Refinish Restorer, Mother's Headlight kit and 303 Protectant

[Riff Raff]

Really...some 2000 grit sand paper and careful rubbing will bring them almost all the way back. Then add your powerball and plastic polish for the final shine. Try it, it works. Did it on a VX from Atlanta, couldn't be any worse.

Hmmm, ironically that is what a product called "BrightEyes Headlight Restorer" uses per Step 1 of their instructions-- starting with 1000 grit sandpaper (wetsanding), and then graduating to 2000 grit sandpaper (wetsanding). Step 2 is to apply a clarifying agent, and finally Step 3 is to apply a protective clear coating. There is no use of a power drill or buffing pads with the product; everything is done by hand.

The "BrightEyes Headlight Restorer" kit (for 1-vehicle) sells for $20 USD. See www.AutoCosmeticProducts.com. They are the same people that sell the GM-approved "TS-1" cladding restorer baby-wipes.

RAIDER--- As VX-KAT indicated, the 303 product is best for rubber products like tires, not cladding. When used on cladding, the 303 product merely washes off during the first rain/car wash.

"Refinish Restorer" is a topical cladding treatment, but has been known to produce a brittle varnish-like hard resin coating that may be subseptible to flaking/chipping when abrased by tree branches or from frontal debris and rock chips.

"ShowRoom New Dye" is a colored dye for cladding available in 2 colors (Black, Gray). It is a staining/re-coloring dye and will alter the OEM color of the cladding.

"TS-1" is a topical cladding restoration treatment that is GM-approved for the Chevy Avalanche cladding (just like VX cladding). It is essentially the same as using ArmorAll/Back-To-Black topical treatment products, but the "TS-1" will last 90 days (+/-) before retreatment is necessary. "TS-1" is applied using pre-treated disposable baby-wipes and comes in sealed pouches.

[VX KAT]

"ShowRoom New Dye" is a colored dye for our cladding and is available in 3 colors (Black, Charcoal/Dark Gray, Light Gray).

Riff where'd you find reference to it in "Charcoal/Dark Gray"? The mfg website says it only comes in black and gray.

[Riff Raff]

Riff where'd you find reference to it in "Charcoal/Dark Gray"? The mfg website says it only comes in black and gray.

Whoopsy, I thought I had read somewhere on this forum that 3 colors were available. However; after clearing the cobwebs, I now remember YOU had created a custom half-n-half mixture using both 1-part Black + 1-part Gray to create a Charcoal/Dark Gray mixture. My bad.

[H3_VX]

The person that sold me my VX gave me a bottle of 303. The cladding on mine looks immaculate. The guy said he used it once every couple months. It seems really great. I'll be using myself soon.

As far as headlight resto goes, mine need it very badly. Should I try the Powerball? Is there any disassembly of the headlight lenses required to resto?

[VX KAT]

The person that sold me my VX gave me a bottle of 303. The cladding on mine looks immaculate. The guy said he used it once every couple months. It seems really great. I'll be using myself soon.

As far as headlight resto goes, mine need it very badly. Should I try the Powerball? Is there any disassembly of the headlight lenses required to resto?

RickOKC did some good testing of products on the cladding, one was 303, here's his post with the findings (post #19 above also listed it).
Some of us think if you wipe the cladding dry as directed, AND let the 303 treated cladding sit overnight, less dust will be attracted to it, as it seems to dry a bit more and stick less. (303 will NOT be sticky at any point on your cladding.)
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...7&postcount=66
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...0&postcount=67

No disassembly of headlight required, just put double to triple tape around the edges so you don't buff right through it and hit your paint. If you do wet sanding, the water mixture running down always caused my tape to want to come undone, but keep reapplying tape if you have too....it's too easy to have the drill jump and hit the paint. I bought the 3" wide painter's tape. I actually think DUCT tape would be better since it's stickier and thicker.

[VXR]

Riff where'd you find reference to it in "Charcoal/Dark Gray"? The mfg website says it only comes in black and gray.

thanks for helping...

[TheGanzman]

Well, here's MY experience w/303. My 2001 VX is a two-owner, "high desert", garage-kept VX w/80K miles. Original owner used 303 on the cladding RELIGIOUSLY every 3-6 months; I've kept up that regimen over the 2.5 years I've owned it. Last Sunday I replaced the RR and Rear "underdoor" cladding with new (thanks, Merlin!) - I was VERY concerned about color differences between the existing cladding and the new cladding. There was ZERO difference between the two - you literally can NOT see a color/shading difference between the old and the new! Put me down as a serious proponent of 303...