<FONT SIZE="4">REVIEW: 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System</FONT>

I found out about this kit when I was putting away freight at my job (Autozone), and it was on our new Paint planogram. I immediately stashed it away and bought it at a later date. I figured I'd share my experience with it.

I was quite pleased with the results, and it was pretty easy to use. I ended up using 1 sanding disc per headlight, 1 finishing, and about 2 applications of the polish. You may need more/less depending on how messed up your headlights are.



"Plastic lenses can yellow with age, reducing headlight brightness, and new lenses can be expensive. The 3M™ Headlight Lens Restoration System lets you shine and restore plastic lenses, including headlights, taillights, fog and directional lights. Now you can produce professional results with the 3M™ Headlight Lens Restoration System and a household drill (1200-1600 rpm)."

List Price: $19.99
<FONT COLOR="red">Autozone Price: $16.99</FONT>

Contents:
- 6 500g Sanding Discs
- 4 800g Finishing Discs
- 1 Trizact Disc
- 1 Disc Pad Holder
- 1 Soft Interface Pad
- 1 Buffing Pad
- 1oz Headlight Lens Polish

Tools Needed:
- 12v Drill (1200-1600 RPM)
- Masking Tape
- Spray bottle of water / detailing spray
- Terry/Microfiber Cloth

Test Subject:
1998 Civic 1.4i Valeo OEM Headlights (EDM)

[i]This is how they started out.


Step 1: Mask around headlight and clean with spray detailer.


Step 2: Polish with the 500g (gold) sanding disc. Make sure to get even coverage.


Step 3: Polish with the 800g (white) finishing disc. The scratches will be finer.


Step 4: Wet the headlight and Trizact pad. Make 5-10 full passes. A slurry will build up. Scratches should begin to fade.


Step 5: Attach the polishing pad. Use about a dime-sized dollop. Smear around headlight, and begin to polish.


Step 6: Clean with detail spray and buff dry.

After:


Passenger Side:

 

Not too shabby. Glad to see a product that works..!

 

Ive never seen that on any of our planograms

Ill keep a lookout though, looks like some pretty good stuff..

 

To be honest, the driver side still looks a little foggy, but maybe thats just the picture

Good job none the less

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PhantoM.DA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To be honest, the driver side still looks a little foggy, but maybe thats just the picture

Good job none the less </TD></TR></TABLE>

It's the glare from the porch light. It's about 3 feet above and at a direct 45 degree angle.

 

looks like a good kit since it has the sanding discs and trizact pad. that polsihing pad is just an orange foam pad right? I think I saw this kit at walmart on clearance for likw $5, but I have a ton of 4" orange pads that I use for headlights so I didnt really need it.

but it looks like a good kit for personal use

 

Yeah, the foam pad is just a 4" orange wave pad. I was quite pleased with it though.

 

is the backing place just a normal velcro one like you would use on a DA polisher?

 

Yeah, it's got a 4" hook/loop backing pad, and a hook/look foam interface pad.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Eran &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, it's got a 4" hook/loop backing pad, and a hook/look foam interface pad.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ohh ok, I asked because I am looking to get a 3.5" backing pad for my PC and I would like to double its use with a drill for this purpose.

 

Err, wait. I went and measured it's like a 2.5" backing plate. I don't know why I got it in my head it was 4" ...

 

skip the bs and just buy turtle wax rubbing compound...it will save you the time and comes out looking brand new

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BAYgasDC2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">skip the bs and just buy turtle wax rubbing compound...it will save you the time and comes out looking brand new</TD></TR></TABLE>

Worst.

Post.

Ever.

 

Good stuff. Although your driver's side wasn't that bad to start out with, it looks great now! Thanks for the review. I'm always looking for threads like this. Check my sig.

 

pretty good and cheap too!!

 

You don't even need that fancy pants headlight restoration kit. I just redid a horrible looking Jetta headlight the other week. It was very ugly looking. Sanded it with 1000 grit wet, hit it real quick with trizac 3000. Then went to town on the buffer with normal compound. If the plastic is not that bad, I found out that even just hitting it with a buffer and compound can really really clean it up well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BAYgasDC2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">skip the bs and just buy turtle wax rubbing compound...it will save you the time and comes out looking brand new</TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't post on this forum ever again.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by swappedcx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You don't even need that fancy pants headlight restoration kit. I just redid a horrible looking Jetta headlight the other week. It was very ugly looking. Sanded it with 1000 grit wet, hit it real quick with trizac 3000. Then went to town on the buffer with normal compound. If the plastic is not that bad, I found out that even just hitting it with a buffer and compound can really really clean it up well.</TD></TR></TABLE>

by the time you buy all that, you might as well just buy the kit. some people dont have a buffer and the kit comes with everything you need to buff it with a drill.

 

wow nice stuff man.. i wuld definetely will go this in the future.. thx

 

I think it looks like pretty cool stuff! Here's a link where they sell it cheaper than AutoZone: http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd-3m-3...ion-system.cfm. I tried to find the stuff in town here local but I had no luck so I think I'll order from these people.

 

Ordered two kits. Hopefully it works out. The driver headlight on my wifes car is f'd, it will definately put the stuff to the test.

 

yeah I hope you guys know this is not a permanant fix the yellow will be back in about 5-8 months till you do it again