05-03-2016, 08:03 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,848
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Foggy headlight lenses
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!
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05-03-2016, 08:25 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 524
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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.
__________________
2008 Boxster S PDE2
02 Boxster S Blk on Blk(Stock for the Wife)
88 turbo S (My Toy) slightly modified
Last edited by cas951; 05-03-2016 at 09:28 AM.
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05-03-2016, 09:15 AM
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#3
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Side Porsche
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Tn
Posts: 157
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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.
__________________
2001 Silver Box
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05-03-2016, 10:06 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
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Sand with 320 wet paper then 600. Paint with minwax spar varnish gloss. You're done.
__________________
Current car
2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black
Previous cars
1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
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05-04-2016, 04:16 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,848
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cas951
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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
Last edited by Gilles; 05-04-2016 at 04:20 AM.
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05-04-2016, 07:44 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
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Quote:
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
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Its used for painting wood but works great on lenses too.
__________________
Current car
2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black
Previous cars
1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
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05-04-2016, 01:49 PM
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#7
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I am my own mechanic....
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 3,433
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I had mine buffed by a pro. Here's old vs new. It's a huge improvement to go new or aftermarket.
__________________
'04 Boxster S 50 Jahre 550 Spyder Anniversary Special Edition, 851 of 1953, 6-sp, IMS/RMS, GT Metallic silver, cocoa brown leather SOLD to member Broken Linkage.
'08 VW Touareg T-3 wife's car
'13 F150 Super Crew long bed 4x4 w/ Ego Boost
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05-04-2016, 03:14 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,848
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Quote:
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.
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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
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05-04-2016, 04:28 PM
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#9
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98 Arctic silver 986
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Upstate, NY
Posts: 1,441
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You can find new lights for around $850 a pair if you search around a little
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05-04-2016, 06:45 PM
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#10
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I am my own mechanic....
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 3,433
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Quote:
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
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$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...
__________________
'04 Boxster S 50 Jahre 550 Spyder Anniversary Special Edition, 851 of 1953, 6-sp, IMS/RMS, GT Metallic silver, cocoa brown leather SOLD to member Broken Linkage.
'08 VW Touareg T-3 wife's car
'13 F150 Super Crew long bed 4x4 w/ Ego Boost
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05-04-2016, 06:55 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: LB, Germany
Posts: 1,456
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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
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05-04-2016, 07:38 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Bastrop, Tx
Posts: 2,643
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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.
__________________
Woody
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05-04-2016, 10:18 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 524
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Here's my headlight on my Mercedes
After two stages of sanding
End results after buffing
__________________
2008 Boxster S PDE2
02 Boxster S Blk on Blk(Stock for the Wife)
88 turbo S (My Toy) slightly modified
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10-09-2016, 05:59 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: QC
Posts: 412
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How is the 2pack clear in a can holding up to the UV? No reaction with the polycarbonate shell?
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