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3M Headlight Restoration

4K views 12 replies 9 participants last post by  J13ntv 
#1 ·
going to use them today, but some say it will go dull in couple of weeks what can I use a a sealant?
 
#5 ·
I always do them the old fashion way , wet sand from 1000 grit 1500, 2000 to 3000 then work up from 4000 wool pad up through foam pads untill I finish with a 9000 cut. Even with the 3m kit I suggest using a compound and then glaze. then a sealer. Seems with normal care, washing even just the glaze and a wax will keep them looking right.
 
#6 ·
I just used regular paintwork sealant on mine. 3 coats of that and I'm putting a coat of Collinite 476s on to as that wax is just insanely durable.
 
#8 ·
i made a thread about this.
follow the kit instructions and every month or so just use the polish pad with some compound and wax to keep it shiny :)
 
#9 ·
#10 ·
Fernando; it's Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection. Don't know if you guys can get it, although its very similar to Meguiar's #21 Synthetic Sealant.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Guys, I've been restoring headlights for more than three years now. The 3M kit will work well, but the polycarbonate plastic lenses will begin to fade/dull/oxidize again if you don't apply a UV clear coat to protect them from the sun. This usually happens anywhere from 3 months to a year, depending upon how much time the vehicle is parked in the sun.

I started out experimenting on my own lenses years ago and I eventually got so good at it that it turned into a small side business. Here's a picture of a set of Grand Cherokee headlights that I recently restored and clearcoated. I don't have a "before" picture, but trust me when I say that the headlights were so bad that you couldn't even see through the clear plastic. The customer actually purchased new headlights and then asked me to restore these so that he could sell them and get some of his money back.

 
#13 ·


That's sanded, wet sanded, polished and then sealed with the spar urethane/mineral spirits combo posted on autogeeks. The right is untouched, that's from a 93 Ford.

I'll post pictures later of a dodge neon I did tonight. I don't have any before pictures because I rushed into it and forgot, but have one before polish and another finished.
 
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