Goin Rogue
09-15-2014, 02:04 AM
Hello AutoGeek, here is my review for a 3M lens renewal kit. I bought one at a national chain (only because I wanted to try it now). The only difference was my kit came with some kind of sealant wax, but I used a difference product to protect my lenses.
Replacement lenses cost $105+ for the pair on Amazon, my kit was $31 locally. I figured I would try my hand at restoration and if it didn’t go well the lenses were cheap enough to replace.
Here is the kit from AGO:
3M Lens Renewal Kit, headlights polish, plastic headlight polish, polish plastic lens, plasic polish scratch remover (http://www.autogeek.net/3m-lens-renewal-kit.html)
The kit includes:
3M drill backing plate
3M Masking Tape PN 0000 25 ft.
4 P800 grit white abrasive discs
6 P500 grit yellow discs
P3000 Trizact™ foam disc
Orange foam compounding pad
1 oz. 3M Headlight Lens Polish Sample
The user has to supply the drill, towel, and spray bottle of water.
The test vehicle is my 2006 Saturn Ion Quad Coupe 3. It has lived its entire life outside and the lenses looked awful.
Step 1 is to tape up the surrounding surfaces. The kit comes with 25ft of tape, plenty to do 2-3 layers. Also clean off the headlamp of any dirt/debris.
Before after taping up:
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141319_zpsa0a42db5.jpg
Step 2 is to begin sanding the headlights. Attach the backing plate to the drill and use the ‘yellow’ discs (P500 grit sandpaper). Using slow, steady, and light pressure I sanded the headlight. I used two discs per headlamp and cleaned the sandpaper often during the process.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141322_zpsab5407e9.jpg
After sanding with P500
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141329_zpsdbea0980.jpg
Step 3 is to sand more, this time with the white discs (P800 grit sandpaper). The same process was followed as in step 2. Again during this step I used two discs per headlamp.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141331_zps59c51898.jpg
After sanding with P800
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141337_zpsdafd520e.jpg
Step 4 is to use the Trizact foam disc (P3000). During this step you moisten the sanding disc and spray water on the headlamp. As you sand it begins the polishing step and you get sort of a white slurry, just clean frequently.
After sanding with P3000 (Looking better!)
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141342_zps91684ce4.jpg
Step 5 is to use the orange foam compounding pad with the included Headlight lens polish. During this step you apply a dime sized amount of product to the pad. Using the pad spread the polish on the lens BEFORE turning on the drill. Once you have spread out the product have fun polishing. You will see the difference almost immediately!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141345_zpsfa1ac210.jpg
After polishing!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141347_zps83aa14b1.jpg
Step 6 would be to apply a protective layer of your favorite lens sealant.
The total time from start to finish was about 30 minutes per headlight. They are not perfect, but I am happy with the results for my first time and the wife was amazed! My opinion is this kit is VERY user friendly and no one should have any reservations about using it. The instructions are clear and it contains more than enough products to get the job done, unless you have massive headlamps. If you are still unsure how to use the kit there are plenty of videos on YouTube. Also AGO sells a refill kit for a great price!
Thank you for taking the time to read my review and I hope it helps anyone that wants to try this for themselves.
Replacement lenses cost $105+ for the pair on Amazon, my kit was $31 locally. I figured I would try my hand at restoration and if it didn’t go well the lenses were cheap enough to replace.
Here is the kit from AGO:
3M Lens Renewal Kit, headlights polish, plastic headlight polish, polish plastic lens, plasic polish scratch remover (http://www.autogeek.net/3m-lens-renewal-kit.html)
The kit includes:
3M drill backing plate
3M Masking Tape PN 0000 25 ft.
4 P800 grit white abrasive discs
6 P500 grit yellow discs
P3000 Trizact™ foam disc
Orange foam compounding pad
1 oz. 3M Headlight Lens Polish Sample
The user has to supply the drill, towel, and spray bottle of water.
The test vehicle is my 2006 Saturn Ion Quad Coupe 3. It has lived its entire life outside and the lenses looked awful.
Step 1 is to tape up the surrounding surfaces. The kit comes with 25ft of tape, plenty to do 2-3 layers. Also clean off the headlamp of any dirt/debris.
Before after taping up:
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141319_zpsa0a42db5.jpg
Step 2 is to begin sanding the headlights. Attach the backing plate to the drill and use the ‘yellow’ discs (P500 grit sandpaper). Using slow, steady, and light pressure I sanded the headlight. I used two discs per headlamp and cleaned the sandpaper often during the process.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141322_zpsab5407e9.jpg
After sanding with P500
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141329_zpsdbea0980.jpg
Step 3 is to sand more, this time with the white discs (P800 grit sandpaper). The same process was followed as in step 2. Again during this step I used two discs per headlamp.
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141331_zps59c51898.jpg
After sanding with P800
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141337_zpsdafd520e.jpg
Step 4 is to use the Trizact foam disc (P3000). During this step you moisten the sanding disc and spray water on the headlamp. As you sand it begins the polishing step and you get sort of a white slurry, just clean frequently.
After sanding with P3000 (Looking better!)
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141342_zps91684ce4.jpg
Step 5 is to use the orange foam compounding pad with the included Headlight lens polish. During this step you apply a dime sized amount of product to the pad. Using the pad spread the polish on the lens BEFORE turning on the drill. Once you have spread out the product have fun polishing. You will see the difference almost immediately!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141345_zpsfa1ac210.jpg
After polishing!
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/knate5000/Auto%20Detailing/0914141347_zps83aa14b1.jpg
Step 6 would be to apply a protective layer of your favorite lens sealant.
The total time from start to finish was about 30 minutes per headlight. They are not perfect, but I am happy with the results for my first time and the wife was amazed! My opinion is this kit is VERY user friendly and no one should have any reservations about using it. The instructions are clear and it contains more than enough products to get the job done, unless you have massive headlamps. If you are still unsure how to use the kit there are plenty of videos on YouTube. Also AGO sells a refill kit for a great price!
Thank you for taking the time to read my review and I hope it helps anyone that wants to try this for themselves.