Cloudy headlights -fixed

[Thmstec]

Got my VX today. 99 Silver with just under 59K miles
The headlights were pretty cloudy, so I went to the local autoparts store and picked up the Crystal View Chemicals Headlight restorer. And it worked great! There is another car in the family that has an even more extreme case of headlight fogging, so I stretched the kit out and got these results with only half the kit

[tomdietrying]

Looks great.....so how long does each light take to get the results you got?
Peace.
Tom
012009

[Thmstec]

it took me about 10 min per light. Only worked on the upper half of the headlight though. The lower half facing forward was clean and smooth, so I didn't want to risk scratching it. It is a little bit awkward working around the bulge, but it was easy enough. Just two different sand paper treatments lasting 2-3 min each, and two chemicals. One to clean (1 min), and two coats of the second to seal it up (just allow for 3 min for each coat to dry).

[etlsport]

a few people have used this.. general consensus is the final step must be done in a cool area and quickly or it will streak

[nfpgasmask]

I just used this with good results:



Got it at Wal*mart for like $8. The kit I got only came with one tube and some 1500 grit paper. It took about 15 minutes per light and made a HUGE difference. I am very happy with the results, and it was really easy. Just takes a little elbow grease.

Bart

[etlsport]

i used the crystal view chemicals kit (from the foil package) like 6 months ago.. maybe longer.. just noticed that the final coat has started to yellow around the top and is now peeling back like a layer of glue

[VehiGAZ]

Time to freshen...

I used the Crystal View kit back in October (so about 7 months ago) and it worked quickly, easily, and beautifully. No peeling issues yet - buy I would have no problem doing it over again.

My headlights were waaaaaaayyyyyy worse off than in Thmstc's pictures. You literally couldn't see in through the top of the lenses. The only thing extra I did was to start with a 1000 grit sandpaper which I had already bought - then I moved onto the 1500 and 1500 grit papers that came with the kit.

[etlsport]

got around to restoring one of my headlights.. again..

used the silver package mentioned in this thread about a year ago... and they now look like crap again.. very yellow and peeling


so i went back to work with blue magic headlight restorer



took me a good long time to get the old crap off.. probably about 30 minutes

after that i broke out the mcguires plastx to finish it up



heres the before and after...








hopefully this will last a while

[etlsport]

here are some shots halfway through a headlight restoration.. huge difference!

[Dallas4u]

Agreed! I use Meguires PlastX on the headlights of my WRX and it works great... like a fine rubbing compound.

[Joe Isuzu]

on a side note, don't ya just love the fine panel fit of the hood next to the headlights! I'm always thinking my bumper stops are out of whack or something, it's just hard to accept the fit is so gawdawful. Oh well.
More on topic, I can't remember which product it was but I got something at advanced or autozone which attaches to your drill and you use it like a mini-buffer. Worked pretty well with no worries thus far. And yes, my h/lamps were much worse than some of the ones pictured here. At least we have options!

[IndianaVX]

results look good. and i think that having clear headlights does so much for the over all looks of the vx. cloudy lenses detract. jmo. anyway just wanting to post a pic of what joe might have been talking about. i got this at autozone, and used it in conjunction with the sandpaper, etc....
not tooting a horn, but there is a full write up in the how to section on how i did mine.
on to the pic......

well, i cant post the pic, but its in the how to also.

are the topcoats a "wax", or are they actually something more substansul, like clear coat for paint?
i keep concidering a couple of layers of clear coat, but then think that if the lenses yellow again, i have to sand thru the clear coat just to get to the plastic again....

take it easy,

[tom4bren]

I think Y'all jinxed me. Mine are starting to cloud up.

[etlsport]

but then think that if the lenses yellow again, i have to sand thru the clear coat just to get to the plastic again....

take it easy,

yep thats what happened to me.. the "finisher" that came with the kit i used started to yellow and it all had to be removed.. big pain

[JoFotoz]

Just tried The Meguires "Plastx"...

Agreed! I use Meguires PlastX on the headlights of my WRX and it works great... like a fine rubbing compound.

....its AWESOME


Took about 20 mins to do both h/lights...

....they look like new!


I'd highly recommend it.


jo