3M Headlight Restoration

If you have yellowed or hazy headlight lenses, check out 3M's headlight restorer. It's very easy to use (once you get over the fear of sanding your lenses!) and the results speak for themselves.
First, clean your lenses with soap and water, then tape them off. Do both sides at the same time, not one at a time. You'll thank me later.
Once your lenses are clean and taped, start sanding! You'll start with the 300 grit gold pad. Sand until the lens looks uniform, wiping the sanding dust as you go. Once you're satisfied with the 300 grit, move on to the white 800 grit pad and repeat.
Note: You can sand in circles or using a back and forth motion, but I suggest doing the 300 grit in a circle motion, then the 800 grit in a back and forth motion. That way it will be easier to verify that you've sanded out all the previous scratch marks.
Next, wet sand the lenses starting with the 1000 grit, then the 3000.
Wipe and dry the lenses, then hit them with the rubbing compound, followed by the wax.
Then drink a beer and profit!



My headlights. They weren't too bad, but they needed some pop.


After the 300 grit


Wet sanding


After rubbing compound


Waxed


Finished!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO! 3M is good for temporary clearing. Use the Sylvania kit. 3M will yellow again in a month or 2. I used the Sylvania kit on my mother in laws and its still as clear as the day I did it 7+ months ago. I used to swear by the 3M kit and was content redoing the headlights every few months. About $20 at AutoZone.

It includes an UV acrylic clearcoat

dang it! I know they updated the kit to include a synthetic wax, we'll see how it turns out.

Yeah, I would use carnauba wax on the headlights and it worked ok. Actually, Crystal bought my old 08 so that would be a testament of how well that clear coat works. Looked like new when it was traded in back in Jan.

Oh yeah, this is definitely only good for temporary restoration. I will admit, it does work well especially on badly yellowed headlights (like my old man's 2000 CRV), but it doesn't last more than a month.

the stuff donald had for helicopters worked really well, mine are still crystal clear