Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 16 to 25 of 25
  1. #16

    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    86,975
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    Quote Originally Posted by bennylava View Post
    ...the new ones are starting to look like they`re headed downhill after a year. .
    Gee, that`s really something! Wonder what`s going on..new headlights oughta stay nice for ages, if not forever (which is what I`d expect).

  2. #17

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    829
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    Quote Originally Posted by Accumulator View Post
    Huh, now that kinda surprises me. Plastic lenses, sure...but I wouldn`t have expected UV to be an issue on (OEM thickness) paint.
    Yep, lots of Japanese cars running around with peeling sunburn.. Hondas being the worse.

  3. #18
    Long Time Member GearHead_1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    10,695
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    Quote Originally Posted by bennylava View Post
    Well since the link got removed, I was talking about Meguiars G17804 Headlight Coating (https://www.autopia-carcare.com/megu...l#.WyV-E4pMGfA). Guess maybe they think we haven`t heard of meguiars, or Amazon, one of the biggest corporations on earth? lol

    Anyway yeah this isn`t a permanent fix but what is. This is a once a year sealer, according to megs. You clean em up with alcohol, and then you spray on the sealer. You do it again a year later. If they look unchanged after a year of driving, (and users claim they do) then I`d call it a big success. Cause even after buying brand new headlights to replace old ones that have been restored too many times and finally cracked, the new ones are starting to look like they`re headed downhill after a year. So I`m going to try this on my new corolla that has 5k miles on it. Those headlights should be a good candidate.
    There is no offense intended when a link is removed. This forum is sponsored by a store that sells detailing products. Why would any retail store concerned about their own best interests advertise (read LINK to competitor) for their competitor. The forum policy is simple, no links to sites that compete with PBMG stores. Discuss these products ad-nauseam on Autopia but don’t link to other retail sites. Of course PBMG understands that people know how to use the Internet and will find places to buy product. Their hope is that it’s a PBMG store. That said, why open the door to a competitor that sells either the same or like products that they sell for customers to stop and shop? This makes perfect business sense and should be easily understood. In this case Autopia Car-Care also happens to sell the very product being discussed. Why not link there? I’ve added that link to your post. As I said, previously no offense intended.
    A society willing to trade liberty for temporary security deserves neither and will lose both
    ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
    Thanks Stokdgs thanked for this post

  4. #19
    bennylava's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    183
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    When I say "starting to go downhill" I just mean that if you look closely, you can see the very beginnings of it. Plus they`re aftermarket headlights not oem... the ones I was referring to. I know quality could go either way: Better, or worse than OEM. But I`d estimate that in something like 2 years, maybe 2.5 years, the aftermarket headlights would be hazed over. Unacceptable!! lol
    Likes rlmccarty2000 liked this post

  5. #20
    A Miracle Detailing Merlin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Sunny South Florida
    Posts
    2,579
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    It`s simple...short version
    OEM makes "headlight covers" from plastic. Plastics yellow. This is true all almost all the variations...Plexiglass etc.
    In the old days, they were made of glass. Glass does not yellow. Glass is more expensive, especially making shapes.
    Bending glass into the shapes of the new designer styles in very expensive. Plastic is cheaper and easier to bend.


    AMiracleDetailing.com
    YouTube - Facebook - Instagram
    Thanks Stokdgs thanked for this post

  6. #21

    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Posts
    63
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    All,
    After jumping on utube a while ago and finding dallas auto paint correction and his vid on headlights restoration i have not looked back on Optimum`Opti-Lens. He sells this product with his services and a warranty and i can tell you that after approx 9m the headlights on the lexus look spectacular.
    Give that products a try after sanding and polishing the headlights. Alternative in my books is a products called Glassy Lite. It has fillers in it but they do last a while.
    Cheers

    Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk

  7. #22

    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    86,975
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    Quote Originally Posted by PoweredByJenga View Post
    All,..[check out]... Optimum`Opti-Lens...[and].. a products called Glassy Lite. It has fillers in it but they do last a while.
    Thanks for posting that. With new lenses/etc. unavailable for the older cars, I might oughta look into something more serious than the (seemingly OK) OCW approach.

  8. #23
    PearTree's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    84
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    FWIW I polished a set of headlights and coated them with my leftover McKees wheel coating. Been a month or two and the water beading is very good so I guess it bonded to the plastic. Time will tell though.

    I did see McKees offers a headlight coating so I will probably get that to try for the future.

    This does bring me to the question what properties in a coating are changed for different applications. For instance, McKees has paint, wheels, headlights, glass....etc. I wonder if one could be used for all applications and what exactly differentiates the products.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  9. #24

    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    St. Louis Metro Area (Illinois)
    Posts
    1,017
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    Quote Originally Posted by bennylava View Post
    I was talking about Meguiars G17804 Headlight Coating (https://www.autopia-carcare.com/megu...l#.WyV-E4pMGfA).
    I didn`t have much luck with this product.

    When the lenses on my daughter`s 2010 Mazda 3 began to turn yellow and get hazy I gave this a shot. I polished the lenses with PlasticX, wiped them down, and then applied the coating. After about 3~4 months the yellow had returned and after six months you couldn`t tell I had done any work at all. I also had a problem with the product drying clear. It always seemed to have a strange texture to it which made the lenses look strange when you got up close. It would spray on smooth, but gained texture as it dried.

    I`ve now started using the Wolfgang headlight kit and found it works much better. The two-step polishing isn`t too aggressive and once the sealant is applied the lense looks new. So far, I`ve found it lasts roughtly 7~8 months before the yellowing returns.

  10. #25
    bennylava's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    183
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Finally got to the bottom of the poor oem headlights problem

    Quote Originally Posted by Desertnate View Post
    I didn`t have much luck with this product.

    When the lenses on my daughter`s 2010 Mazda 3 began to turn yellow and get hazy I gave this a shot. I polished the lenses with PlasticX, wiped them down, and then applied the coating. After about 3~4 months the yellow had returned and after six months you couldn`t tell I had done any work at all. I also had a problem with the product drying clear. It always seemed to have a strange texture to it which made the lenses look strange when you got up close. It would spray on smooth, but gained texture as it dried.

    I`ve now started using the Wolfgang headlight kit and found it works much better. The two-step polishing isn`t too aggressive and once the sealant is applied the lense looks new. So far, I`ve found it lasts roughtly 7~8 months before the yellowing returns.
    Worked out ok for me. The lenses appear to be more clear than when I started. Although they were pretty clear. Maybe somewhat different plastics were used. I used it on a toyota. I`ll try the kit you mentioned next time. Since they also have a sealer, maybe its a better sealer.

 

 
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Bottom of the 9th
    By Dcox9 in forum Everything Else
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-28-2013, 06:24 AM
  2. IE6/IE7/Firefox problem fixed finally!
    By JohnZ3MC in forum Hot Tub
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11-28-2006, 01:54 PM
  3. Well I Finally Got Some Diamond Clear Headlights/Corners
    By Wasatch in forum Body Shop & Mechanical Modifications
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 05-30-2006, 04:40 PM
  4. Poor lighting...poor ES300
    By HTRK-1 in forum Forum News, Updates & Feedback
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-01-1970, 12:00 AM
  5. Who details the bottom of their car?
    By NeoBlue in forum Car Detailing
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 01-01-1970, 12:00 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •