Headlight Correction

[timsatx]

So I finally got some of the supplies I wanted to correct my headlight. Unfortunately about the time I was going to buy the DP products they had gone bye bye. So what I opted to do was to buy what I plan on using for my paint and apply it to the head lights. What I ended up using was the Optimum Polish II and the Optimum Finish Polish. I combined that with the LC 3 inch backing plate and the LC Orange and White 3 inch foam pads. Since I didn't have any sealant I went ahead and applied some Collinite 476 for my top coat.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Items_Used.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103220/title/headlight-correction/cat/500)

Originally I was going to sand them but after cleaning them with a 11% IPA I determined that it wasn't quite that bad. I will revisit that shorty.

Before Cleaning
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Before_Cleaning_2.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103215/title/before-cleaning/cat/500)

After cleaning
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/tn_Right_Before.jpg (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/102700/title/headlight-before-polishing-after-cleaning/cat/500)

So then I popped the hood and taped around the remaining areas
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Before_Polishing_1.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103216/title/before-polish/cat/500)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Before_Polishing_2.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103217/title/before-polishing/cat/500)

First up was the Optimum Polish II. This is what they looked like afterwards.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Optimum_Polish_II_1.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103223/title/optimum-polish-ii/cat/500)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Optimum_Polish_II_2.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103224/title/optimum-polish-ii/cat/500)

One thing I probably didn't need to do was the Optimum Finish Polish, but I had it so whatdahay.http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Optimum_Finish_Polish_1.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103221/title/optimum-finish-polish/cat/500)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Optimum_Finish_Polish_2.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103222/title/optimum-finish-polish/cat/500)

Finally since I had nothing else I used my Collinite 476. I don't know that it has UV protectants but at least it provides some protection. I didn't realize I had the flash turned to Auto and that it came on in this pic.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Collinite_476_1.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103218/title/collinite-476/cat/500)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/800_Collinite_476_2.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/103219/title/collinite-476/cat/500)

So, I think they looks pretty good now, don't you. I have seen an issue that I don't think I have seen brought up, and maybe it's just me being anal, but the lens on both of these is not smooth. Polished for sure, but not smooth. The reason being is that the plastic was etched by, apparently, bug stuff. So essentially the etching is polished but still not smooth. What I suspect I will do some time in the future is break out the sandpaper and block both lens to make them smooth again.

[Mantilgh]

Looks great for just polishing them up.

Yes, sanding them thoroughly will smooth them out. If you start out with and aggressive enough grit you can remove almost all of the defects.

You might want a more aggressive polish/compound to remove your sanding marks depending on what grit you sand up to. If you go up to 2500 or 3000 grit, the polish might take them out.

I've been sanding up to 2000 grit, then I compound with Optimum Compound II, then Polish II, and then wipe down and coat.

Just keep a good coat of wax on them if you don't want to coat them. You may have to re-polish once or twice a year if just waxed depending on the UV exposure where you live to keep them fresh looking.

[dcjredline]

That sure worked!!!!!!!

[g35_coupe]

Looks good. Yes, the surface (factory coating) is not smooth because it has oxidized. Like Mantilgh mentioned, sanding is the only way to remove them and start with a clean slate. If you go that route, the protection you choose will be much more important.

A wool pad and some aggressive compound can sometimes help remove any coating that's "loose", if you want to avoid the sanding process.