review: Turtle Wax head light lens restorer kit

[fenixus]

Hi,

Today did some work out on 9005/9006 head lamp lenses on my '02 Solara V6 as they are original OEM ones and got real yellow hazy around here in as little as one year.
I cleaned them before 1 year ago right after purchase, so go figure what polluted air, heat (no garage here) and road crap (bugs, dirt, etc.) can do to head lamps ...

This is the kit I used, it's an old one from Autozone, I used it already like 5-6 times on both cars throughout years, still have around 50% left of both fluids (rubbing compound and lubricating solution for scrubbing pads):

Turtle Wax/Headlight lens restorer kit includes 4 oz. spray lubricant, 4 oz. lens clarifying compound and 3 pcs. 1800-8000 grit restoration pad

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=209217_0_0_



Some pics (not best, taken with a cell so colors and lighting are not really true):

1) driver side before cleaning (head lamp and corner lamps are both old OEM)




2) driver side after cleaning (only head lamp was scrubbed with lubricant and sanding pads and then clarified with TW compound, while corner lamp was only rubbed clean with clarifying compound and paper towels)




3) passenger side after cleaning (only head lamp was scrubbed with lubricant & sanding pads and then rubbed clean, while the corner lamp is a 1 yr old TYC replacement and still looking good)



The lenses are still a little yellower than new clear lens on corner lamp, but all the haze is gone and now you can easily see the reflective surfaces through them.

On wife's car ('00 Solara 5s-fe with H4 head lamps) I use same kit, for restoring head lamps, but now she's got a 3yr old TYC driver side lamp and a 6-month old new OEM passenger side head lamp (looks like new) and both almost new (1-2yr old) corner lamps by TYC, so there is not much to do over there hehe...

[WaxonWaxStillOn]

Nice job, thanks for the review. That's a pretty noticeable difference and at a great price.

I've had that product in my Amazon wish list, but surprisingly it's

more expensive

more expensive

than at Autozone.

The most popular/best reviewed on Amazon seems to be the

3M Headlight Restoration System

3M Headlight Restoration System

for $16.

[ajkalian]

Nice job, headlights look great.

How about dressing them up a bit more with these:

http://carlashes.com/


.

[fenixus]

Thanks!

Yeah, it takes only a few bucks (at local autozone it's sold at $8.99 nowadays) to get it and some elbow grease (I don't do more than 15 mins per side) to make it work

I always wanted the 3M kit haha! but since I got the TW one and it doesn't seem to end (had it for like 3-4 years already) I will wait until it gets done before I get the 3M one (in plans for future).

I heard it does a little better job.

Originally Posted by WaxonWaxStillOn

Nice job, thanks for the review. That's a pretty noticeable difference and at a great price.

I've had that product in my Amazon wish list, but surprisingly it's more expensive than at Autozone.

The most popular/best reviewed on Amazon seems to be the 3M Headlight Restoration System for $16.

haha LOL! LMAO!!!

that's something new

Originally Posted by ajkalian

Nice job, headlights look great.

How about dressing them up a bit more with these:

http://carlashes.com/


.

[capnblinski]

Used the 3M kit last fall and it did a great job.

[Chris Crash]

Wow looks great. I used the 3M kit, but then the foam pads ripped. Oh no! And for the price of the TW kit and those results, I'd stick with TW kit's.

[fenixus]

^Thanks!

wow! I had no idea the 3M pads are so brittle .... !

the TW ones are kinda indestructible! I just store them wrapped in paper towels and re-use them every few months with no trouble, once lubricated, they are like new all over again!

I guess, for less than 10 bucks I couldn't wish more I guess haha

[zb420]

Did you mask off the painted area below the headlights?

[CamrySExxx]

looks good, my headlamps havent gotten that bad yet. Once they do I plan on just wet sanding them ,and hitting them with a buffer using PlastX and then coating it with a thick coat of wax!

[ghettosled]

the kits work pretty good. i should have taken photos of mine, but after 15 years my headlights were extremely yellow and opaque. i tried using just the kit and it didnt work too well. i wet sanded with 1500 then 2000 then used the kit and they are like new again. im truly amazed.

[zb420]

Originally Posted by ghettosled

the kits work pretty good. i should have taken photos of mine, but after 15 years my headlights were extremely yellow and opaque. i tried using just the kit and it didnt work too well. i wet sanded with 1500 then 2000 then used the kit and they are like new again. im truly amazed.

You used the TW, did you mask any areas off?
Does it drip on the paint?

[danderson47457]

I have the benefit of working at a parts store, so I get to test some of these things out. There is a product called Blue Magic and it's around $7. There is no sanding or using a drill. We put it on the headlight assembly with a cloth,rubbed it in, then wiped it clean. They look brand new! I use to reccommend the turtle wax brand that you use the drill with for about $25 but now this is the only thing I tell people about!

[pmesfun]

Look great, fenixus. I cleaned my headlights about 7 months ago, still look new.
Cleaned up my headlights

[fenixus]

nope, I never bother with that. I just wipe whatever drips on the bumper with paper towels, never a problem with paint discoloration nor any damage to clear coat ever.

Originally Posted by zb420

Did you mask off the painted area below the headlights?

Thanks!

Wet sanding and waxing the hell out of them would surely do the trick too

Originally Posted by CamrySExxx

looks good, my headlamps havent gotten that bad yet. Once they do I plan on just wet sanding them ,and hitting them with a buffer using PlastX and then coating it with a thick coat of wax!

Yeah, it takes a lot of wet sanding to remove the discoloration on old head lamps. This TW kit includes 1800 grit as a phase 1 of wet sanding, it helps. though it's for "manual" use (no drill bracket or such), so other kits for drill (more expensive) might be more helpful on that in an easier way.

Originally Posted by ghettosled

the kits work pretty good. i should have taken photos of mine, but after 15 years my headlights were extremely yellow and opaque. i tried using just the kit and it didnt work too well. i wet sanded with 1500 then 2000 then used the kit and they are like new again. im truly amazed.

Heard some good things about it too. so this one is just a rubbing compound? must be similar to clarifying/rubbing compound of TW (which also includes lubricant and wet sanding pads, but they are not necessary if results are satisfactory after just rubbing).

Originally Posted by danderson47457

I have the benefit of working at a parts store, so I get to test some of these things out. There is a product called Blue Magic and it's around $7. There is no sanding or using a drill. We put it on the headlight assembly with a cloth,rubbed it in, then wiped it clean. They look brand new! I use to reccommend the turtle wax brand that you use the drill with for about $25 but now this is the only thing I tell people about!

Thank you!

Took a look at yours, great job!

I love to have clean head lamps and can't stand the look of yellow, non-clear hazed to hell lamps some people have on their cars ... can they see anything at night when using those lights? it's just ridiculous to have something like that on a car ...

Originally Posted by pmesfun

Look great, fenixus. I cleaned my headlights about 7 months ago, still look new.
Cleaned up my headlights

[Billiam]

About once a month I use this stuff. It'll keep the lenses from ever getting to the point of needing a polish. Been using it for years.