Hazy headlights

[ilovebacon]

I am assuming that headlights becoming hazy is a common thing.

I want to DIY restore it, however not having a garage makes it harder to work on in a public street.

Do professional charge an arm and leg to remove the haze off the front headlights?

[!Aznboi128]

Some people do it for $50 or so.

Or you can get yourself a cheap kit, like this one. Do it yourself with a drill, water and cloth.

[320icar]

Depending how bad the headlight is, I’ve had great success with the DIY kits. Most body shops offer the service too, shouldn’t cost more than 1hr of shop time

[SumAznGuy]

Originally Posted by 320icar

Depending how bad the headlight is, I’ve had great success with the DIY kits. Most body shops offer the service too, shouldn’t cost more than 1hr of shop time

Would you clear coat the lights afterwards to protect them from hazing up again?

[320icar]

The diy kits come with a clear UV wipe to reseal the headlights. Let’s say it lasts a year? $20 a year and an hour of time is way cheaper than replacement headlights 99% of the time

[ilovebacon]

I am worried about the UV coating too.

I hope the haze doesn't come back after 4 weeks with the DIY method.

[snowball]

I've used "restoration" kits but you'd have to be okay with doing it every 6 months, lasts even less when there's rain/direct sunlight. Proper way would be to wet sand, duplicolor adhesion promoter + clear but without a garage it would be hard.

[Teriyaki]

I used this guide many years ago on my hazy AF subaru headlights. They held up like brand new over the years. Highly recommend it, atleast the finishing step with the mineral spirits and spar urethane.
https://www.instructables.com/How-to...ur-Headlights/

[fliptuner]

DA polisher, 2 stage 205, then 105 + 4K clear. This took about 5 minutes, ready for clear.

[320icar]

Here’s the before and after on the DIY kit. Almost a year later of storage outside and it still looks the same. Brand new? No. But only $20? You bet

[Spoon]

Can't attest to how long it lasts as I don't keep track. But I've always used toothpaste to get that haze off. If you don't believe it, try using toothpaste on the acrylic on a toaster oven. It'll make it look brand new.

[RiceIntegraRS]

The haze will come back based on how fine of a grit u finish sanding the headlights with. Ive sanded headlights down with 1500-2000 and the haze would come back 6 months later, ive sanded my own headlights down with 5000 and they still look new 3 years later. Ive actually restored hundreds of lights by either re-clearing them or polishing them. If u dont want to break the bank just buy those $20 canadian tire headlight restoration kits, they work well but the haze does come back over time. After polishing the headlights i would put car wax over them after to protect ur headlights from hazing quickly. Might delay it by 6months, a year, possibly longer. But the best way to do it is to clear them.

[ilovebacon]

Originally Posted by !Aznboi128

Some people do it for $50 or so.

Or you can get yourself a cheap kit, like this one. Do it yourself with a drill, water and cloth.

Thanks, I purchased these and my headlights turned out new. it seems like the inside is hazy but I guess that's the perk of owning an old car.

[320icar]

Originally Posted by ilovebacon

Thanks, I purchased these and my headlights turned out new. it seems like the inside is hazy but I guess that's the perk of owning an old car.

Since headlight lenses are some kind of plastic, you’ll notice nowadays that there are almost ghosting ‘burn marks’ on the inside where the powerful HID beam shines through. Can’t get rid of that, but it’s ok.

Did you take any before and afters?