lenses for stock headlights
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 47
From: Noblesville, IN
lenses for stock headlights So I've been trying to restore my stock headlights, as when I got them they were pretty dang fogged. I've sanded with 800, then 1500, then 2000 grit and polished with my DA till my arms were numb, but for the life of me there's always a ton of scratches left over and the lens look like crap.
I'd buy replacements but they're all aftermarket and I've heard they fit like crap. Has anyone ever successfully taken the lenses off of those and swapped them to the stock housing? Or swapped brackets?
I'd buy replacements but they're all aftermarket and I've heard they fit like crap. Has anyone ever successfully taken the lenses off of those and swapped them to the stock housing? Or swapped brackets?
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Bracket swapping won't make them perfect but in some cases will make the fit a little better, I've tried that with the Depots before (this is even the brand that GM sells now, if you order them from the dealer) and it didn't help much on my '02 car. Never tried swapping the lens itself though.
If the headlights are really bad, you may have to start with a very aggressive grit. I've gone as coarse as 320 before. It takes quite a few steps of finer grit to come back from that, but it can be done. Also, it makes the polishing go faster if you go all the way up to a 2500 grit before hitting it with any compounds. After 2500, I sometimes use glass polish, then 3M two-step plastic cleaner and plastic polish. That's always worked quite well.
If the headlights are really bad, you may have to start with a very aggressive grit. I've gone as coarse as 320 before. It takes quite a few steps of finer grit to come back from that, but it can be done. Also, it makes the polishing go faster if you go all the way up to a 2500 grit before hitting it with any compounds. After 2500, I sometimes use glass polish, then 3M two-step plastic cleaner and plastic polish. That's always worked quite well.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 47
From: Noblesville, IN
I have a set of projectors on right now, and I absolutely love them. However the fitment sucks (as per usual) and I'm at my wits end getting them to fit. Plus I figured I could whistler mod the stockers and see which one I liked better.
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Apple Maggot Quarantine Zone
If you have scratches left over after a headlight resto, you didn't go far enough on the first step. They are almost impossible to see after sanding, but it just sounds like you have some deeper scuffs.
Go back to step one, and keep going...
BTW, if you're careful enough, you can start with 500. Just make sure you aren't cris-crossing, or using swirls.
Go back to step one, and keep going...
BTW, if you're careful enough, you can start with 500. Just make sure you aren't cris-crossing, or using swirls.
Last edited by 1999nbmZ; Jan 22, 2016 at 07:45 PM.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
