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Thread: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

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    Member gabbygenier's Avatar
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    Default 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    been wanting to do this for a while now. someone posted a thread about the meguires kit. i tried that and it failed. im sure you can see y haha. used it on mazdabaetty's car and it worked good, but her lights were in good shape compared to mine.

    so here are the pics. the pass side isnt as good but if you look at the shape of it from before its amazing. im very happy with the results. 10$ and 2 hours of work, includint taking the bumper off and putting it back on.

    cant wait to go for a drive tonight to see what diff it made

    before.
    driver side



    pass side



    during



    after
    driver side





    pass side.
    2004 mazda 3 GT Sedan Indigo Blue.

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    Sr Member Takumi616's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    looks amazing, i want to do mine as well just lazy.... did ou use a power drill to buff?
    2007 Crystal White Pearl Mazda 3 GT Sedan
    - 6K HID Headlights - 3K HID Fog Lights With Yellow Vinyl - KYB GR-2 - Eibach Pro-Kit - Eibach Camber Kit - K&N Typhoon SRI - Progress RSB - 35% Tinted Windows - RX-8 Rims with 18' Hankook EVO V12 - Vinyl Gloss Black Roof - GV Front Lip Kit - OEM Door Visors - Smoked LED Side & Rear Reflector - Blackout Emblems - Stubby Atenna - Hella Horn Supertones - PIAA Super Forza - Interior & Exterior LED Lighting - WeatherTech DigitalFit - Winter Tires Package -

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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    +1 on the 3M Headlight restoration kit. I used one on my dad's minivan. The headlights were so bad you could hardly see the bulbs inside. I took the lights right out of the grill and put them in a vise while working on them. The kit is super easy to use, comes with everything you need, and the results were awesome! The lights look brand new now, I really couldn't believe how well it worked.

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    Jr Member m_a_t_r_i_x's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    i used the same product, it works for awhile but after a month or so they look hazy again.

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    Jr Member Souls's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    good post, great to see a product that actually works as intended!

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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Really great product if you want to save money instead of buying replacements

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    Sr Member Default User's Avatar
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    Default

    I will endorse the 3M kit also

    Here's my Before and After pics



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    Member gabbygenier's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Quote Originally Posted by Takumi616 View Post
    looks amazing, i want to do mine as well just lazy.... did ou use a power drill to buff?
    just a cordless drill. as posted. kit comes with the adapter to put on the drill and everything is just velcro onto that.

    Quote Originally Posted by m_a_t_r_i_x View Post
    i used the same product, it works for awhile but after a month or so they look hazy again.
    i guess we will find out. worst come to worst, rebuff it every few months. still cheaper then getting new headlights.

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    Sr Member STeeLy's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    I gotta do my WRX headlights soon. They're not as bad as Gab's, but it's getting there.

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    Sr Member Takumi616's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    maybe i'll do this project after winter

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    Member Darkfrosty7's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    i know what im doing next week now... lol
    Mazda 3 Aluminum Pedals | 6000k HIDs | Razo Shift Knob | LED Eyebrows | Stubby | Blacked out Emblems | TorontoMazda3.ca Decal | GV Front Lip | 17" Advanti M40 Bronze Time Attack Rims | Falken ZE912 Tires | Smoked Reflectors | Blue Calipers with Mazda Decal | AutoEXE Spoiler Wing | LED Interior Lights | 2008 OEM LED Tail Lights | 23% Tint All Around | Viper 2-way Alarm System | Clarion NX 409 | Clarion Integrated Bluetooth | CCFL Halo Angel Eyes | Custom Black and Blue Head Lights | Euro Yellow 3000k Fog Lights | Fujita F5 Cold Air Intake | Chrome Turn Signals | Hawk Brake Pads | Dry Carbon Fiber Wrapped Interior | DI-NOC Dry Carbon Fiber Wrapped Roof | Dry Carbon Fiber Front and Rear Flares | Mazdaspeed Catback Exhaust + Vibrant Resignator | Tien H-Tech Springs | Front Strut Bar | RhoPlate | etc.

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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    This kit is on sale this week at CT
    http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...=1315763306144
    2009 Speed3 CWP - 17% Tint - WeatherTech DigitalFit - Hella Supertone - CP-E Nano SRI - Forge BPV - CP-E Inlet - SU Racepipe - Hotchkis RSB - EGR Delete - TB/Coolant Bypass - TWM Full Shifter Replacement, Bushing, Adapter - MSpeed OCC - CPE HPFP - JBR 70 PMM - JBR 80 TMM - CP-E Stage 2 RMM, UR Downpipe

    Soon - JBR TIG, TMIC

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    Member gabbygenier's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    so its been over a month now. washed the car last night and the headlights still look just like they did when i did it.

    also, the kits on sale this week for 20$ at CT

  14. #14
    Rebecca Black mazdabetty's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..


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    Jr Member BMWWW's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    My personal recommendation after wet-sanding it once: Go and buy Duragloss's Plastic Polish. If you wetsand too many times, you remove some *insert technical term here* UV protection or something, and the 'haze' will return progressively over a few months.

    The key, if you've only wetsanded once to remove the largest imperfections, is to minimize the abrasiveness of all following remedies. The duragloss product has very little 'grit', and is the least abrasive cure to haze that I've found. Cheap, and takes less than 5 minutes for both headlights (2001 civic) via a rotary.

    I'm getting a clear film installed (hopefully next week), and I"ll report back on its long term effectiveness.

    Kleeeean-lad and certified Cone-killer

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    Member gabbygenier's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    i was thinking of getting clear film for them. but then again, my car has 215 000+ kms, so its not cause the headlights were bad parts, just used. my front bumper used to look like them. sandblasted to shit. that got repainted, fixed the headlights. now only have to replace the windshield. i think my ex used to follow ppl closely when she drove

    i have the meguires 3m kit and i was thinking of just polishing them with that every once in a while to keep them good. not much i can do about rock chips though.

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    Noob FreshTHREE's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Looks good but still not the best way. One, there's no need to remove the entire bumper. 2. 2 hours is way to much time spent. Here's how I do it at the shop I work with.

    1. Tape edges (depending on vehicle) if edge is too difficult to work around then just slide bumper forward and down.
    2. Water sand headlights with 3M 2000 grit paper.
    3. Finish in 3M 3000 grit paper.
    4. Wool pad with g3 farècla polish
    5. G-Mop sponge pad with G3
    6. Finish in g10 farècla finishing compound
    7. Then I add my little trade secret stuff and wham! Brand new


    Usually takes me half hour for this entire process.
    Last edited by cwp_sedan; 10-07-2011 at 01:35 PM. Reason: adjusted for advertising

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    Rebecca Black mazdabetty's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Quote Originally Posted by FreshTHREE View Post
    One, there's no need to remove the entire bumper. 2. 2 hours is way to much time spent.
    One, the inner corners are impossible to get to without taking the bumper off. Two, the pictures do no justice as to how bad his headlights really were. 2 hours were much needed for this particular case lol

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    Member gabbygenier's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Also if you read the thread, i had the bumper off already since i had to fix my horns. so no extra work really.

    and like mazdabetty said. the inner corners are impossible to get to with the drill since the pad holder is round. and also that way i dont have to worry about accidentally damaging my 1 month old painted bumper cause i went too close.

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    Noob FreshTHREE's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Well I've been doing this since I was 18. Experience is a major factor here. I've done it plenty of times with my 05 gt. Dealer thought they were brand new after I returned it back for the lease. I've done it more than 3848383873 times. I have over $2600 in just pads and different compounds. I'm not saying why you did was a waste of time because it wasn't. There's just an easier way in doing it and the overall product looks spectacular. But like I said, it looks great. Goodjob
    Last edited by cwp_sedan; 10-07-2011 at 01:35 PM. Reason: adjusted for advertising

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    Noob FreshTHREE's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Ignore my advertisement as I am still new here and didn't not know about the whole sponsorship thing. Extremely sorry for this.

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    Moderator cwp_sedan's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Quote Originally Posted by FreshTHREE View Post
    Ignore my advertisement as I am still new here and didn't not know about the whole sponsorship thing. Extremely sorry for this.
    Not at all. The information that you provided is useful. We appreciate anything that can help members out with their rides.

  23. #23
    Member gabbygenier's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    oh come on Ryan. he said he'd some to Ottawa to do it for 20$. that's a sweet deal haha

    i guess its like anything else, experience matters. there may be easier ways but i try and take care of my baby, well second baby .
    first time for me and im very happy with the turnout. it was worth the time.

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    Moderator cwp_sedan's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Here's a pic of a quick job my brother did on his headlights (Grand Prix GTP). They could be better but he didn't spend a lot of time on them. He'll probably touch them up more another time but they are 100x better than they were. This kit is great for $20 (on sale).


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    Member gabbygenier's Avatar
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    Default Re: 3M Headlight Restore Kit review w/pics..

    Quote Originally Posted by cwp_sedan View Post
    Here's a pic of a quick job my brother did on his headlights (Grand Prix GTP). They could be better but he didn't spend a lot of time on them. He'll probably touch them up more another time but they are 100x better than they were. This kit is great for $20 (on sale).



    looks way better then before.

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