Best headlight repair kit

[Bigtanker]

I had a windshield on my motorcycle start to get hazy and tried a headlight repair kit on it. Completely ruined the whole thing. And windshields on a Goldwing aren't cheap. In my desperation, I bought a bottle of Turtlewax Polishing Compound for less than $10. I used a buffing pad on my drill and worked that windshield for several hours. I was completely shocked when it came out as good as new!

I have tried the same thing on headlights with similar results, and it doesn't take more than a few minutes of buffing. Might be a good option for an easy/cheap fix.

First off, a Goldwing? Really? You have kids under 30. You can't own a Goldwing yet!

Second. The Turtle Wax rubbing then polishing compound method is great. I've used it several times with great success.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I replace the assemblies in my Toyota pickup for well under $100. The greatest amount of time was spent researching how to align the beams. It was pretty easy after finding the correct video on youtube.

Headlight repair of plastic lenses is a much less satisfying method of solving the problem.

Agreed. I have better things to do than wet sand and paint.

 

[HoughMade]

#600, #800. #1000, #1500, #2000, rubbing compound, polishing compound.

This is just good stuff to keep around the house for numerous uses.

Also, this is about as good as home clear-coat gets. Use it or not. I didn't, and just the polishing step at the very end every couple of years works.

...but if you want to avoid that:

https://www.eastwood.com/ew-2k-aero...APA6D4IQsNGDuW8US270N_bidsGvw30caAntrEALw_wcB

 

[Tactically Fat]

CM: Mind sharing the Amazon link to the ones you've purchased?

I've cleaned my lenses 2x now. 1 time was manual only - 2nd time was using a buffer drill bit in my drill. Both products had "clear coat" sealers on them that I applied according to the directions. BOTH times the lenses re-yellowed again in a few short months.

I can get assemblies on Rock Auto for $60 per - but apparently they don't come with any innards. Probably isn't difficult to install - but if another part comes with the sockets already installed - for a few more bucks - that'd be a boon.

 

[Cameramonkey]

CM: Mind sharing the Amazon link to the ones you've purchased?

I've cleaned my lenses 2x now. 1 time was manual only - 2nd time was using a buffer drill bit in my drill. Both products had "clear coat" sealers on them that I applied according to the directions. BOTH times the lenses re-yellowed again in a few short months.

I can get assemblies on Rock Auto for $60 per - but apparently they don't come with any innards. Probably isn't difficult to install - but if another part comes with the sockets already installed - for a few more bucks - that'd be a boon.

These are the ones I found.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008G22G1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[thunderchicken]

Several guys in the shop I work in swear by using Deep woods off to take the haze off headlights.
I have used a headlight buffing kit from one of my tool venders that has worked pretty well. Back when police light bars had the red/ blue lenses I knew several guys that used bug spray and some claimed to use wd40. Personally never tried anything besides my buffing kit (just because I spent a fair amount for it)

 

[Kevinslaterjr]

Masking tape, paper towels, spray bottle with water, 1000 grit sandpaper, Rubbing alcohol & Rustoleoum clear coat spray can in Enamel

Sand it gently and use a lot of water. I made the mistake of letting the oxidated particles get to a paste. Scratched the hell out out of a small section of one of the headlights.
Rinse and repeat until the spray off isnt completely white in color. Dry it off completely.
The headlights will still look hazy. Once you spray the clear coat on, they clear up completely.
Did this over 2 years ago and they still look good as new.

If youre not comfortable with that, I've heard toothpaste with baking soda works...buts its only temporary

 

[WhitleyStu]

I bought the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit from Amazon a couple years ago and did my wife's VW. The lenses came out looking like new. My wife was very pleased with the results and noticed a substantial improvement in light output.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Well THAT was easy. 3 screws holding it in. And the unit came with new bulbs to boot! The only problem is these seem to have slightly thicker mounting flanges. So I had to reuse my old ones. 1 out of 3 screws would actually reach the threads of the clip nuts. It was either reuse my old ones or go buy slightly longer screws.

Quite the difference.

 

[Ericpwp]

That's cheating.

 

[Cameramonkey]

That's cheating.

After seeing how much time and effort it took, I decided to just suck it up and buy new. Especially since even after all the hard work they would possibly fog up again.

Less than 5 minutes a side. (not counting the fiddling with the clip nuts)

 

[Ericpwp]

Mine are around $150 a pop. Elbow grease it is.

 

[Benp]

I know that you already got this resolved, but I used:
https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G3000-Heavy-Headlight-Restoration/dp/B004HCOE72
I was really impressed with this! It really did make our lights look brand new. They have lasted about a year and I have done 4 cars with them and it didn't take very long. I think when I touch them up this summer I'll try the clear coat over them and see how that works.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

I was in Harbor Freight today and I saw a headlight restoration kit for around $15. It included a special sanding pad that fits in a drill and several different scrubbing, sanding, and polishing pads.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Mine are around $150 a pop. Elbow grease it is.

Try avoiding the big box retailers like autozone. I thought mine were $160 each. NO BULBS. I paid FAAAAAAR less WITH bulbs.

Find my amazon link above and try working backwards. Or one of the other suggestions. You might find them cheaper by googling Dorman.

 

[Ericpwp]

$355 for one... the only one.

Dorman doesn't seem to have them.

Thanks though. '07 Toyota with some apparently nice headlights.

 

[bwframe]

You sold me. I had planned to repair also, but after finding a new set w/bulbs on eBay for $73 I ordered them.

My decision was made easier by the discovery of moisture in one assembly and that the other refuses to adjust because of a likely front corner tap before I owned the vehicle.

 

[Haven]

I used two different kits on the Trailblazer. One was from Menards, and was “As Seen on TV”, the other was the Mothers kit. The one from Menards did a better job.

However I still need to replace the lenses in the beast, they are just too scratched.


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