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Thread: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

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    *burp* bubba1983's Avatar
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    Default HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Im currently refinishing my spare set of headlights, as they were quite fugly, the coating on them was chipping off and it jus needed some TLC and love. SO...ill be adding to this writeup as time goes on, as this will take me awhile, untill i get the right result i want....

    First Step
    Wet Sand entire headlight with 1500 Grit Sandpaper untill you come to a result which you are satisified....my result was to take off all the coating on teh headlight...Wipe with alcohol once done


    Second Step
    Wet Sand entire headlight with 2000 Grit sandpaper again, and wipe down with alcohol once finished


    Third Step
    I would recommend trying to source out 2500 and 3000 grit sandpaper and repeating step 1 and 2. I could not find any in my area, so i went to a local paint shop and asked for some help with a compound for plastic to take out 2000grit swirls. Once you have your compound, apply it to your headlight with either an orange cutting pad or a cloth of some sort.

    Fourth Step
    I opted to put a coat of meguiars plastx on after the compound, as the plastx has fillers in it i believe.

    Fifth Step
    Buff that shit real good!!

    Half way there


    Finished product
    Last edited by bubba1983; 05-01-2008 at 07:24 PM.
    Adam - Kitchener, Ontario.
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    Jr Member skunk2's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights

    did the stock headlights come with any UV coating from factory?

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    *burp* bubba1983's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights

    i honestly don't know, but common sence tells me more than likely yes

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    Jr Member skunk2's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights

    not sure if you have considered this already:
    http://www.eshine.ca/185-wolfgang_pl...em.html?cat=13

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    *burp* bubba1983's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights

    way out of my price range, i can get similar results using teh stuff here
    i coudln't find 2500 or 3000 grit paper around town, so i went and bought some compound today along wiht a drill adapter.....finish product so far
    untouched


    Finished product
    Last edited by bubba1983; 05-01-2008 at 04:30 PM.

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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights

    That came out really good! So you got a spare set to install angel eyes...I was thinking of doing that!

    Could you update the OP with the products used? I will have to do this sooner or later.

    Thanks!

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    Jr Member skunk2's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights

    good job, looks good.

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    *burp* bubba1983's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights

    i will update with all products used once both are done....2nd light is taking a bit longer, hahahah

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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Simply amazing! Wicked job man. That Farecla stuff is fantastic.

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    Member sauga_kid's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Very nice job Bubba!

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    Sr Member 3GFX's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Looks good bro, wanna do mine lol
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    *burp* bubba1983's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    sure...take your bumper off!! lol

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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Good stuff adam..... you didn't find teh G3 too rough? I find the G3 too abrasive, so i usually use G6 for plastics. But i guess i'm wrong.... good job there.
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    *burp* bubba1983's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    i probably could have gone with less abrasive, as there are still a fair bit of scratching, but ive never used this stuff before so i was jus going by what the guys at the store said

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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    i would start with G6 then G10 then the meguiars

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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    good stuff, i need to refinish my headlights, there starting to fade away and looks like crap

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    Sr Member -RJ3-'s Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Thanks for the write up Adam!!! If it wasn't for MEth telling me you made a write up, I would have scrapped my Custom headlight mod.... I used an orbital buffer for the final step... the cloudyness after the sanding and drying came off perfectly with plastx.!!!
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    Newbie lil_zoom3's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Became New
    Question. If an internal dirt, is it possible to clean it up?
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    *burp* bubba1983's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    huh?

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    Newbie lil_zoom3's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Quote Originally Posted by bubba1983 View Post
    huh?
    I mean, you've cleared externally

    But is there a way to clean them from the inside?

  21. #21
    Moderator S.F.W.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Quote Originally Posted by lil_zoom3 View Post
    I mean, you've cleared externally

    But is there a way to clean them from the inside?
    you would have to heat them in an oven or with a heatgun to break the seal, then clean, then reseal.
    2010 Black Mazdaspeed 3 - Lightly modded

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    Newbie lil_zoom3's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Quote Originally Posted by S.F.W. View Post
    you would have to heat them in an oven or with a heatgun to break the seal, then clean, then reseal.
    ok, is there Gulw advised to use to close tightly?

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    Moderator S.F.W.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Quote Originally Posted by lil_zoom3 View Post
    ok, is there Gulw advised to use to close tightly?
    silicone would be the best thing to use to reseal.

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    Newbie wouc89's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    Hi I also looking to get myself a spare set of factory headlights for my mazda 3. did yours come with the car or u bought them after?

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    Sr Member Default User's Avatar
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    Default Re: HOW TO: Refinish Your Headlights.

    You would have to purchase a second set.

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