Headlight Restorer Kits? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

SilverCamry02 · 03-04-2010, 01:23 PM

I was wondering if those Headlight Restorer Kits work well? They are those kits you see when you go into the auto parts store, that say they will fix your "cloudy" headlights. A bodyman told me he thought "It is a waste of $20!" Do people here agree? Have you used the kits before? Any kit you would suggest? Should I just stay away from the kits?

mikered30 · 03-04-2010, 05:40 PM

I highly recommend this kit: http://www.doublehornproducts.com/pr...8&cat=1&page=1

A lot of the other kits clean pretty well, but the lenses get cloudy in a couple of months, and then you reapply and so on. The clear coat is the key. Many polishes/waxes do not hold up well to the high heat from the lenses, so they are not a good alternate.

gameguru1360 · 03-04-2010, 05:43 PM

I might try that kit since I've used a local auto parts store kit and the 3m one. They were out of stock of the Meguiar's restoration kit. The 3m version looked like it did some restoration although my lights aren't heavily yellowed or foggy.

SilverCamry02 · 03-04-2010, 07:12 PM

I've heard the same thing. The Kits do work..... but only for a few months to a year.

I acutally tried Toothpaste today. It worked well, but I may need to use a kit too. It didn't get everything off, and took a lot of Elbow Grease.

You Tube

***PhatRoyale*** · 03-04-2010, 10:53 PM

3M sells one too. The reviews I've read suggests that it's a pretty good product.

iconman · 03-05-2010, 03:56 AM

Headlight Restorer Kits does work but it would be a lot more effective if you have a good car orbital. Something like a PC7424 orbiter and some polish and rubbing compound. Make to use some sort of sealant on the headlight's lenses at the end to protect it over time.

gameguru1360 · 03-05-2010, 03:13 PM

I used an 18v drill to sand and polish. I figured by hand would take too long or be too uneven

ToyotaJimD. · 03-05-2010, 07:47 PM

I've used the new Mothers PowerBall 4Lights on both the Camry and a Ford I have... worked real nice.

You initially polish, and then go back and use the sanding pads only if polishing by itself doesn't work. Unless your lights are real crusty, I'd avoid the first pad.

SilverCamry02 · 03-06-2010, 09:36 PM

I bought the 3M kit. It worked really well! It took me about 3 hours to do it properly. There is even a Video 3M posted on how to do it. It's basically what a real shop would use, just you use a drill!

You Tube

SilverCamry02 · 03-06-2010, 09:38 PM

The other kits, which use only polish, I'm not sure would work. My Headlights were pretty bad!

The Toothpaste will only do so much. I guess it would have worked if I spent the whole day rubbing it in!

SilverCamry02 · 03-07-2010, 10:24 AM

I found when using the 3M Kit there were some things I'd be careful of.

I was oversanding with the 600 grit sandpaper. The paper would gum up, before you could realize it. It probably would have been helpful to wet the 600 grit paper a little bit.

Also you get only 1 piece of 3000 grit sandpaper. It would have been helpful to have 2 pieces. I did one headlight then I moved onto the other one, but by then the paper was used up. It took me forever to do the other headlight. I would suggest switching back and forth on each side.

You must Tape-up around your Headlights! I would have done a lot of damage to the paint if I didn't! I just used Blue Painters Tape, which worked fine.

I would suggest using a Corded Drill, which is what I used. If you try to use a battery powered Drill, I'm pretty sure the battery will run out before you finish!

As the video says in the beginning, you definitely need a Spray Bottle and some clothes.

gameguru1360 · 03-08-2010, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverCamry02

I found when using the 3M Kit there were some things I'd be careful of.

I was oversanding with the 600 grit sandpaper. The paper would gum up, before you could realize it. It probably would have been helpful to wet the 600 grit paper a little bit.

Also you get only 1 piece of 3000 grit sandpaper. It would have been helpful to have 2 pieces. I did one headlight then I moved onto the other one, but by then the paper was used up. It took me forever to do the other headlight. I would suggest switching back and forth on each side.

You must Tape-up around your Headlights! I would have done a lot of damage to the paint if I didn't! I just used Blue Painters Tape, which worked fine.

I would suggest using a Corded Drill, which is what I used. If you try to use a battery powered Drill, I'm pretty sure the battery will run out before you finish!

As the video says in the beginning, you definitely need a Spray Bottle and some clothes.

yep I went through 2 batteries using a cordless drill on just 1 headlight, so I had to wait till the first 2 batteries were fully charged to being on the other headlight...I've got 3 batteries.

A wired drill would definitely work best and having several sanding pads as well