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Plastic Headlamp Restoration - Printable Version

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Plastic Headlamp Restoration - Alec Brandon - 04-14-2008

My plastic headlights were so faded/discoloured I was to the point that I was looking to buy new replacements. FYI, the car and headlamps are 8 years old.

I tried Mothers Plastic Polish @ $6.99 - no success.
Meguiars PlastX @ $5.99 - no success
Rubbing Compound w/ high speed buffer@ No Charge - no success.

My last attempt was with Permatex Plastic Lens Restoration Kit @$15.99 from Part Source.
The kit contains:
- Plastic Restoration Polish
- 4 Industrial Grade Wet/Dry sandpaper sheets (1000, 1500, 2000, 2500)
- Polish Cloth
- Rubber Gloves.

Start to finsih the process took me 30 mins for both headlamps.
See the results for yourself, I could be more pleased !!!

Original Before Picture... [Image: 2410387661_748977c0e6_m.jpg]
After 1000 grit sanding... [Image: 2410388573_df4f670a56_m.jpg]
After 1500 grit sanding... [Image: 2411217470_d13bb96941_m.jpg]
After 2000 grit sanding... [Image: 2411218450_85322e4a52_m.jpg]
After 2500 grit sanding... [Image: 2410391849_bd4dde6066_m.jpg]
After Polishing #1 Almost There... [Image: 2410392963_0925434ee5_m.jpg]
After Polishing #2 - Final Product [Image: 2410394095_2ee79feed0_m.jpg]

There is more product left in the kit so I'm going to do the fog lights.
Money well spend !!!

Plastic Headlamp Restoration - dBlast - 04-14-2008

Looks good!

But did you not go backwards with the sandpaper grit?

Normally the higher the number the finer the finish. When working towards a finer finish you would start with the lower number grit and then move to a higher and higher number grit. :iono:

Plastic Headlamp Restoration - _JC_ - 04-14-2008

dBlast,Apr 13 2008, 08:41 PM Wrote:Looks good!

But did you not go backwards with the sandpaper grit? 

Normally the higher the number the finer the finish.  When working towards a finer finish you would start with the lower number grit and then move to a higher and higher number grit. :iono:
[right][snapback]261910[/snapback][/right]


thats what i was thinking i would of started at the 1000 and worked my way to 2500 maybe that what he ment .. :ph34r:

Plastic Headlamp Restoration - euro_zx5 - 04-14-2008

I'm glad it worked for you... I had no luck with this kit on my buddy's car. And I use Meguiars PlasticX as a preventative, not a restorer... it seems to maintain them quite well. I suggest using it from now on to keep them looking good!

Plastic Headlamp Restoration - darkpuppet - 04-14-2008

If I remember from an old convo with T-Dot, some folks use clear shoe polish and a buffer to bring back headlights... Sanding seems pretty extreme, but glad it worked so well... looks good!