I just wanted to post some pics of my project for today. I finally got tired of looking at my sad headlights, so I decided to try the wet sanding technique. I'm very pleased with the results.

 

Nice, big difference kudos to you

 

It is a good start Jim, but if you just leave them like that, what you have done is remove the outer coating and open pored.

FdJordan let me recommend that you think about using a clear coat, designed for plastic that has UV protection like the link below, it will provide years of protection, and a finish you can buff with polishing compound.

Fusion for Plastic® Clear - | Krylon

 

Thanks, I used this Rust-oleum product. I applied 3 coats.
I plan on putting wax on after it has set overnight.

 

 

Well done FdJordan!

For the benefit of other members, could you please tell us the sequence of sandpaper grits you used and what product you used for the final polish?

Also, before you wax your clear coat, check the can for clues as to how long it takes the product to fully cure. For example, the Krylon product David recommended states that it is "Fully chip resistant after 7 days." Cure times typically depend on ambient temperatures and humidity.

When I've had paint work done on our autos the body shops have usually advised me to wait 30 days before waxing to allow the paint and clear coat to fully cure.

Cheers,

Don

 

This kit from 3M

3M Lens Renewal Kit 39014 - 3M Auto

comes with everything needed aside from the final clear coat.

 

I've used the Sylvania kit on about a half dozen cars with good results. It contains everything from the sandpaper to the clear coat. It's around $20 from Amazon.

 

Mikey and gm_jim,

Thanks for chiming in, but I'm very familiar with those kits and have used the 3M kits myself on around a dozen headlamps. For the benefit of our collective knowledge, I'm curious to know if FdJordan used a commercial kit or materials collected separately.

Thanks,

Don

 

I started with 400 grit then proceeded to 600 grit and finished with 1500 grit sand paper. I purchased the paper at my local Ace Hardware. Make sure the paper is wet/dry. I used isopropyl alcohol for final wipe down.

 

I haven't done the SV8 yet but I did my wife's Dodge minivan headlights with 3M wet-or-dry sand paper purchased in packets from walmart for a few bucks; 600, 1500, & 2000 grit in progression used with water and followed up with a rub down of Meguiars cleaner polish. Worked quite well on the van's cloudy headlight lenses so I'll do the same on the jag eventually.

 

Thanks FdJordan for sharing your headlight restoration method. Your cost of materials was probably quite low compared to the kits.

For comparison with your 400, 800, 1000 abrasive sequence, the 3M kit uses 500 and 800, which are used dry, then 1000 and 3000 used wet. The sanding is followed by 3M "Perfect-It" rubbing compound on a foam compounding pad, which restores optical clarity to the lens. For lenses that are not badly oxidized 3M recommends starting with 800 grit, and for lenses that are heavily oxidized they recommend starting with 320 or 400. I generally try to buy the 3M kits when they're on sale for about $20 including sales tax, and one kit will usually do two lenses, though on one vehicle with large lenses I needed to use some 500 grit pads from a second kit to get rid of all the thick oxidation before moving on to 800 grit. 3M does not include a UV resistant coating in its kits and does not recommend the use of coatings (see their online FAQ for their reasons).

Since you stopped sanding at 1000 grit, I assume the lenses were still foggy before you sprayed them with clear coat, but that the coating restored clarity by filling in the fine sanding marks?

Did you do all your sanding by hand, or with a drill or power sander?

Thanks again for sharing your success report!

Cheers,

Don

 

I did all my sanding by hand.

 

I used the Mother's Headlight Restoration kit on my son's '03 MB E500. Started with wet sanding 1000 grit to 3000 grit then used Plast-X polish on a drill with lambswool polisher. You be the judge