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iTrader: (1)

Hello everyone,

I just finished wet sanding the headlights on my 06 T-sex.

I've done this a million times before....but in previous cases, I've used UV protection clear coat. The disadvantages of that being that it's incredibly hard to apply to a smooth surface without getting runs and scale. The runs and scale can be wet sanded and polished also...as I've done before. But it seems like after a year or so, the clearcoat that I apply starts to yellow and haze a bit as well.

My car is not always parked in the garage. I live in the Chicago burbs. So it sees a mixed bag of weather, rocks, salt, wild animals, and a fair amount of sun.

I used:

600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3M polish, Plastix. Pics below.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

Btw, before I get the typical "search n00b", "GTFO", and "DIAF" comments, I will say that all my searching has yielded limited and undecided results.

Lamin-x: apparently this does NOT provide protection?

To sum up....I'm looking for some sort of semi permanent or permanent solution to yellowing after wetsand/polishing plastic headlights on a car mainly parked outside.

Hollerrrrr.

Wax: provides protection but needs constant re application. Im looking for something permanent or semi permanent.

Clearcoats: temporary protection which then has to be removed when it also yellows.

Anyone have any other suggestions? Is Lamin-x not my ticket? I was hoping it was.

98civdx

Check out Optimum Opti-lens.

http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-opti...t-coating.html

B serious

iTrader: (1)

Thank you for the link! Anyone tried this stuff?

ej6fade

check out xpel headlight protection film kits. I've had a pair on my CTR headlights for roughly two years now or so, they still look brand new. No yellowing, cracks, scuffs, etc.

digital sol

iTrader: (1)

I bought this for my g35 but havnt used it yet.

Optimum Opti-lens.

I used clear bra in the past made for headlights and it actually started cracking the headlights after 6 months. The heat in conjunction with those films actually causes the headlights to crack like spiderwebs over time.....i didn't realize that could even happen when I wrapped $800 headlights at the time...2nd time around now and im going to try the sealant/uv protection.

Im hoping to have some spare time this weekend to get it done. But do NOT use that clear bra crap. It looked great for a few months then my headlights were basically trashed.

98civdx

I haven't used it yet, but I have heard many good things about it.
you can't really go wrong with Optimum products anyways. lol

For me, I just wax my headlights. I wax it so often that I don't really worry about them.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

Did you have to sand your headlights at some point? The headlights have a stock UV protectant on them. My issue is that I sanded it off.

Yeah, I've heard of that happening too. My headlights are fairly large....they're projectors, and they're HID. So the lenses don't really get all that hot, I wouldn't think.

Thanks for the heads up either way.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

How often do you wax them? I guess waxing them wouldn't be too big of a deal. They're just headlights. Not like I have to wax the whole car. I guess it would only take about 5 more mins after washing the car, eh?

Thanks again for all the help, guys.

98civdx

Wax it like every 2 months.

About that, if not less.. The thing I can't really tell is how long the wax will last on the lights.

ej6fade

Never once sanded my ctr headlights, they were pretty much bnib. After applying the xpel film, i have never needed to do any maintance on them except for washing them when i wash my car, which is a given lol. I did a retrofit with morimoto mini h1's with the higher wattage ballasts and bulbs, opened up the headlights and resealed, no issues with heat. I'm in Southern California, primarily Los Angeles county, so far the film has put up fine with the heat, almost only sun (like 3 days of rain the last 8 months), small rocks, etc. My car is my dd, it is not babied, it's like a redheaded step child. I love it, but I also love to beat and abuse it haha.

Edit: pics for reference

2 years ago



This month:



Not trying to say don't wax or do what I did because it is the greatest thing, just providing info you may find helpful

B serious

iTrader: (1)

^ Thanks for the pics. I'll have to check out some of this film.

martimarti

Hey everyone,

Is film the only solution for that? I've heard about wax so I was thinking of doing that. Do you think it's a good idea and if so can you give me some advices about which brand should I use?

Thanks

98civdx

Ive been waxing/sealing my lights since I did them and they are still perfect.

Just use whatever you use on the paint.

martimarti

Hello again,

I talked in a friend of mine to do his headlights too so we did on both cars. The difference is that in his kit there was a black tube which was Protectant. Used it and so far everything is great. Will write back if something comes up.

Thanks!

EsotericImage

iTrader: (8)

Optimum Opti-lens


thx for the tip! ordering soon!