Head light restore kits

[robin]

Anybody use any of the kits out there for restoring your milky lights give me some feed back if ya please

[R J]

You take the kit, follow the instructions and about 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour later, the lens is bright and shiny.

6 months down the line and it is foggy again.

[Tundra]

I could save you some money...400grit, 600grit, 1000grit wet sand. Fine polishing compound for light scratches to heavy oxidation by hand. Then buff with the same product and a powerball. Then I buff with a polish.
  I just did my truck last week and am doing my wifes truck as we speak, came in for a break from the heat.

[YoungPUP]

Just did the 3m kit on my Grd Cherokee (advanced auto parts about $30).  Only tip I have over the kits instructions is us water for all 3 of the 4 steps, (didn't trust the hot plastic smell doing it their way)  WAX it when you're done. Came out Way better then it was but never will be as good as original again.

[Black Dog]

Did the 'Turtle Wax' version, on my sons '03 Subaru WRX, and after 1/2 hour the lenses looked new...  As previously stated, ya might need to re-do.  His are starting to get a bit hazy, and it's been about 2 years now.

Black Dog

[John Schmidt]

Toothpaste and a brush or rag.

[gregc]

  Don't need the kit, get a sheet of 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit wet sand paper. The buy some plastic polish, and a buffer pad for a drill.  Use lots of water when sanding, the first grit is the toughest to break thru all the oxidation. Then follow up with the next 2 finner grades , and polish to a clear finnish. Wax will help to keep the gloss.

[Tropic traveler]

I could save you some money...400grit, 600grit, 1000grit wet sand. Fine polishing compound for light scratches to heavy oxidation by hand. Then buff with the same product and a powerball. Then I buff with a polish.
  I just did my truck last week and am doing my wifes truck as we speak, came in for a break from the heat.

+1 on the method, it works.
What you are doing by sanding/polishing the yellow off the headlamps is removing the original protective coating which has gone bad. Once polished clean there is no coating left & the lens turns yellow quicker than with the OE coating. Regular polishing with wax can help it last but never as long as the original.
Funny thing is I have a 2000 Ranger & the lamps still look like new, never touched them. I have seen many other same age & newer Rangers with badly yellowed lens.  ???  Go figure. My 2003 Sable has to have the procedure Tundra descibed done about once a year since the first time.

[Black Dog]

What you are doing by sanding/polishing the yellow off the headlamps is removing the original protective coating which has gone bad. Once polished clean there is no coating left & the lens turns yellow quicker than with the OE coating.

Very true...  The kit I used had a 'seleant' that was painted on the lenses, after the restore job had been done.  Maybe that is why it has lasted so long.

Black Dog

[Rams]

Have used rubbing compound with a buffer, didn't take long.  A buddy and I both did this, I waxed mine, he clear coated his with rattle can clear coat.  I have to admit, his still look good. 

[X Ring]

You can also buy protective film to put on your headlights and turn signals.  You can get it precut or in 24x24" sheets.

Marty

[joefromperry]

I recently read in at least two places (consumer reports? popular mechanics?) that the Sylvania kit was way above the others in results and didn't require a drill. I just bought the kit, but haven't used it yet.