Daily Driver Headlight Restoration

[camaro2ssblack]

I've finally decided to detail my daily driver - a 2001 Camry that I've had since day one with nearly 200,000 miles on it. It's never been properly detailed in its life. The outside is washed a few times a year and the interior is kept decent but it's never been seriously cleaned, clayed, polished or waxed. The paint feels like sand paper so I definitely have my work cut out for me. Today I decided to tackle the headlights which were severely oxidized and neglected.

Products and process:

- Cleaned with Adams APC and a mf towel
- Taped up and clayed with Adams clay and ONR as clay lube.
- Wet sanded with 800 grit, then 1000 grit, then 2000 grit and a sanding block
- Polished with Optimum Hyper Compound on a 3" LC wool pad and a cordless drill
- Sealed with two coats of Blackfire wet diamond for now as I plan on coating the car after I complete the entire detail over the next several weeks.

I think they turned out great and I'm sure the visibility at night will be drastically improved.

Before:

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu143/cgravesLST2/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps156fdad8.jpg (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/cgravesLST2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps156fdad8.jpg.html)

After:

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu143/cgravesLST2/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps987ca876.jpg (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/cgravesLST2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps987ca876.jpg.html)

[dcjredline]

Yowza! Nice

[wlshephard]

Nice work!:xyxthumbs:

[Father87]

Awesome. Can't wait to see rest.

[DogRescuer]

very nice but how long?

[camaro2ssblack]

very nice but how long?

Took me about 20 minutes per light plus set up and clean up time so about an hour total. Not bad at all to erase 13 yrs of neglect.

[camaro2ssblack]

Yowza! Nice


Nice work!:xyxthumbs:


Awesome. Can't wait to see rest.

Thanks! I'm dreading the work ahead but looking forward to the transformation of the exterior. The claying and decon process is going to be epic. I have tons of paint overspray on top of 13 yrs of fallout. I have a medium grade nano skin sponge and a full clay bar ready to get trashed.

[DaVinciAutoSpa]

Great Job! Honda and Toyota headlights always turn out nice.

[camaro2ssblack]

Great Job! Honda and Toyota headlights always turn out nice.


Thanks! This was my first full restoration and I was very pleased with the results. Funny I am looking forward to the drive home tonight to see the difference it made with the visability.

[hbrett29]

I've finally decided to detail my daily driver - a 2001 Camry that I've had since day one with nearly 200,000 miles on it. It's never been properly detailed in its life. The outside is washed a few times a year and the interior is kept decent but it's never been seriously cleaned, clayed, polished or waxed. The paint feels like sand paper so I definitely have my work cut out for me. Today I decided to tackle the headlights which were severely oxidized and neglected.

Products and process:

- Cleaned with Adams APC and a mf towel
- Taped up and clayed with Adams clay and ONR as clay lube.
- Wet sanded with 800 grit, then 1000 grit, then 2000 grit and a sanding block
- Polished with Optimum Hyper Compound on a 3" LC wool pad and a cordless drill
- Sealed with two coats of Blackfire wet diamond for now as I plan on coating the car after I complete the entire detail over the next several weeks.

I think they turned out great and I'm sure the visibility at night will be drastically improved.

Before:

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu143/cgravesLST2/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps156fdad8.jpg (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/cgravesLST2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps156fdad8.jpg.html)

After:

http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu143/cgravesLST2/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps987ca876.jpg (http://s642.photobucket.com/user/cgravesLST2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps987ca876.jpg.html)



Did you use any soap as lube to help while wet sanding?

I'm going to do my headlights soon and have heard about the soap as it helps not leave too many sanding scratches.

Wondering if it makes much of a difference..

[MarkD51]

Quite a difference! I'm sure your seeing the road at night will be improved.

50% of the people here have head lights like yours were, and even much worse. I have no idea how they can see, as the roads here are pitch dark at night?

Not only ugly, but has to compromise safety as well. Common sense says the sooner you can see something on the road, the sooner you'll apply your brakes.
Mark