Headlight/Fog light Restore! (56k stay away)

[WiscoGTI]

Tools used:
-Cordless drill w/ extra batteries (I went through 3 of them)
-3M Headlight restore kit (Use the instructions!!!)
-Plastx rubbing compound
-Shop rags
-Lots-o-tape
-Spray bottle filled with water
-A good shop stool!

Here she goes..


Before:



After 400-grit:











After 800-grit (forgot to take pictures) and 3000-grit wet sand:



After the rubbing compound:



Success! After one more pass with the 2000-grit wet sand and rubbing compound:









The final product (after a good washing):







The 3M kit really does work! It also ended up being a few bucks cheaper at my local Autozone than buying all the sandpaper and rubbing compound seperately. And it's soooo much easier than doing it by hand. All you need is a cordless drill (as seen in some of the pics.) Although their instructions say to only do one row of tape, just double it up (one strip on top of the other.) But I HIGHLY recommend doing about 3 or 4 rows of tape wide jusssst in case. In order to hit some of the corners, you have to get in very close. And my paint around the headlights ended up catching some 800-grit in a couple places, all because there just wasn't enough tape. And another thing, make sure you're not sanding areas of the headlight that you don't have 100% visual of. It sounds like common sense, but after a while you just don't think about it. In order to hit the bottom lip of the headlight, you really need to get down there and look underneath the sander because I went over the tape without even noticing I was that close. So, just put in the extra 5 minutes for more tape.

Also, I was told this could be done in about 40 minutes..now, either I'm just slow, too anal retentive, or else that is just complete bullocks. I spent well over 2 1/2 hours on this tonight. And I really didn't even get the fog lights as well as I could have. So definitely give yourself some time to complete this.

[Sponsor]

[Djzx3]

This should definably be kept as a sticky, I was wanting to do this in about a week. Thanks, it's helping people already.

Rep point awarded for great write up.

[WiscoGTI]

Good. That's what I was aiming for.

All in all, I spent roughly $30 in materials. 3m kit was $22 and Plastx was about $7.

[misfire]

nice job.

[Djzx3]

I've also heard there is a way to do this with toothpaste. Not joking.

[tukaniSVT]

Originally Posted by djzx3

I've also heard there is a way to do this with toothpaste. Not joking.

Toothpaste doesn't work ... and if it does ... it would only last until it got wet again ... trust me I have tried.

The Meguirs Pro Plastix clean solution works wonders and is worth the 7 bucks.

I did mine back in the summer and it is still clean.

-Ray-

[Djzx3]

Originally Posted by tukaniSVT

Toothpaste doesn't work ... and if it does ... it would only last until it got wet again ... trust me I have tried.

The Meguirs Pro Plastix clean solution works wonders and is worth the 7 bucks.

I did mine back in the summer and it is still clean.

-Ray-

Are you sure? The process says to rinse with water after.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4519165_clea...eadlights.html

[TeamZetec]

Originally Posted by Djzx3

I've also heard there is a way to do this with toothpaste. Not joking.

NEVER use toothpaste on Focus headlights. I did this with my mom's 00 Focus and it only made it 20x worse.

[Knightmare]

Originally Posted by Djzx3

I've also heard there is a way to do this with toothpaste. Not joking.

True to the word toothpaste does the trick... Used it on a few vehicles now... I forgot the chemical compound in it that makes it work but it does... Just rinse as you are wiping and damp your rag....

[zx360]

looks good, now just add some lamin-x to keep it looking fresh