Hi guys, just wondering the clear coat on my jdm lites have been comin off, is there any suggestions you guys can offer to restore the shine it once had? and please dont say buy new lites haha, thanx!

 

i am having a similar problem...


that was what the light was like when I bought it.. if you want to perhaps buy it off me for cheap you can use it as a "test" light and try fixing it. I bought a new set that are fresh as hell but in the end lost the couple hundred I paid for those

 

polish them as follows:

WET SAND with 2000 grit wet sand sanding paper

buff with a mildly abrasive rubbing compound

buff with a plastic polish wax/compound

***let the sand paper do the work
***gently focus on areas at edge of clear coat peel until it is smooth again
***sand/compound/polish = check results, then do again till you get the desired effect, DO NOT sand the hell out of the lights, run few the routine once or twice.
***your local auto parts store may have a "KIT" with these items in included for like $10-15.

Do not get discouraged about what the sandpaper does to the lenses, ultimately they will look like new again.

 

Its easy. Simple wetsanding and plastic polish.

 

THANK UU!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95SE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">polish them as follows:

WET SAND with 2000 grit wet sand sanding paper

buff with a mildly abrasive rubbing compound

buff with a plastic polish wax/compound

***let the sand paper do the work
***gently focus on areas at edge of clear coat peel until it is smooth again
***sand/compound/polish = check results, then do again till you get the desired effect, DO NOT sand the hell out of the lights, run few the routine once or twice.
***your local auto parts store may have a "KIT" with these items in included for like $10-15.

Do not get discouraged about what the sandpaper does to the lenses, ultimately they will look like new again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

+1 on that..

just to add... when you are sanding or polishing your headlights... sand length-wise (left to right motion)...

 

can u guys tell me some of the brand names for plastic polishes?? I dont know which is a good one to use, perhaps you guys have polished ur lites before and know which product is the best to use, please help!!

 

im going to do that soon, cuz my are kind of starting to peal in corner

 

any product names you guys can suggest? thanx

 

3M Professional Formula Imperial Microfinishing Rubbing Compound Medium Cut, Part Number 051131 UPC = 0 51131 39001 0


Meguiars PlastX, Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish UPC = 0 70382 10123 7


Okay, I am going to let go of your hand now, everything will be okay, I promise

j/k g/l with the task!

 

This topic was right on time, I was looking closely at mine yesterday and have heard that you can wet sand the lights, just needed to hear it from a reliable source first.

 

thanks guys.. i can fix this light and make a little money off of it becuase I was ripped off and never got the other light..

 

how long will the shiny buff last?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95SE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">3M Professional Formula Imperial Microfinishing Rubbing Compound Medium Cut, Part Number 051131 UPC = 0 51131 39001 0


Meguiars PlastX, Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish UPC = 0 70382 10123 7

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm starting next week to do my headlights as well.

I've got some sanding paper with 1000/1200/1500/2000 grit.

Also I've got the polish from Mothers Plastic polish. I heard good things from this product as well. Also about their Power Ball (http://www.superiorcarcare.net/mo5140.html), so I think to get this one as well.

The only thing I need is the Rubbing compound. But I can't find 3M one as said in the quote. Can somebody give me a link, where to get it. I can only find the fine cut one (http://www.superiorcarcare.net/3mperllrubco.html)

Thx!!

 

I tried the wetsand then polish technique and it turned out pretty good.... I wanted better and since I had just bought a paint gun to paint my car I figured that I would reclear them. I took 800grit and sanded lightly over the lenses, then followed with 1000, 1200, then sanded the hell out of it with 1500 under a steady flow of water. While sanding I kept a little bit of soap on the lenses also to clean them while I was sanding... After my elbows were sore I rinsed the headlight off and washed with dewaxer to prep for clear.

I layed the light facing upwards taped off what I didnt want to be coated and shot klear-kote on it, after the 3rd coat they looked phenomial

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Black-Engine &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The only thing I need is the Rubbing compound. But I can't find 3M one as said in the quote. Can somebody give me a link, where to get it.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

http://www.shop.com/op/~3M(TM)...d=298

This Imperial Glaze is amazing stuff!

Enjoy!

 

permatex has a headlight restoration kit.. i got one for like $14 at advance auto.. has all the stuff to sand/polish out the lights

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Black-Engine &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'm starting next week to do my headlights as well.

I've got some sanding paper with 1000/1200/1500/2000 grit.

Also I've got the polish from Mothers Plastic polish. I heard good things from this product as well. Also about their Power Ball (http://www.superiorcarcare.net/mo5140.html), so I think to get this one as well.

The only thing I need is the Rubbing compound. But I can't find 3M one as said in the quote. Can somebody give me a link, where to get it. I can only find the fine cut one (http://www.superiorcarcare.net/3mperllrubco.html)

Thx!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Anyone?

Or will the Fine Cut be fine if I use 2500 grit instead of ending with 2000 grit?

 

my experience:

the kit at advancedauto did nothing but make me laugh.

the 2000grit sand paper + maquires plasticX kinda made a foggy film over my entire headlights now...

I sandpapered my right headlight about 10 times now, working very softly. I see a difference...but its still not off and my lights are starting to get cloudy.

 

I did the same process with the 2000 grit and Maguires PlastX. they came out pretty good but werent totally clear. I did the whole process over again and used the 3M rubbing coumpound this time, i made the mistake of not using it the first time,and it came out great. I would suggest to make sure to keep the lens wet or it will cause it get too cloudy and abrasions to get larger. After wet sanding really work the rubbing compoud 2 or 3 coats and then the same with the PlastX using lots of elbow grease if you dont have a buffer. hope it work out. good luck

 

where can i find some JDm one pieces at for about 3 or 4 hundred dollars

 

Search around they aren't hard to find. Some easy places are PasswordJDM, Ebay, Craigslist, Classifieds on this site, just to name a few. You should really just search.

 

i know ebay and password had them.... ebay always has one that are cracked and password doesnt have them in stock but i will try craiglist

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95SE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">polish them as follows:

WET SAND with 2000 grit wet sand sanding paper

buff with a mildly abrasive rubbing compound

buff with a plastic polish wax/compound

***let the sand paper do the work
***gently focus on areas at edge of clear coat peel until it is smooth again
***sand/compound/polish = check results, then do again till you get the desired effect, DO NOT sand the hell out of the lights, run few the routine once or twice.
***your local auto parts store may have a "KIT" with these items in included for like $10-15.

Do not get discouraged about what the sandpaper does to the lenses, ultimately they will look like new again.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

if you do this it wont stay shiny forever...you have to keep adding polish every few weeks to keep them shiny. just an FYI