New Type Headlight Repair Kits?

Crazy Dazz · 05-10-2020, 06:12 PM

Has anyone tried one of the new type of headlight repair kits?
To get rid of the yellowing & crazing on polycarbonate lights.

An example is here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000331800745.html
(This one can't be shipped to Australia, possibly due to the fluid.)

As far as I can tell, the fluid is placed in the heating vessel, which vaporises it, and you then direct the output at the lense.

Apparently the Russians love it: "It's just a gun. Unreal bull****. Magic is real! 200% happy. Delivery yes 4 days. My best buy on Alice."

What I'm not clear on is whether this is just the coating, and it still requires the wet &dry polishing beforehand?

And if not, are the effects long-lasting, or is it like the WD40 trick

happy1 · 06-10-2020, 10:06 PM

yes it says in the comments that it requires sanding, starting with 400, then finer and finer until 2000 wet paper, before applying the product.

This may work, but I also believe 2k clear coat may work on headlamp lenses.

Crazy Dazz · 07-10-2020, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happy1

yes it says in the comments that it requires sanding, starting with 400, then finer and finer until 2000 wet paper, before applying the product.

That's what one purchaser has posted, which would make it no different to conventional methods.

My assumption is that this is some method designed to actually "restore" the damaged surface, rather than simply abrading it.

oldel · 07-10-2020, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Has anyone tried one of the new type of headlight repair kits?
To get rid of the yellowing & crazing on polycarbonate lights.
(This one can't be shipped to Australia, possibly due to the fluid.)

As far as I can tell, the fluid is placed in the heating vessel, which vaporises it, and you then direct the output at the lense.

Apparently the Russians love it: "It's just a gun. Unreal bull****. Magic is real! 200% happy. Delivery yes 4 days. My best buy on Alice."

What I'm not clear on is whether this is just the coating, and it still requires the wet &dry polishing beforehand?

And if not, are the effects long-lasting, or is it like the WD40 trick

It's probably similar to the acetone trick. I sanded and polished my lights but there's been chat here and I've seen videos of just using acetone. It melts the plastic so well that if you do it right you get a perfectly clear lens without sanding.

ivorya · 07-10-2020, 07:51 AM

I've also seen people using toothpaste as well.

It seemed to work well, just not sure of the camera trickery!!!

hayseed · 07-10-2020, 02:12 PM

From What I've seen they're only a Short term Fix used by Smash Repairers & Used Car Yards To Tart something Up to get It Out the Door looking OK..

pcman · 07-10-2020, 02:43 PM

it is acetone vapor, youtube it for a diy setup, it is also commonly used for finishing 3d printed parts to make them smooth

boss351290 · 09-10-2020, 03:22 PM

I have found that the best way to fix clapped out faded headlights is to replace them with new ones

**GasoLane** · 09-10-2020, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boss351290

I have found that the best way to fix clapped out faded headlights is to replace them with new ones

Mine are $700 a throw so that wont be happening

roKWiz · 10-10-2020, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasoLane

Mine are $700 a throw so that wont be happening

Yes Gaso,

life's a struggle driving a Mercedes.

**GasoLane** · 10-10-2020, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Yes Gaso,

life's a struggle driving a Mercedes.

Franco Cozzo · 10-10-2020, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Yes Gaso,

life's a struggle driving a Mercedes.

To put it into perspective the OEM HID headlight assemblies for my Focus cost circa $3000 for the assemblies, two ballasts and two globes

Just wait until we're replacing LED headlight assemblies as the low beam lights go dull, I'm thinking 4 figures a pop :shock

Anyone here got LED down lights at home? They still work they just put out hardly any light as they age, same with LED spotlights and work lights, I'm extrapolating that the LED low beams getting around these days will do something similar.

boss351290 · 11-10-2020, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasoLane

Mine are $700 a throw so that wont be happening

Well if you can’t afford new ones the best option is to rub them with 2000 wet and dry with heaps of water and dishwashing liquid as a lubricant then get the buff on them with polish on a foam or lambs wool buff pad. They will come up good. Just don’t rub too much

**GasoLane** · 11-10-2020, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boss351290

Well if you can’t afford new ones the best option is to rub them with 2000 wet and dry with heaps of water and dishwashing liquid as a lubricant then get the buff on them with polish on a foam or lambs wool buff pad. They will come up good. Just don’t rub too much

I only have problems with the left side with the Car-Bra rubbing (the right side is new thanks to a Roo

) and I do similar to what you mention, but thank you anyway.

Crazy Dazz · 10-10-2020, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcman

it is acetone vapor, youtube it for a diy setup, it is also commonly used for finishing 3d printed parts to make them smooth

So why do I need it vaporised?

Crazy Dazz · 11-10-2020, 05:09 PM

Oh, but you know which headlights are still pristine? Despite sitting in the weather for the last decade?
Yep, the AU.

pottery beige · 11-10-2020, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Oh, but you know which headlights are still pristine? Despite sitting in the weather for the last decade?
Yep, the AU.

muchly prefer bone cancer thanks

**GasoLane** · 11-10-2020, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Oh, but you know which headlights are still pristine? Despite sitting in the weather for the last decade?
Yep, the AU.

Except the Fairlane/LTD ones