For guys with yellowed stock headlights

[yellowstang1994]

Hi guys, I know theres a few guides around but just wanted to say I got very good results with just sanding mine down with 1500grit wetsand paper and using a small bottle of 3M compound I bought at walmart for about $5. It looks like it just rolled off the factory line. If I wanted to I could've just did it with the compound, but sanding takes a little of the rubbing work out. I also did the same thing on my parents stratus. You could barely see anything at night. They came up so good it looks brand new. So for guys that have yellowed stock headlights, you need to go do this now!

 

[Guero]

thanks i was just going to post on how to clean them. I had painted mines black, but it wiped of and looks like some peed on them lol!

 

[red95gtconvert]

I also wet sanded mine a couple of months ago, I sanded mine in three stages using 1000-1500-2000 grit sandpaper and followed it up with polishing compound, now they look like brand new. It was well worth the hour of work and made the front of our car look much better

 

[95Vert]

I need to try that. Thanks

 

[At1Maverick69]

so, basically, what u guys do is, first wet sand it with 2k grit sandpaper and then I guess dry it, and finish off using polishing compound, right?

 

[Guero]

i tried today and it looked like crap, time for new headlights!!!!!

 

[yellowstang1994]

Well, this is what I did basically. Get a bucket with some water in it and wetsand the headlights down with 1500 or 2000 grit. Either way the rubbing compound is going to take the marks out. Dry it all off with a paper towel or something. Then get a rag and get some 3M Rubbing Compound (the key is to get 3M, I've used other crappy rubbing compound and it didn't work as good). Put a little on the rag and just rub it really hard and in a circular motion. It'll take a little bit of time just keep going over it. I'll go over my headlights about once a month with the compund just to keep the dirt out and each time it looks better and better. Oh yea and you can get the 3M compound at walmart for $5 in the car section and the wetsand paper is right next to it for a few bucks too. But I got some of the worst look headlights looking good by this method.

You can see a little in this pic... I actually attempted this before but it didn't go so well so it actually looked worse before then what you see in this pic. But the left headlight is what it looked like somewhat, then I did the right headlight with the crappy compound and it looked somewhat decent.

Then I did it with the 3M again later and it came up even better.

 

[mo_dingo]

Clearcoat spraypaint is the key to this problem. After you have sanded the yellow out, the headlight turns a foggy white. Like the paint on your car, the clearcoat is what makes the paint shine.

Spray it with glossy clearcoat spraypaint, at least 3-4 coats, lightly wetsand with 2000, then hit it with the buffer.

Scott

 

[95Vert]

I sanded them yesterday with 1000grit then 1500grit. I got them really smooth. Then they turned hazy, so I used Meguiar's step 1(cleaner) and followed it with step 2(polish). They came out a lot better, but I think I can get them nicer. I'll try again tonight. Sorry, no pics yet.

 

[yellowstang1994]

The clear is an interesting idea. I never used my buffer on my lights because of those stupid little raised things that pop out. I wonder if I could just grind them down lightly. I guess it doesn't really matter, i just didn't want to tear up a good pad or anything.

 

[At1Maverick69]

The clear is an interesting idea. I never used my buffer on my lights because of those stupid little raised things that pop out. I wonder if I could just grind them down lightly. I guess it doesn't really matter, i just didn't want to tear up a good pad or anything.

if it matter to u now, u actually need those "things" if u ever get ur headlights aimed at a liscensed station.