test of headlight resto kits.  You have to be a subscriber to read it online.  Here's a preview.
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/01/tested-headlight-lens-cleaning-kits-that-restore-shine.html

I think SIrOsis has a membership.  Maybe he can chime in with the result?

[johngenx]

Bottom line
The Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit provided the best and longest-lasting results. The 3M kit, though trickier to use, provides similar performance at a lower price. The Turtle Wax kit costs less than half the cost of the top-performing Sylvania. But neither the Turtle Wax nor the Fast Brite, a kit marketed through infomercials, held up as well as the other two.

[Snowman]

I took the S2000 to a detailer when we first got it and he polished them for nothing. He said that he used some paste compound on a buffing wheel.

[CanuckG35]

^ Great pic snowman!  Man, I love the spa yellow on these cars!      Have you ever thought about chancing it with no front plate and getting the stock bumper plugs?

Regarding the headlights, correcting hazing and oxidation is extremely easy with most of these kits.  I use my PC with a 4" white pad and a mild abrasive polish like Menzerna Final Polish.  Comes out like brand new every time. 

[airbalancer]

  It has a evil cat smile 

[5 Wheel Drive]

"^ Great pic snowman!  Man, I love the spa yellow on these cars!      Have you ever thought about chancing it with no front plate and getting the stock bumper plugs?"

Mmmmm....drooling a little at the moment....

I drove my Miata for 7 years with no front plate, Nobody ever noticed.  Yet one of my friends who had a similar Miata tried to go without his front plate a few times and was busted within a week every time.  Luck of the draw I guess...

[Fobroader]

Ive used the 3M restore kit on a few vehicles with great success, Id reccomend that one. Plus theyre really easy to use.

[CanuckG35]

"^ Great pic snowman!  Man, I love the spa yellow on these cars!      Have you ever thought about chancing it with no front plate and getting the stock bumper plugs?"

Mmmmm....drooling a little at the moment....

I drove my Miata for 7 years with no front plate, Nobody ever noticed.  Yet one of my friends who had a similar Miata tried to go without his front plate a few times and was busted within a week every time.  Luck of the draw I guess...

Yep, totally luck of the draw.  I've never run front plates on my S2000 or G35 and haven't had any issues thus far.  Mind you, I don't particularly drive in a way that attracts attention either.  We can run without a front plate here legally if you pay for a special seasonal plate.  You can only drive your vehicle from April 1st to October 31st though.

[wing]

That's not SPA it's an '04...  it's Rio.

Consumer reports did a review of the headlight polishers, saw it on the news yesterday.  They said the best one was Sylvania restorer, as the polish stayed the longest.

[CanuckG35]

That's not SPA it's an '04...  it's Rio.

Consumer reports did a review of the headlight polishers, saw it on the news yesterday.  They said the best one was Sylvania restorer, as the polish stayed the longest.

Right, dunno why I was thinking snowman had an 03.  Btw, you mean the sealant lasted the longest, not polish.   

[wing]

Yes sealant.

[Snowman]

^ Great pic snowman!  Man, I love the spa yellow on these cars!      Have you ever thought about chancing it with no front plate and getting the stock bumper plugs?

Regarding the headlights, correcting hazing and oxidation is extremely easy with most of these kits.  I use my PC with a 4" white pad and a mild abrasive polish like Menzerna Final Polish.  Comes out like brand new every time. 

I have the plugs as originally the seller came from the US