Headlight protectors

[Mile High VX]

Then again, I used to be a professional detailer so I use a high speed polisher and some different product instead of those kits from the store.

So share your secrets with the rest of us that are perfectionist...

And when you say "hig speed" what does that mean?...3000 rpm, 6000 rpm, what are we taking here?

[JAMAS]

So share your secrets with the rest of us that are perfectionist...

And when you say "hig speed" what does that mean?...3000 rpm, 6000 rpm, what are we taking here?

I have one of these

4 Amp motor runs at 2,500-6,000 OPM

[blacksambo]

Yes! They still look great after 133K, and my wife's 66K '99 looks great too. So the factory UV protection must offer something beneficial.

[vt_maverick]

I think what happens is that the factory UV coating reduces over time, and this process is exacerbated when you sand them back to clear. Sanding makes them clear but likely takes off all the UV coating, which is probably why the headlights return to their previous haze/craze more quickly than the first time.

This is why protectors are so critical. I'm eager to get my headlights fixed and covered with Stongard, hopefully that will take care of the issue permanently.

[Luna X]

for people who are sprayer-friendly, you can sand the lights with 1000 grit, then clear-coat 'em with a good quality auto refinish clear.... that will take care of it for many years.

if I can ever get to feelin' better, I plan on doing that to my lights, and will most likely add a little tint to the clear.

[vt_maverick]

That's a really good idea Luna - any thought on how much that might cost?

[Riff Raff]

I think what happens is that the factory UV coating reduces over time, and this process is exacerbated when you sand them back to clear. Sanding makes them clear but likely takes off all the UV coating, which is probably why the headlights return to their previous haze/craze more quickly than the first time.

This is why protectors are so critical. I'm eager to get my headlights fixed and covered with Stongard, hopefully that will take care of the issue permanently.

Huh, I'm confused??? Once the factory UV coating is gone; then it's gone for good. Putting the Stonegard covers on is not going to prevent the Sun's UV rays from passing thru the covers and re-yellowing the lenses underneath. The Stonegard protectors only purpose is to protect the lights from flying stones, not UV.

[vt_maverick]

I thought they did have UV protection... Oh well, maybe I'll just run with Luna's idea.

[Luna X]

That's a really good idea Luna - any thought on how much that might cost?

well, if you take the lights off and bring them to a shop..... I would expect $50-75.

THEN put that stone guard on.

now your lights would look brand-spankin' new, and with the stone guard, they will stay looking new for another 10 years or more.... just don't crash the VX... those stone guards won't quite hold up for that.....

[bigblock8396375]

I agree with Luna also, a good automotive urethane clear will also have uv protection.

[VX KAT]

I polished my lights last year and they still look perfect. I guess it just depends on how nitpicky you are when you do it. Then again, I used to be a professional detailer so I use a high speed polisher and some different product instead of those kits from the store. Ideally though, a good polish job and then covering them with the 3M stoneguard or lexan, like Rowhard did, is the best idea. Personally though, I'd just take it to a trusted body shop and have them apply the stoneguard to your lights using a single sheet and a heat gun. That way there's no gap like there would be with this kit.

The "gap" you're referring to?? Is it the slight potential air space between the stongard film covers and the hard plastic of the headlights?

Would heating the stongard covers with a hair dryer be a good install tip? Any other tips?

Any other type of UV inhibitor that can be applied to the headlights or to our stongard film covers? Anything like a consumer spray-on UV?

I thought they did have UV protection... Oh well, maybe I'll just run with Luna's idea.

I'd asked the ebay seller of our Stongard covers about UV protection. He didn't "think" they had any. Maybe we could drill down a bit further with the manufacturer about it?

[Riff Raff]

Any other type of UV inhibitor that can be applied to the headlights or to our stongard film covers? Anything like a consumer spray-on UV?

The only type of spray-on topical treatment UV inhibitor I know of is STP brand "Son of a Gun".

[VX KAT]

The only type of spray-on topical treatment UV inhibitor I know of is STP brand "Son of a Gun".

Aerospace 303 is a 40 SPF, but says not to apply to clear plastic...but I've actually done it a time or two.....world hasn't ended,....oh, that's next year anyway .......maybe I'll write to the mfg and ask why, what the issue is.....

[etlsport]

Aerospace 303 is a 40 SPF, but says not to apply to clear plastic...but I've actually done it a time or two.....world hasn't ended,....oh, that's next year anyway .......maybe I'll write to the mfg and ask why, what the issue is.....

I was going to say that.. ive used it on my headlights before (shhh!) it worked ok, but if you dont wipe it up immediately, it leaves spotting that are really tough to get out, i got some on my gauge cluster and didnt notice, took like 15-20 minutes of buffing with plast-x to remove them

lots of shops are now getting kits in to restore headlights, they are a bit different than what you can buy from a store. the kits we got for the shop are sanding and buffing like any other, but include a final clear coat with UV resistance. according to the manufacturer it is supposed to last 4 years (but no actual warranty to my knowledge) last time i was at a pep boys i saw they were advertising that they do headlight restorations too

[RabidPony]

Kat, the gap I was referring to was where that ebay kit has the sheet for the main body of the kit then the second piece for the horns. If that's what that second piece is for anyway. If you did it with a single sheet and used heat and application solution, you could apply the stoneguard to the light and shape it to cover the whole thing, horn included. I looked at your install thread, looks like you did a good job to me. Give it a few weeks and some of those lines and bubbles should either be less noticeable of go away altogether.