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sullysdetailing
11-16-2009, 11:57 AM
South Florida Headlight Restoration!!

This was one of my Clients parents car. She wanted to get the car washed and wax and when I arived she asked if I could correct the headlights. I said sure. The dealership wanted $1100 to replace both headlights and and install them. Restorating them cost $40.

Headlights:
DP Rinseless Wash and Gloss
M105 (Hydro cutting pad)
M205 (Hydro polishing pad)
WGPS

The Car:
Wheels: DP Wheels Gel
Wash: Chemical Guys Citrus Wash (Sorry AG but this car was pretty dirty)
Clay: Wolfgang
Clay Lube: DP Rinseless Wash and Gloss
Tire Shine: Black Again
LSP: Klasse AIO (2 coats, you will be suprised how long this stuff last and how good it looks. I used this because the car sits on the side of the beach all day and Klasse as good protection against salt so I gave it a try as an LSP)

Headlights:

Before:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/CTSbefore1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/CTSbefore2.jpg

After:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/CTSAfter.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/CTSAfter2.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/CTSAfterFront.jpg

The Car:

Before: Since the car was silver it was hard to show all the dirt on the car, so the only before pictures are of the rims.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/DSC_0409.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/DSC_0406.jpg

After:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/DSC_0412.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/DSC_0413.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/hockey2k28/CTSAfterFront.jpg
ICEMAN
11-16-2009, 12:05 PM
nice job on headlights!!! i have not yet worked on any newer headlights like that. They have all been too clean, so i just go over them with Meg's Headlight resto kit to polish em up a lil bit.

AFter i use the 3M kit on mine, or my family's, i usually go over mine about once a month with Meg's kit to keep em clean and polisged. The Meg's kit, you can use hundreds of times, and just buy refills of the PlastX. The drill attachment will last a LONG time.

i started making flyers this morning to hang around town to do "headlight restorations". so we'll see how this works!! itll be easy money if all goes well.

and here you go!!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4109826416_616ff61c8e_o.gif
sullysdetailing
11-16-2009, 12:07 PM
Everytime I wash the vehicle I will apply wax to the headlights to make sure that the do not get foggy again
DLB
11-16-2009, 12:25 PM
Wow - that's great results - especially without sanding!

DLB
Superdutytd
11-16-2009, 04:02 PM
Wow - that's great results - especially without sanding!

DLB

A lot of people go crazy sanding headlights. In all but the most extreme cases (these were pretty bad as it was) I find no need to sand. A good 4" pad on a drill/rotary will do great work with even a mild compound.
konrad
11-16-2009, 06:43 PM
You use Black Wow as a tire dressing? Does that get expensive? Unless you're talking about a product I'm not aware of...
Harleyguy
11-16-2009, 08:25 PM
You use Black Wow as a tire dressing? Does that get expensive? Unless you're talking about a product I'm not aware of...Wonder about that one also.Not only $$ but must take forever to apply.He must of made a mistake during the write .I don't think anyone uses black wow for tire dressing but you never know do you LOL Feed back please
sullysdetailing
11-16-2009, 10:06 PM
You use Black Wow as a tire dressing? Does that get expensive? Unless you're talking about a product I'm not aware of...
My mistake Black Again
blake_benoit
12-21-2009, 10:11 AM
look's good. I can't seem to get them to come out that good. I use the 3m prokit, I start sanding with 600-800 dry then 1000 and 3000 trizact wet then 3m plastic cleaner then 3m plastic polish. The thick crud saty's and help with this would be great.
crash93ssei
12-21-2009, 10:37 AM
Nice job for sure! A friend of mine has an '05 CTS and I did some work to the headlights earlier this year. His were a bit hazy, but not nearly as bad as those, however, they were pitted pretty bad and required sanding.

Restored headlights really make the car!
frosty
12-21-2009, 12:51 PM
Nice job, Need to find some "junk" cadilac headlights to restore. Hmm, actually sounds like an interesting side line of work. Anybody thought of going to these dealers and asking for "junk" headlights people get replaced?

Seems like a good polish and post on craig's or ebay would be a good way to turn over a couple extra $.
GXPWeasel
12-21-2009, 05:04 PM
Nice job, Need to find some "junk" cadilac headlights to restore. Hmm, actually sounds like an interesting side line of work. Anybody thought of going to these dealers and asking for "junk" headlights people get replaced?

Seems like a good polish and post on craig's or ebay would be a good way to turn over a couple extra $.

That is a good idea. Also, maybe go to some dealerships, or used car dealerships, and hand out a card. Say you do headlamp restoration. Maybe you could get a nice little side job, that their detailer doesn't know how to do, or doesn't have the equipment to do. :props:
blake_benoit
12-21-2009, 10:21 PM
i picked of a chevy dealer last friday and the used c.t.s light are kicking my but any tip with the 3m air kit?
blake_benoit
12-21-2009, 10:34 PM
i picked of a chevy dealer last friday and the used c.t.s light are kicking my but any tip with the 3m air kit?
sullysdetailing
12-21-2009, 11:02 PM
Try 600 grit then 800, 1500, 2000, 3000 Then use a wool LC pad, orange LC then white LC. Sometime if the light is really bad you will need to start with 320 grit