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  #1  
Old 10-09-2010, 01:41 PM
Manarius's Avatar
Manarius Manarius is offline
1995 Subaru SVX LSi Polo Green
 
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Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)

Main Album Link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...&id=1479900008

I chose to clean up my headlights today. My uncle gave me a 3M kit for Christmas, so after I purchased some clear coat and a nice day came up, I went to town. The kit gives you a couple 500 grit pads, a couple 800 grit pads, a 3000 grit pad, a foam thing for polishing/restoration (and some restoration polish), and an adapter to fit your 1200-1400RPM drill. I was committed to clear coating, so I taped and newspaper'd the crap out of the front of my car and did not use the foam thing/polish. Between each grit pad, I wiped down the headlights with a wet rag. Only the 3000grit called for wet sanding (very light wet; just a spray bottle). The headlights are pretty beat themselves so no amount of sanding is going to make them perfect, but I think they're much better now than they were before.

Total time: I started around 12:15 and started with clear coat at 1:45. It says 15 minutes per lamp; I guess I'm a little slow.

Here's the kit:

Here's the clear coat I got at Wal-Mart:


Here's what they look like before:


Here's what the driver's side light looked like after I took the 500grit to it:


Here's what it looked like after I took the 800grit to it:


Here's what it looked like after I took the 3000grit to it:


Here's what it looked like after 2 coats with the clear coat. I was going to do three, but it started to run so I decided that was enough:


And the left side light with the lights on:
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-Jason
(8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95
Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod,
svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar,
silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear
(1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver
(12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k)
I have a bad feeling about this.
-Obi Wan Kenobi
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  #2  
Old 10-09-2010, 02:52 PM
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Huskymaniac Huskymaniac is offline
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Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)

I was looking at that very kit yesterday. What is your verdict on it?

Does anyone have alternative products they would recommend?
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Tony

1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything
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  #3  
Old 10-09-2010, 03:53 PM
Lookin4SVX Lookin4SVX is offline
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Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)

Instead of buying the kit I did mine with 1000grit, 1500grit, and 2000grit wet sandpaper from an autopart store. For polish I used some 3m plastic polish we had at work.

See Post #33 in this thread for pics of it:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54507

First time I did my lights I used "Mothers mag and aluminum polish" instead of sandpaper and polish. It worked ok for taking most of the yellow off. '
Pics here:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...2&postcount=12
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  #4  
Old 10-09-2010, 04:43 PM
Cam Cam is offline
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Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)

I have mentioned it before but I did my tail lights using a micro mesh kit. Google it. Fantastic stuff, i highly recommend.
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'92 Ls-L Dark Teal
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  #5  
Old 10-09-2010, 05:41 PM
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Huskymaniac Huskymaniac is offline
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Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)

The headlights are glass and the taillights are plastic, correct? Or are the headlights plastic too? They feel like glass.
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Tony

1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads
2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil
2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil
1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything
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  #6  
Old 10-09-2010, 05:48 PM
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Sean486 Sean486 is offline
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Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)

No, unfortunately they are both plastic.
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  #7  
Old 10-10-2010, 05:19 AM
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Alex-svx Alex-svx is offline
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Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manarius View Post
Here's the clear coat I got at Wal-Mart:

Its looks verry good. But i have a little qvestion. What are you useing this for? Before or after?
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  #8  
Old 10-10-2010, 05:30 AM
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Manarius Manarius is offline
1995 Subaru SVX LSi Polo Green
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Re: Headlight Restoration (warning 56k - heavy pics)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex-svx View Post
Its looks verry good. But i have a little qvestion. What are you useing this for? Before or after?
I used this after I did the process of 500, 800, and 3000 grit sanding.

I think if you're a good rattle can sprayer then you can get one three coats without it running. I'm not very experienced, so after 2 it started to run a little.
__________________
-Jason
(8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95
Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod,
svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar,
silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear
(1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver
(12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k)
I have a bad feeling about this.
-Obi Wan Kenobi
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