My headlight ordeal

[malibu9in]

Just passing on what ive found to be my best method of restoring these yellow lights. I should have took before pics but I didn`t think they would come out this good. This is about my 20th or so set to do and here is what i did. These are oem lights on a 99 626. They were about as yellow as they can get. About a 8 on a 1 to 10. I masked everything off and started with 320 on a da. Then 800,1000,1500,2000,3500. Sounds like alot but the finer the scratch the better the outcome. I can`t belive I didn`t do these lights like this before. I buffed the light out with a 3 in polisher with 3m`s super dutty compound. The old school stuff you would use on laquer and enamels. Then I polshed them with diamondlite`s clear plastic restorer with the 3in orange foam pad. ( i used a 3in orbital on all this too.) Then i cleaned them with a mf a added a coat of pb blue wax. I have not found something good to keep them from yellowing yet. Im fliiping the car so im not to concered with that. Here is a pic.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5329/head002yq3.jpg
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8084/head003he3.jpg
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2299/head004aq6.jpg

[malibu9in]

Sorry for the wacky post..i dont post enough to know the correct way of posting pics.

[dr_detail]

If you`re flipping cars -- and you`re doing a high volume of headlights, I would seriously recomend a bench grinder (pedastal type) with a cotton lapping (polishing) pad. Using the same compound, the polishing takes less time (10-15minutes) without having to do the tiedious work of sanding. Furthermore, removing the lights in most cases, takes less time than masking, sanding, and the final clean-up. This method`s worked for me and my buddy`s auto dismanteling yard for 20+ years :)

[malibu9in]

ive got the bench polisher...I used it to polish aluminum and grind metals. Some of these imports are hell to get the light out. I wish they were like chevy trucks.