Baking soda?

[DM616]

Headlights...

I tried the toothpaste method again with another whitening paste since I don't want to shell out $20 for a kit.

I tried it and when I washed it off it seems a bit more cloudy than before >_< big mistake.

Tried rubbing windex and it looks clear, but when the windex dries off or condensates...it becomes cloudy.

Maybe I should use warm water...not cold...

So tomorrow I'm trying the baking soda method...anyone ever try it?

http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2...omeOct0809.htm

Looks like a camry in the pics but eh....

If all else fails I'm just going to buy new headlights, any recommendations? I keep hearing about retrofit...

[carsrus]

Yeah new ones shouldent be to much more then 35$ a pop so I wouldent spend mad cash trying to fix them.

Rubbing compound followed by polishing compound and then wax seems to work ok. Nothing you do is gonna be a permanent fix.

[DM616]

I'm not aiming for a perm. fix...if I have to keep them clear every month all be it but yah.

Are new headlights easy to install lol? Looking for brighter lights too, even if they're a little bit more I hate night driving and I love my camry to death...

[ajkalian]

Originally Posted by DM616

Headlights...

I tried the toothpaste method again with another whitening paste since I don't want to shell out $20 for a kit.

I tried it and when I washed it off it seems a bit more cloudy than before >_< big mistake.

Tried rubbing windex and it looks clear, but when the windex dries off or condensates...it becomes cloudy.

Did you get the idea from the show on PowerBlock? I think it was Trucks where the guy did it. Guess he was full of it, eh. Seemed too simple to work, but he had good results, but it was a TV show, so you wouldn't expect crappy results.

I used a product called Novus. It comes in two grits, and a cleaning solution. I didn't use any power tools or sandpaper, just rubbed it in with a terrycloth towel. Started with the coarse grit, then medium, and then fine. Came out great. Took about 10 minutes and a little elbow grease.

Here's a pic of my, not so professional setup.

[DM616]

But that's $20 >_> which I'm trying to avoid lol. If I have to I'll buy headlights around christmas time.

[iovaykind]

If you're going to buy headlights, spend the extra $100 bucks to get DEPO headlights..

again, why do we have so many headlight threads recently.. yet no one is willing to dish out money. everything takes money if you want it to look good.

[DM616]

I'm being cheap towards buying a crap solution which has a chance of not working. I am willing to spend up to $100 on headlights <_< I really am trying to avoid more than that...unless they look really nice.

[kjarrett]

$40 + shipping at Amazon (via a reseller):

Amazon

Amazon

I just did them, very easy. Very happy with the results. Wish I'd taken photos so I could contribute to the DIY thread.

If you can get them looking this good with polish for 1/2 the cost, awesome! Me personally, I'd rather spend the $ and get new!

[jtex2717]

Just buy new ones bro.....saving your money in the long run...and if you want quality, go Depo or go Retro fit, but as stated above these cost more, which you do not want.....thus said....get a pair of stock headlights, they will take you about 15 minutes a piece to install if u have never done it before... and adjusting should take you 10 minutes....buy new lights = ~$80 + 30mins for install = DO IT!!!

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by DM616

But that's $20 >_> which I'm trying to avoid lol. If I have to I'll buy headlights around christmas time.

If you realllllllllllllly want to be cheap... mr. clean EXTRA STENGTH magic eraser.

[DM616]

Thanks, I'll check out those stock headlights but first...what exactly are the depo and retrofit and why are they so great? price?

Second, today I tried baking soda...and then something else.

Firstly, here is the cloudy headlight after the failed toothpaste attempt (I used some Crest whitening crap with peroxide and baking soda in it).



Then, with baking soda, it didn't do too much, it just fixed the failed toothpaste attempt. Mix it with water to get a slimy paste, rub it.



And now the icing on the cake, Turtle Wax Car Washing Concentrate. I can't find a picture of it that you can see what it is but...http://image.become.com/imageserver/...oncentrate.jpg

That's a small image of it lol..I think it's called ICE now. I just took it (don't mix with water) and rubbed it on, I think this is the closest someone can get without new lens.

Anyways picture of headlight with it:



I don't think you can tell much in the picture but it's better than the baking soda, although still not perfect, you can see right through it 90% perfect.

Now I can accept them lol, now at Christmas time I will decide to buy either stock or depo or retrofit.

After that, it's trunk modding for me lol.

[jtex2717]

Depo's have a completely clear lens....They are not frosted like the stock lights are and they come in either chrome or black insides. This allows all of the light from your bulbs to shine.

Depos



Retrofit lights are when you take a pair of Depos and a pair of projectors and put them inside the headlights and they give the best output you can get with clean cutoffs and no glare like stock lights with HIDs. (Kinda which is what I have )

Retrofits


Mine

[DM616]

So wait, you're saying headlights are supposed to have that frost/dark look to them? I was told they are supposed to look like the sides (fog lens)! So mine are not supposed to be any more clear and bright?

Anyways, what is the price difference? If it's a small difference I'm going with retrofit...and if it's a high price forget it lol.

[jtex2717]

So wait, you're saying headlights are supposed to have that frost/dark look to them? I was told they are supposed to look like the sides (fog lens)! So mine are not supposed to be any more clear and bright?

Anyways, what is the price difference? If it's a small difference I'm going with retrofit...and if it's a high price forget it lol.

This is what OEM headlights look like... The Price Difference???.....

You are better off just getting some Depos...Youre easily looking at about 100 to 150 more for the retros... Especially since you wont be doing them yourself. Even if you were it would still cost more for the parts...and the labor to do them...well...just ask anyone who has done retros....I think only iofakind has mastered them since he makes a new pair like every month...lmao....but others are great at them too....

[DM616]

Depos it is! Cost though xD?

And do you mind telling me if my stock lights are supposed to be bright, or supposed to have that dark color to them? I'm still lost on that.