Headlight Restoration

[weasel like]

I've been reading up on restoring the finish on my headlight covers. They are stock, and are pitted, hazy and a bit yellowed. I read that Plexus and Plastx are good possibilities, as well as gradually finer wet sanding... Are these my best options, perhaps used in conjunction?

The pitting/yellowing isn't awful, but its bad enough that it bothers me and hinders light distribution while driving at night. I have access to an orbital polisher too, if that helps.

What have you guys had the most luck with in restoring the headlight covers? I'm not really interested in upgrading to new units, I like to keep my appearance as OEM and stock as I can. :drunkani

[Orxan4ik]

I've been reading up on restoring the finish on my headlight covers. They are stock, and are pitted, hazy and a bit yellowed. I read that Plexus and Plastx are good possibilities, as well as gradually finer wet sanding... Are these my best options, perhaps used in conjunction?

The pitting/yellowing isn't awful, but its bad enough that it bothers me and hinders light distribution while driving at night. I have access to an orbital polisher too, if that helps.

What have you guys had the most luck with in restoring the headlight covers? I'm not really interested in upgrading to new units, I like to keep my appearance as OEM and stock as I can. :drunkani

if urs r halogen with yellow corners, i got like 2 sets of the lense covers...they r in ok condition, if urs r truly bad I can send em to u, just pay the shipping

[FP5241]

I wetsanded, with minimal results... but I didnt do as good as I could have...
Plastix and stuff can give good results, but make sure you use the orbital.. :shifty
If you really want the best, you can always get replacement covers... I had 1 replaced and it made my light looked GREAT!!!!!!

Good luck.
:)

[weasel like]

if urs r halogen with yellow corners, i got like 2 sets of the lense covers...they r in ok condition, if urs r truly bad I can send em to u, just pay the shipping

Thanks. I have halogens, standard with amber corners. Mine aren't terrible, so I'll pass on the ones you have. I appreciate the offer though!


I wetsanded, with minimal results... but I didnt do as good as I could have...
Plastix and stuff can give good results, but make sure you use the orbital.. :shifty
If you really want the best, you can always get replacement covers... I had 1 replaced and it made my light looked GREAT!!!!!!

Good luck.
:)

Did you go with Depo or Hella replacements?

[FP5241]

Did you go with Depo or Hella replacements?

At first, I got my passenger side an OEM replacement...
It looked GREAT!!!

Driver side:
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2506/1003739dc0.jpg

Passenger side:
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4023/1003069ne4.jpg

Later I went with the Deop smoked replacements...
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1216/pic5ws8.jpg

[Cool Handz]

Looks Hot.

[FP5241]

:redspot

[weasel like]

Wow, that makes a HUGE difference. They look great... Mine are in the same condition as yours were... Do you recall where you bought them? I'd really like to stay OEM, I'm not really pressed for xenons or AEs. Thanks for the info!

[FP5241]

Wow, that makes a HUGE difference. They look great... Mine are in the same condition as yours were... Do you recall where you bought them? I'd really like to stay OEM, I'm not really pressed for xenons or AEs. Thanks for the info!

Unfortunatley, I got mine from my insurance co. Somebody hit and ran on me... :mad

Stock can look very nice when clean and shiny.. :D
I'll look to see if I find any.. tho i havent ran across any sites that sell them yet... :(

[PJB]

Now mine didn't look as good as FP5241's, but I wetsanded and polished like crazy until my arm hurt (couldn't jack off that night) and the difference was impressive.

I mean, if you're on this board enough your eventually gonna save up enough cash and get angel eyes, so no need to drop cash on new covers. Try sanding first, the process is pretty easy you just need elbow grease.

[FP5241]

Now mine didn't look as good as FP5241's, but I wetsanded and polished like crazy until my arm hurt (couldn't jack off that night) and the difference was impressive.

I mean, if you're on this board enough your eventually gonna save up enough cash and get angel eyes, so no need to drop cash on new covers. Try sanding first, the process is pretty easy you just need elbow grease.

:rofl:.......... wait, what? :confused

[PJB]

:rofl:.......... wait, what? :confused

You read me right, bro!

[FP5241]

You read me right, bro!

That's what i was afraid of..... :eek:

[hypercritic2003]

Here is how I refinished my headlight lenses.

http://bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/381691/

Not too difficult but it does take some effort.

[weasel like]

Here is how I refinished my headlight lenses.

http://bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/381691/

Not too difficult but it does take some effort.

Thanks for the link. I might try this. I REALLY like the smoked lenses that FP5241 is rocking though...

[Al's540i]

At first, I got my passenger side an OEM replacement...
It looked GREAT!!!

Driver side:
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2506/1003739dc0.jpg

Passenger side:
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4023/1003069ne4.jpg

Later I went with the Deop smoked replacements...
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1216/pic5ws8.jpg

How did the Depos fit on your existing light unit? Were they harder to fit than the OEM?

[FP5241]

How did the Depos fit on your existing light unit? Were they harder to fit than the OEM?

They were harder... but it was worth it.
Getting the last clip to close was the hard part...
Other then that, same as hella... :)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4854/1003766ye7.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/41/1003777dx3.jpg

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/6492/pic27ou5.jpg

[Al's540i]

One more question. did you get your Depos on eBay or from another online vendor?

[kerryb]

i'll try to post pics here.. i swapped out my lenses which were so faded, i had to get something else. i ended up buying used lenses from another member here and i put them on this afternoon. the first three pics should be the old ones, the last three the 'new' ones. i'll probably try to clean these up some more with polish, but they are worlds apart between the two sets. i had to swap lenses.

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff208/kerryb8448/?action=view&current=car6.jpg

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff208/kerryb8448/?action=view&current=car4.jpg

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff208/kerryb8448/?action=view&current=car5.jpg

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff208/kerryb8448/?action=view&current=car3.jpg

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff208/kerryb8448/?action=view&current=car2.jpg

http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff208/kerryb8448/?action=view&current=car1.jpg

[FP5241]

One more question. did you get your Depos on eBay or from another online vendor?

Got em on ebay for 120 shipped...

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5682/1003716fc6.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/830/1003721zt4.jpg

Note: I had to change the glass bezel with my stock Xenon bezel...

[BobMurphy]

a little elbow grease in a circular motion and then polish with Griot's Garage glass polish and my original pitted, fogged, lenses cleaned up nicely.