Besides buying new ones, what is the best way to get headlights clear again? I have tried several lens renewal products that use liquids and hand pads. Never tried a power drill system. Any body get good long lasting results with any off the shelf kits?

 

3M Head Light Restore Kit. I've Used Others But, None Of Them Worked As Good. On The Contrary ..All Of The HL Restore Kits Are Only As Good As The User.

 

I used a Meguiar's deluxe kit with hand-held sander (with superfine and ultrafine grit papers) and a drill attachment buffer, and it worked amazingly well on a crappy old 1995 Nissan Altima I sold when I got my S-type. The headlight lenses went from extremely yellowed and cloudy to nearly brand-new looking. it took a fair amount of elbow grease and following the instructions.

 

The best kits have some type of drill attachment as you don't want to be out there trying to hand sand it. Make sure you tape off the paint areas near the headlights so you don't mess up your paint.

 

+1 on 3M restoration kit - I have used this with great success...

 

I also use the 3M kit on my S Type head lights. Be sure and use lots of masking tape to protect the paint.

I purchased some clear coat in a can.

Do you think that would make it last longer? The light are super clear right now.
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I have never clear coated my headlights.. but I have used the clear films and they work wonders.. plus you can just peel them off.. if you clear coat and it chips you will have to sand down the surface again and start all over.

 

Heres a good read on the subject (w/pics to boot):

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/e...ics-wow-42119/

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...t-badge-72517/

Used the 3M some time ago, they looked brand new afterwards.

 

I used silvo, the silver cleaner. On my wrx I used two pack rubbing compound which is a higher grade of the standard cutting paint restorer. Took 10 minutes a side. Paul

 

I used Meguiar's #7 and hand rubbed it. I thought it looked a lot better when it was done.

 

+1 on 3M kit, I used the kit to give my headlights brand new finish and then sealed with XPel headlight protection (comes with 7 years warranty, not supposed to be dirty again for 7 years).

 

That is exactly what I am looking for!! Sounds much better than clear coat too.

Only problem is they list fog lights with the 2005 STR kit. But the STR does not have fog lights after 2004 because they redesigned the front end of the car.

Have you installed them?
Where did you buy them?
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I'm wondering what kind of plastic the OEM lights use that they dull so fast. I used to have a Mercedes CLK430 that I paid a professional to polish the glazed looking headlights and it lasted years, up until I sold it. For the Jaguar STR I have, I paid a professional to polish them last year and it did not even make it an entire year before I paid another professional to polish them again a few months ago.

Search on Craigslist under services for someone to do it if you are like me and do not have free time, its usually pretty cheap and these guys spend a good deal of time doing it and they come to you.

 

I use the Mother's Headlight restoration kit and it worked fantastic!!! I had jiffy lube do it for $25.00 and it didn't look like they did anything. I didn't pay them.

I went to Wal Mart got the mothers kit and it took all of 5 minutes per light to make them literally look new again.

It took longer to mask of the surrounding paint then it did to clean the lights.

 

Try this after your next polish.

Jaguar S-Type (1998 to 2004) Headlight Covers, Clear Bras, and Tail Light Covers

 

Just ordered the Expel clear protectors for my 2005. About $50 on Ebay. Seems pricey but they have good recommendations. I plan for another light buff before installing them.

X Pel Headlight Protection H3305A DS | eBay
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I have had them installed by them as they have Headquaters here in San Antonio. It was ~$70 kit for DIY or ~$150 + Tax for headlights and fog lights to have it installed by them (still cheaper than the replacing a single headlight)

Should be easy to install yourself too but they do have franchises in different cities (You can call and check).

This was done about 2 years ago and my headlights still look brand new. Here is a pic (Crystal Clear):

 

Man that's my goal right there! Perfectly clear headlights that stay that way!

I screwed up and ordered the shaded Expel film. I wanted the clear so I will need to send them back. But now I know they work so the $50 does not seem like such a risk.
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I cleaned an S-Type's headlights a couple of months ago (see this thread https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...-thread-94630/)

Took a bit of elbow grease, but the results were okay.