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Anyone restored headlights before? With results.

speedy2

speedy2

New member
I have a 2005 Grand Prix. The car only has 68,000 miles on it, but this probably actually started around 60,000 miles. Almost like you would see clearcoat peeling on paint. Very thin and crispy. You can chip it away with your fingernail. Under that, the lens is very dull.

What's the best way to restore these? I would assume I would have to remove all of the coating, whatever it is. And then sand/polish. Would they need to be recoated?

Pics


Driver Side

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Passenger Side

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Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

the right way would be wet sand with 2000ish sandpaper and have them recleared, if you use the polish kit it will work, but the hazing comes back quicker
 
Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

if you sand and use a buffer if turns out way better i got a decent buffer from harbor freight for pretty cheap.

i did mine but they are the 98 style headlights and didnt have any kind of film over them
 
Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

i have an 04. when i did mine last summer i sanded then with 800 grit to get all that shiz off (which is a clearcoat). then i sanded with 2000 and clear coated. i also tinted the flat section on the top and the side where the reflector is. buffed it out. even after you get rid of the factory clear there is still hairline cracks that you wont be able to get rid of. if you want perfect headlight you will have to get good used ones or new.
 


Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

Holy crap! Thanks for that link. That's exactly what I'm going to do to them!
 
Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

Good luck with your restore. If they don't come out the way you want you want to consider some of the aftermarket projector lights.
 
Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

I prefer OEM ones anyway. I think all of the projector ones are hideous.
 


Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

speedy2 said:
I prefer OEM ones anyway. I think all of the projector ones are hideous.
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Didn't mean to hijack your post and if I was driving our GTP I'd probably stick with the OEM lights too. My son drives the car and thinks the LED's and the halo's look cool (which they sorta do) But it was a pain in the ass to wire the LED's and secure the lights so they would not bounce. Plus we had to silicone the damn things so they would not get condensation inside. You would think they could seal the things from the factory!?!? I have to say that the projectors do put out decent light though... more than the OEM bulbs at least. My 2010 GMC has factory projectors and I'd say the Spec-D's light up the road almost as much.

Make sure to post after pics when you are done :th_thumbsup-wink:
 
Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

Nah, I don't mind. But, yeah, I'm pretty crazy with cosmetic mods. I don't like too much out there. lol. And I will get pics when I start this. Just gotta find some time. I have a buffer, pads, and compounds. I just need to get all the sand paper, mineral spirits, and urethane.
 
Re: Anyone restored headlights before?

I did 400, 800, 1000, 1500, and then 2000 grit wet sanding.

Then I used Prima Cut with a cutting pad. Then 3M Rubbing compound with a lighter pad. Then a coat of the urethane. I'm probably going to do a 2nd or 3rd coat once it dries 4 hours between each coat. Any suggestions on what grit to sand inbetween coats?

Results

lights1.jpg


lights2.jpg


lights3.jpg


Undone Light
lights4.jpg


Completed Light
lights5.jpg
 
That looks great man! Believe it or not, I have never sanded anything. Cosmetic work has always spooked me. I'm afraid I will mess it up and it will look worse than it did before.
 


RotyP said:
That looks great man! Believe it or not, I have never sanded anything. Cosmetic work has always spooked me. I'm afraid I will mess it up and it will look worse than it did before.
Click to expand...

I'm nowhere near a body man. But, if I research something enough, I can get it down in my head and I'm pretty confident that I can do it.

Here's some before and after pics of my previous car. '98 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I had never wet sanded anything like this before.

Before - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v406/speedy_2/hoodbad.jpg

After - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v406/speedy_2/hoodgood.jpg
 
dang, i wish mine turned out that good. i failed my restore and ended up painting the top and sides black and made "eyebrows" lol
 
I restored my 99's headlights, thankfully my new 05 doesnt have that problem.. i see a few spots on mine but nothing bad.. you did a good job there!
 
i used 800, 1500, 2000
2000 between coats of clear. Make sure you use temp resistant clear. Or they will bubble. Mine looked freaking awesome but now they have bubbles because I used a crappy clear coat.
 
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