Show and Shine Show off your completed pride and joy here.

Buff out Headlights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-05-2008, 02:28 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
okpanic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Salinas, ca
Posts: 171
Car Info: 07 Silver Mazdaspeed 3
Buff out Headlights

What is the process for buffing the fog out of the headlights? It is just starting and I want to curb it before it gets bad.
okpanic is offline  
Old 03-05-2008, 02:34 PM
  #2  
VIP Member
iTrader: (17)
 
VRT MBasile's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 22,776
Car Info: '13 BRZ Limited / '02 WRX
change your location Erik!

DetailAddict (a member on here) has some info on his website and for $25 and a trip to San Jose one weekend and he'll do it for you

http://www.DetailAddict.com/services/Service03.php

then you just gotta ask him what actual product he uses....or Forrest should know

Last edited by VRT MBasile; 03-05-2008 at 02:41 PM.
VRT MBasile is offline  
Old 03-06-2008, 08:48 AM
  #3  
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
 
wagonrex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,023
Get some find sand paper
My friend did it and it looks very nice after
wagonrex is offline  
Old 03-19-2008, 09:32 AM
  #4  
Registered User
 
Peleg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Danville, CA
Posts: 4
Car Info: 04 WRX STi
Originally Posted by wagonrex
Get some find sand paper
My friend did it and it looks very nice after
I would be careful with sand paper and headlights.

Instead, wash the headlights, clay bar them and then use a final polish on them. The results would be better with a Porter 7424.

Here is my old Integra as an example:

Name:  IMG_0995.jpg
Views: 9
Size:  134.7 KB


Left side: Before

Right side: After
Peleg is offline  
Old 03-24-2008, 02:57 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
Niterider03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Riverside CA
Posts: 137
Car Info: 2003 wrx
^wow that a really good job
Niterider03 is offline  
Old 03-24-2008, 03:09 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
needforspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NorCal
Posts: 4
Car Info: subarus
I never thought to use my clay bar, thanks for the tip
needforspeed is offline  
Old 04-13-2008, 01:50 PM
  #7  
Registered User
iTrader: (17)
 
wimprezax06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Oakland/Alameda
Posts: 3,448
Car Info: WRX --> RX-8--〉E93
Originally Posted by needforspeed
I never thought to use my clay bar, thanks for the tip
yea +1 one here. clay bar is a smart idea.
wimprezax06 is offline  
Old 05-09-2008, 08:17 AM
  #8  
Registered User
 
DesertBandit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: California
Posts: 18
Car Info: 2006 350Z
I had horrible yellowed lights and decided to buff them out instead of paying the dealership $600 bucks. They turned out great and look like new with minimal effort and investment (provided you have an orbital already).

1. Blue tape around the lense to avoid getting products on your paint.

2. Clay bar the lense to help remove any debri and grim that has built up recently.

3. Get some Meguiars PlastX and apply it to an orange cutting pad. Buff the lense until the product is fairly dry and buff off with a decent microfiber towel. Repeat the process until the lense is clear, usually two applications should do it. Watch out for lenses that have those protruding bumps, they are alignment dowels and will rip up your pad.

4. Switch to a grey or blue pad and apply a polish/glaze to help restore it to near perfect condition and looks. I haven't found any store bought polishes I like, but you can pick up some nice plastic polishes here

http://www.detailedimage.com/wax.php...w-Polish-P112/

or an easy to use aerosol
http://www.detailedimage.com/wax.php...otectant-P109/

Some people like to top it off with a easy wax like NXT, but I like to leave it with the protectant instead of putting something else that is going to build up over time.
DesertBandit is offline  
Old 05-30-2008, 10:44 AM
  #9  
Registered User
 
ejicon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Burbank, California
Posts: 19
Car Info: 08 WRX WRB
This past weekend, I did the same thing mentioned (minus step #4) on my girlfriend's Cougar. Meguiars PlastX seems to work well with just one coat, but two does the job. I never thought about using my clay bar, so that's icing on the cake..
ejicon is offline  
Old 05-30-2008, 01:30 PM
  #10  
Registered User
 
DesertBandit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: California
Posts: 18
Car Info: 2006 350Z
Glad it turned out well for you. Dealerships will try to sale you new lenses for hundreds when about $30 in products will get you back to new and you will have leftovers for years. I saw you were thinking about the liquid claybar, please do yourself a favor and stick with the normal claybar.
DesertBandit is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Krinkov
Bay Area
19
08-04-2009 08:19 PM
wrxracing
Subaru OEM Parts For Sale
0
08-02-2009 06:32 PM
bobski
Bay Area
39
05-05-2007 02:59 PM
Krinkov
Bay Area
14
05-11-2006 11:11 AM
IS2Scooby
Hawaii
4
03-21-2004 03:57 PM



Quick Reply: Buff out Headlights



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:03 PM.