3M Headlight Lens Restoration System

[DubinDE]

Today I decided to give the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System a try at clearing up my Passat's cloudy, hazy headlight lenses. It was very obvious the UV coating had failed on the lenses and that wetsanding was my only option to restore them. Take a look at what I was able to achieve in just under 2 hours.



The Problem: Yellowed, cloudy, hazy headlight lenses

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/Driver_Before_Closeup.jpg

The Solution: 3M Headlight Lens Restoration Sytem

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/3M_Headlight_Restoration_Kit.jpg

Contents of the kit: The 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System is a great value when you consider all that it comes with.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/3M_Restoration_Kit_Contents.jpg

Before Pictures: As you can see, my headlights were severly clouded and hazy. You can barely see the high beam bulb!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/Before_Passenger_Front.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/Before_Passenger_Side.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/Before_Drivers_Front.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/Before_Drivers_Side.jpg

Step 1: Clean the lenses to remove any dirt and tape off the surrounding area. You will be sanding the lens so apply 3-4 layers of tape to prevent accidentally sanding through it and damaging the paint.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/Before_Taped_Up.jpg

Step 2: After you have attached the included disc pad holder to your drill (a corded drill is ideal as a cordless drill may run out of juice before you're finished,) attach the soft interface pad to the pad holder and then place a P500 grit sanding disc onto the interface pad. Using medium to light pressure make slow and steady back and fourth passes on the lens until it appears frosted. I used 2 of the P500 grit sanding pads per lens.

Pass 1
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_500_Grit_Pass.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_500_Grit_Pass_Closeup.jpg

Pass 2 with new P500 disc
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_500_Grit_Pass_2.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_500_Grit_Pass_2_Closeup.jpg

Step 3: After you're confident all the yellowing and surface defects have been removed, remove the P500 grit sanding disc and replace it with the P800 grit finishing disc. This step will reduce the 500 grit sanding scratches to a finer 800 grit scratch. Once again, apply medium to light pressure and make slow and steady back and forth passes until you're confident all of the 500 grit scratches have been reduced. I once again used 2 P800 discs per lens.

Pass 1
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_800_Grit_Pass.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_800_Grit_Pass_Closeup.jpg

Pass 2 with a new P800 disc
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_800_Grit_Pass_2.jpg

Step 4: After you're confident all of the 500 grit scratches have been reduced to 800 grit scratches, remove the P800 grit finishing disc and attach the Trizact™ disc. This step will reduce the 800 grit sanding scratches to an even finer 3000 grit scratch which will prepare the surface for polishing. It's important to note that when using the Trizact™ disc you will need to use a spray bottle filled with water to dampen the pad before sanding the lens. I also sprayed the surface of the lens with water to further help the Trizact™ pad work its magic. Again, combine medium to light pressure with a slow and steady back and fourth motion. It will become pretty clear (no pun intended) when this step is complete.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_Trizact_Pass.jpg

After seeing this, I couldn't stop smiling.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_Trizact_Pass_Closeup.jpg

Step 5: After you no longer see any sanding scratches and the lens surface appears slightly hazy it's time to remove the Trizact™ sanding disc and install the orange buffing pad. Apply a dime sized amount of the included 3M Headlight Lens Polish and polish the lens to full clarity.

After Pictures: I am turely amazed at the results and couldn't be happier with this product.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_Passenger_Front.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_Drivers_Front_1.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_Passenger_Side_Closeup.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/After_Passenger_Closeup.jpg


Before & After shot:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/700/medium/Before_After_Shot.jpg

[Finemess]

Wow! Wonderful job. Nice write-up.

[CBX Carl]

Nice write up...Thanks for taking the time...:cheers:

[k4df4l]

Very nice results and write up!!

I tried the permatex kit on my 2000 GTI's lenses and while the fine grit sheets of sandpaper and plastic polish did significantly reduce the hazing and improved the clarity, the results were not as dramatic as yours.

[Meghan]

Those were horrible, nice job on fixing them back to new. Great review too, love the pictures!

[dublifecrisis]

nice write up! I've had decent results with just a compound, a finishing polish and some 4" pads done with a PC. They always looks great but up close I can always see some pits etc that the sanding step would have helped with. This 3M kit looks great.

[DubinDE]

Thanks everyone! Based on the condition of the lenses I figured they were a great candidate for a write up. They deffinitely put the 3M system to the test which it passed with flying colors. At the current AutoGeek price of $19.99 you'd be a fool to not purchase this product.

[HMFIC]

Excellent write up

[Gary Sword]

If you have a polisher, cutting pad and polish you can make short work of restoring headlights to as new condition. If they're real bad wet sand them with 1000/1500/2000 grit paper (depending on condition) before polishing. Much cheaper then spending $20 on a kit.

[MrRumble]

If you have a polisher, cutting pad and polish you can make short work of restoring headlights to as new condition. If they're real bad wet sand them with 1000/1500/2000 grit paper (depending on condition) before polishing. Much cheaper then spending $20 on a kit.

True, but sanding by hand/with a block vs. with the drill is what makes the kit stand out IMO. Also the cost of a polisher, pad, compound/polish, wetsanding paper vs needing just a drill and having everything you need in a $20 kit is not comparable. This is great for those looking to clean up the headlamps/tailights, but don't own all sorts of equipment and products already.

[Gary Sword]

True, but sanding by hand/with a block vs. with the drill is what makes the kit stand out IMO. Also the cost of a polisher, pad, compound/polish, wetsanding paper vs needing just a drill and having everything you need in a $20 kit is not comparable. This is great for those looking to clean up the headlamps/tailights, but don't own all sorts of equipment and products already.

If I didn't have a polisher I would definitely get one. Nothing looks better then jeweled up paint without swirls. Headlights have to really be bad before you would ever have to wet sand them. For anyone who has a polisher and some polish it does make sense to spend $20 on a kit. I restored some headlights about a month ago and I might have used $2 worth of polish at the most.

[87lxblue]

Nicely done....looking brand new again.

[reggie1967]

Nicely done....looking brand new again. nice job what about adding a clear coat to it to seal it

[AndrewBall]

That looks great, i use the same kit. but careful. the lenses now will haze in only a month or so. I suggest using Lamin-X is a hard plastic cut to fit your headlights. ive used them in the past on racecars and street cars they work great.