winy68

I've been looking at a company called chemical guys, they're detailing freaks!!!

they have a metric ton of youtube videos on detailing, including headlight restoration they also sell some pretty heavy duty sealants. which i seem to remember seeing used on headlights on one their videos.

I have not yet tried their products, so I cant attest to the quality, even though I did make it to their showroom, but couldn't decide on what to buy, they sell like 3 or 4 different options for every product they sell.

Galco

Plastic headlight lenses can be restored and UV protected. As others have noted, wet sanding, machine polishing and the most important part "re-sealing" is necessary, else they will discolor and haze in no time. However, done properly they will looks as new!

I am aware of 2 quality sealants. I've used the Sylvania Kit with good success and is reasonably priced $20 solution. A more robust sealant that i haven't tired is by Optimium at $60, the company has a great reputation for quality paint sealants.

Either way, far less that replacing a full assembly.

Here's are some links:

http://www.detailersdomain.com/Optim...ing_p_911.html


Good luck!

jandreas

Follow the instructions on a can of Bulldog Adhesion promotor and then spray them with a clear coat containing UV stabilizers/absorbers. Most local autobody supply stores will mix up a spray can of 2-part (2K) uv-resistant clear coat for you. That will have a lot better wear resistance than any of the normal spray can clear coats that you can buy from a hardware store. Ideally you'd want something like SilFORT AS4000 but that requires an oven bake and an air compressor to spray it.

Brozee

Take the headlights off the car, use an orbital polisher to lightly sand it down, then buff polish them. I would then seal them with what others recommended. What others haven't brought up is the headlight film. Put on a clear film, like window tint over the headlight and it should work perfect. Many use the film to blue, black or yellow out their headlights. Just get a clear film and it should be UV resistant and work like a charm

Xpel:
https://www.xpel.com/products/headlight.asp

Or Laminx
Headlight Covers, Headlight Film, Headlight Film Cover | Lamin-x

Galco

Here's a link to total headlight restoration with pics and instructions. Not for the driveway DIYer but if you have access to the tools and handy with a paint sprayer, looks like a good way to go.

Restoring Headlights to Like New Condition - No kit allowed - Club Lexus Forums

N2AK

So you all are OK with the fact that you bought an $85,000 car with the same headlight covers as a Chevy cavalier. . . While you sit on a stool & scrape away at plastic with your various grades of some substance I will be bitching to audi. I'll let you know how it goes.

mishar

Well, I bought $100K car for $25K four years ago and she is still running strong and shiny. What exactly should I start bitching about?

Mister Bally

The Ford ones go bad in four years when always outdoors, Chevy ones in six. Audi's take over ten years go to pot.

W12inSpain

Just wanted to do a follow up. I bought the 3M Headlamp restoration kit from Amazon UK. Worked great.

Wet sanded then polished. Took all the crap & bits off. I did fail the first time with a cordless drill. Not enough power. Switched to a corded high speed drill.

Next the 3M sealant.

A couple of before and after photos to show you how bad they were before and the results after. Took 1/2 hour start to finish.

Thank you so very kindly for all the terrific advise.

Kind regards from Espana.

Richard.

halik

When i had the headlights redone on my 911, I had the body shop re-shoot them with clearcoat.