Foggy headlight lenses

[Gilles]

I had noticed that the headlamps on my car are no longer very clear, as the SoCal sun has taken his toll after 9 years

But after visiting Autozone, I found that there are many different products, all clamming to be the best! ..ha

Is there a product that you had used with good results that you could recommend?

I am afraid that once you use something to clear the headlight lens, you will have to keep using it, is this true?

BTW I checked the cost of the OEM replacements and they are something like $1,200 (each…)

Thank you for the comments!

[cas951]

I've tried a few methods. I'm sure you've seen claims of using bug spray and tooth paste and rubbing them on the headlight. Well, You can forget these methods as they didn't do any good for me and my headlights. They sure put a good workout for my arms.

I finally saw this in Autozone. Amazon.com: 3M 39008 Headlight Lens Restoration System: Automotive. This works great. You will need a drill. This is a 3 step procedure.

[mipstien]

Once you are done doing the restoration 110% perfect, make sure you put something to protect them back down like clear coat. Otherwise you will be doing this once a year approx.

[san rensho]

Sand with 320 wet paper then 600. Paint with minwax spar varnish gloss. You're done.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by cas951

I finally saw this in Autozone. Amazon.com: 3M 39008 Headlight Lens Restoration System: Automotive. This works great. You will need a drill. This is a 3 step procedure.

Thanks for the tips, yesterday when I saw the link for the 3M 39008 I ended ordering it and should get here today.

Regarding the clear coat to be used afterwards, do you know if it's a special kind of CC (formulated for plastic)..?

San Rensho, is the Minwax Spar varnish a special kind of Clear Coat for plastic? I am assuming that this product may be popular in FL

[san rensho]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Thanks for the tips, yesterday when I saw the link for the 3M 39008 I ended ordering it and should get here today.

Regarding the clear coat to be used afterwards, do you know if it's a special kind of CC (formulated for plastic)..?

San Rensho, is the Minwax Spar varnish a special kind of Clear Coat for plastic? I am assuming that this product may be popular in FL

Its used for painting wood but works great on lenses too.

[Timco]

I had mine buffed by a pro. Here's old vs new. It's a huge improvement to go new or aftermarket.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Timco

I had mine buffed by a pro. Here's old vs new. It's a huge improvement to go new or aftermarket.

Wow, a big difference, may I ask you how much did you pay to the pro?

Right now the new ones are out of question (just replaced all the control arms on the suspension) but Sunset Porsche sells them (with the discount) at about $1,200 each..

Regards,
Gilles

[tommy583]

You can find new lights for around $850 a pair if you search around a little

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Wow, a big difference, may I ask you how much did you pay to the pro?

Right now the new ones are out of question (just replaced all the control arms on the suspension) but Sunset Porsche sells them (with the discount) at about $1,200 each..

Regards,
Gilles

$20/side. My Box was from Orange County so yeah, that so cal sun baked them and the hood was sand blasted.

This guy had a cordless grinder with different heads and compounds. It did help but man, that yellow haze...

[Smallblock454]

The problem with buffing them out is that the yellow haze will come back if the car is exposed to the sun.

Had this problem with my other car and so i had to buff every year. And i'm not living in sunny Arizona but in rainy Germany.

So i looked for a solution and found a system where you spray a clearcoat 2k special UV-paint on the acrylic glass. This seems to work.

Also please note that the acrylic glass is coated by the factory with an UV blocking coat. And if you remove it the yellow haze comes a lot faster.

Regards, Markus

[itsnotanova]

I turned these

into these

with just some wet sanding and a clear coat. Eastwood sells a clear paint in a can that has hardener released into the paint when you use the can. Any other spray can paint won't have hardener and won't be as durable.
They're even clearer in person.

[cas951]

Here's my headlight on my Mercedes

After two stages of sanding

End results after buffing

[WillH]

How is the 2pack clear in a can holding up to the UV? No reaction with the polycarbonate shell?