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Sanding Headlights??

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Old 04-11-2013 | 02:26 PM
MyFire91's Avatar
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Default Sanding Headlights??

Hey, so my headlights have some scratches and are starting to look yellow. I purchased the 3m Headlight restoration kit. You have to sand the headlight and then polish them to look like new. My question is has anybody tried this? i dont want to damage the headlights by sanding them down. You think its a good idea? I put a link of the product below. Theres also a video on youtube of the product. I put a link up of that video too.

3M 39045 Headlight Renewal Kit with Protectant : Amazon.com : Automotive 3M 39045 Headlight Renewal Kit with Protectant : Amazon.com : Automotive

 
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Old 04-11-2013 | 02:52 PM
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Old 04-11-2013 | 02:54 PM
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Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

I used the same product in the summer of 2010 and my headlights came out great and still look great!!
 
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Old 04-11-2013 | 04:28 PM
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Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Gotta sand once they get bad. The grit is really fine so your not taking much off. Tape around the outside and make sure to do the edges well. If they were not such a PITA to fully remove I'd take them all the way out of the car to get the edges really well. Just depends on how bad it is.
 
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Old 04-12-2013 | 01:32 PM
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Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Myfire91, I did this last year (after putting it off for ages) and it worked great...take your time, follow the instructions, and you'll be really happy with the results. This is all done by hand, and it works fine.

As for that particular product, that doesn't look like what I used, but my kit was also from 3M.

This is the one I used for my lights:
3M 39084 Headlight Restoration Kit : Amazon.com : Automotive 3M 39084 Headlight Restoration Kit : Amazon.com : Automotive
 

Last edited by Sennaspirit; 04-12-2013 at 01:36 PM.
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Old 04-12-2013 | 03:28 PM
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Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Cool thanks guys. Im going to do it this sunday if the weather is ok. Ill post up before and after pics
 
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Old 06-26-2013 | 05:47 PM
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Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Crazy as it sounds, I just had my headlights sanded and clear-coated - at Sam's Club! I don't know if it's available at every Sam's Club, but it is at the one here in Las Vegas - Centennial. $30 with a 5-year warranty. It takes about an hour. They tape and mask your car and everything! I already had my headlights out of the car, so that made it even easier for them.
 
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Old 06-26-2013 | 08:55 PM
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From: MOFN, AL, 70 miles from George
Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Originally Posted by LVXF
Crazy as it sounds, I just had my headlights sanded and clear-coated - at Sam's Club! I don't know if it's available at every Sam's Club, but it is at the one here in Las Vegas - Centennial. $30 with a 5-year warranty. It takes about an hour. They tape and mask your car and everything! I already had my headlights out of the car, so that made it even easier for them.
Hmmm-for that price, if done well, is a heckuva' deal. Walmarts in my area offered this service-for $45- and rarely did a decent job. I've brought back some really damaged lenses (I've been doing this awhile) and they usually are impossible to tell from new. Give it a try and hold your ground until you are satisfied!
 
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Old 06-26-2013 | 11:10 PM
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Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Other than a really deep pit near the high beam passenger's side, the lenses look good. I used an LED shop light and the finish looks smooth. Just ordered HID kit so will wait a few days for it to arrive. Shop said to let the headlight lenses cure for a few days so timing is good. Will be dusting off Max's sticky on install. Will also be hard-wiring my Garmin behind the glove box. Car should look really clean by the end of next week.
 
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Old 06-27-2013 | 07:33 AM
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From: Lineville, AL
Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Originally Posted by LVXF
Other than a really deep pit near the high beam passenger's side, the lenses look good. I used an LED shop light and the finish looks smooth. Just ordered HID kit so will wait a few days for it to arrive. Shop said to let the headlight lenses cure for a few days so timing is good. Will be dusting off Max's sticky on install. Will also be hard-wiring my Garmin behind the glove box. Car should look really clean by the end of next week.
Don't hard wire the Garmin !
I connected a female cigarette lighter adapter to the glove box light and just routed the standard Garmin cord with male cigarette lighter plug to it inside the right removable panel.
That way, you can still remove the Garmin and use in another car if you need to.
( the glove box light is common to the installed cigarette lighter plug and is hot in accessory / start / run )
 
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Old 06-27-2013 | 10:50 AM
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Thanks for the tip Alaxfire! I will do exactly as you suggest. Here are before and after pictures of the headlights. I used a product called Black Wow (an expensive orange goop) on the rubber collars. They make black parts look really black instead of a dark oxidized gray. That makes the collars look brand new.
 
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Before.JPG (2.20 MB, 30 views)
File Type: jpg
After.JPG (3.37 MB, 33 views)
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Old 06-27-2013 | 12:29 PM
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From: Carmel, In.
Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

I just did basically the same thing to mine at a friend's shop, but I got a little creative. If you have access and want a unique look, consider getting a small amount of black midcoat and mixing with the clear to get a slight tint. Use as many coats as you want for the desired color and instead of a poorly done 'tinted' headlight, you have a better than factory light that looks OEM but pops
 
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Old 06-27-2013 | 01:55 PM
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Originally Posted by alaxfire
Don't hard wire the Garmin !
I connected a female cigarette lighter adapter to the glove box light and just routed the standard Garmin cord with male cigarette lighter plug to it inside the right removable panel.
That way, you can still remove the Garmin and use in another car if you need to.
( the glove box light is common to the installed cigarette lighter plug and is hot in accessory / start / run )
Thanks again! Did you just use a 3M splice right at the 4-wire connector? Positive on the BK/BL and negative on the BR?
 
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Old 06-28-2013 | 11:27 AM
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Originally Posted by BoilerUpXFire
I just did basically the same thing to mine at a friend's shop, but I got a little creative. If you have access and want a unique look, consider getting a small amount of black midcoat and mixing with the clear to get a slight tint. Use as many coats as you want for the desired color and instead of a poorly done 'tinted' headlight, you have a better than factory light that looks OEM but pops
The tinted headlights look really cool, but I think (at my age) I need all the light I can get!
 
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Old 07-01-2013 | 10:59 AM
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From: Carmel, In.
Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Originally Posted by LVXF
The tinted headlights look really cool, but I think (at my age) I need all the light I can get!
Understandable, I have the HIDs and went with a lighter shade than last time, hoping to get a little more light. It is not bad with the HIDs, but still not quite as bright as I would like...
 
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Old 07-01-2013 | 12:18 PM
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From: Lineville, AL
Default Re: Sanding Headlights??

Originally Posted by LVXF
Thanks again! Did you just use a 3M splice right at the 4-wire connector? Positive on the BK/BL and negative on the BR?
No, I cut and re-soldered the wires with heat shrink.
Yes - brown is ground - ( shell of female connector ) and BK/BL on the center contact.
 
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