Hello,
My driver side headlight was becoming oxidized/scratched/and fading so I decided to try and restore it. I found a DIY on headlight restoration so I did the following:
1. Started with 400 grit wet sandpaper then worked my way up to 600, 1000, 2000, 3000.
2. Used a gloss clear coat spray (as mentioned in the DIY) for the final step and did 3 coats of it. (This is where I think my problem started)
I checked my work the next day and noticed some orange peel from the clear coat so I thought okay, no big deal, I'll just sand it down again. I sanded the orange peel down starting with 2000 grit and worked up too 5000 which made the surface very smooth and no more orange peel. I then polished with Meguiars Plastx but saw that the headlight was still faded and had way less clarity than the other one. I thought this was because of the clear coat I sprayed, which may have made the surface a little hazy.
SO I STARTED AT THE BEGINNING:
1. Wet sanded with 400 grit to strip the clearcoat and worked my way all the way up to 5000.
2. Applied Meguiars plastx.
^These steps are the exact same ones I saw in another DIY video for the same exact headlights, which turned out great. However, mine were still the same. Mine are very smooth and have no more imperfections or oxidation but are still hazy compared to the other side (passenger side)
Does anyone know where I went wrong or what the problem is, and how to fix it? Here are pictures comparing the two sides:
IMG_2095.jpg IMG_2096.jpg IMG_2097.jpg
1st pic is Passenger side with nothing done to it. 2nd pic is driver side with the process mentioned above.
I've restored several headlights and personally would not spray them with clear coat. You're better off just polishing and then maybe applying a ceramic coat on top, certainly nothing with any thickness like a spray clear coat. From your picture it looks like you just need a good machine polish to get the remaining haze out. Do you have an orbital or rotary buffer? Using some pressure and a light cut pad with a rubbing compound, followed by a polishing pad and the plastx might do the trick. Make sure you mask off your painted areas around the headlight if you're buffing them on the car.
2000 E39 540i Touring 6MT conversion, Biarritz Blue/Black
2010 E90 335i 6MT M-Sport, Space Gray/Black
2013 E70 X5 35i M-Sport, Sapphire Black/Cinnamon
1998 NA2 NSX-T turbo, Berlina Black/Camel
I did mine and used a kit from Sylvania (Amazon purchase). Came with a wipe on clear coat... much like you might wipe a stain on wood.
Very good results.
I did 600, 1500, 3000 grit wet sanding in stages... buffed with a compound/polish then applied the wipe on UV protective clear.
Worked very well.
Interesting. I too have done several, gotten them to look pretty good just polishing, but it doesn't last. To me clearcoat is the only lasting solution.
E39s are particularly difficult as they have some sort of a coating on top of the base plastic that has to be sanded off before you can get to the base and polish it out. With a nice clearcoat on them the difference is dramatic over just a good polish in terms of headlight performance. Not so much appearance, but the light output. The good thing is E39 headlights are easy to remove, unlike many other cars where you have to pull the bumper or the like to remove them.
98 328is
02 525ita
80 528i
81 528ia
and decades of owning and driving BMWs
The clearcoat works for some, I don’t think it’s that great, at least that’s my opinion. I polish them, and wax them, keep them waxed up good, they stay looking healthy.
Last edited by JimLev; 06-24-2019 at 08:37 AM.
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
I put Expel clear film over mine after getting them nice and clear using a 3M kit. Two years later they look as good as the day I finished them.
2000 E39 540i Touring 6MT conversion, Biarritz Blue/Black
2010 E90 335i 6MT M-Sport, Space Gray/Black
2013 E70 X5 35i M-Sport, Sapphire Black/Cinnamon
1998 NA2 NSX-T turbo, Berlina Black/Camel
The best option for restoration is to do a proper multi stage wet sanding from whatever grit you need up to 3-5k, compound, polish, and then apply a quality PPF for abrasion and UV protection. You can buy new lenses for about $180/pr if not less and have those wrapped in PPF. Opti-Lens is a sealant which protects against UV but it's weakness as it doesn't protect against abrasion so it has a short service life so skip UV sealants like this and get a PPF. Same thing for Ceramic coats think of those as an added layer of protection on for the PPF not as a substitute for PPF.
I usually have my headlight restored at a local guy name AAA Auto Spa and they used steam and buffing and before i go there it was terrible and the headlight was terrible but after 1 hour of restoration after I bought their detailing and headlight restoration and they used something like scratch removal compound , is there anyone here knows how to do that?
They did a great job but if i can do it myself i save a lot.
Appreciate it guys
You can get new assemblies and skip the pain
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
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