Clearer headlights

[CamryOwner98]

I've recently sanded down my gen 4 cam headlights to get a clear lens for my hid projector retro. The result for the lens is really good, but not really crystal clear. So I read in some threads that I can just take my lens to a local autobody shop and slip them like $30 for them to do it for me. Is that true? Has anyone done it?

Wondering if the results are worth me taking apart my headlights again. Should I expect great results?

[felkajamine]

so you arleady sanded the inside right? it could be that the outside needs to be sanded now, since they are used, and after years of use they get kinda bad on the outside. if you havn't already done the outside, then i would certainly go ahead and do that!

[leasaunce]

got a photo of the finished result???

im thinking of doing it to mine too.....how did you do it??

[CamryOwner98]

The thing is that the outside of the lens is really good. Before I started the sanding project, I made it a ritual to use plastic polish on my headlights every few months to maintain its clarity. So I'm pretty sure that I didn't take enough time to sand the insides clear good enough.

So lets say that the outside is in great condition. Is it worth it to take it to an autobody shop to refinish the inside for me?


As for how I did it. It was simple but very long process. I got instructions from one of the threads here about sanding the textured lens of a gen 3 headlight. u just take course grits of sand paper to take out the bumpy texture and then proceed with lighter and lighter grits until it is clear. Then finish off with plastic polish and such.
Sorry, no other pics right now other than my siggy.

[leasaunce]

but wont sanding scratches the plastic???

[CamryOwner98]

initially yes, but as you use the higher grits, it will get smoother and eventually, it will be very clear. As you can see in my siggy, you can see into the lens, so it works well enough.

It will just appear really bad when you start sanding, but that is nornal, since you need the course grits to remove the bumpy texture. At this point, u are using something like 80 grit. Then u move higher until something along 1500 grit and it will start to look clear. u keep moving until 2000 grit, by then it will look really clear, like mine.

Try searching around for the DIY thread. It has some pics for you to see. I can't seem to locate it right now haha

[Fever]

Well just by going from your sig pic, it looks pretty damn good!

[macr88]

I'm not sure if they have a Tap Plastics in Canada but a place like that would be better than a body shop. They would be able to buff it until it was like glass..

[CamryOwner98]

Thanks Fever, it looks alright actually, but on closer inspection, it just looks a bit cloudy, like it was dirty. And the cutoff isn't that great. But at least I didn't lose brightness though.

Tap Plastics? What do they specialize in with plastics?

[Eye8Pussies]

did you remember to use compound too? that might may a diff

[CamryOwner98]

yup, definately. It did make a huge difference. but still room for improvement though. I used this turtle wax, plastic rubbing compound. The DIY used, 3M stuff, but walmart was all out, so I went with the turtle instead.

[felkajamine]

can't you go higher than 2,000 grit? also if it wasn't clear enough when you did it the first time, then why did you stop? lol, if you can go higher than 2,000 then i would goahead and do it. although you have to use an oven don't you to get the light apart? i wouldn't trust a body shop to do that kind of stuff for me. i would just open them up again and go at it. make a day of it.

still, from that one little picture you can see the difference!

[itzsteven]

You should've start with a new pair of headlight. And don't try to sand the outside, you will make it worse. Buy a new pair of headlight, do it again, and you will have a better result.

[jhbhatia]

^^ what he said.
When you sand on existing (old) headlights, your finish will be opaque (and will yellow in time). when the same is done on new headlights, the finish is rather tranparent and clear..as what you wanted.

[felkajamine]

sorry but i've done it, and have seen it done many times to make the outside of headlights clearer, and it does work but as they did say, it would have been smarter to start with new headlights!