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Really digging Meguiar's Headlight Restoration kit

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by George W, Jun 7, 2019.

  1. George W

    George W Active Member

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    62089981_293446764944186_8119120040789278720_n.jpg 61922230_2353467331644716_235673024559316992_n.jpg 61917683_399187490687555_8187140923914715136_n.jpg 61913612_331269714205446_8263472903765360640_n.jpg 62259755_297241694498032_6381363284846575616_n.jpg 62472381_597715734052331_8227512023064248320_n.jpg Typical 11 yr old headlight glass. The kit really makes the glass look new. The kit has 2 grades of fine sand paper, plus the polish and clearcoat. I know there are Internet alternatives, but this all-in-one kit was worth the price. I apologize that the pictures are out of order. I don't know how to force them to display in the order, from start-to-finish.

    (EDIT)

    The order of images should have been:
    Original lens
    1000 grit sanding
    3000 grit sanding
    Polish
    Clearcoat.
    Driver's side - same treatment

    I submitted these pictures individually but when the post was finalized the images are out of order. Not sure how to fix that.
     
    #1 George W, Jun 7, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2019
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Nice job! In my experience all those kits work the same for clearing. The difference is in the last step clearcoat. Some provide a lot of UV protection, so you'll get a few years before needing to repeat. Others have none; you're sanding again in a year.
     
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  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Which kit did you use?

    I curious to see what California sun does to your restored lamps over the next year...but YEAH!!!
    They do look good!
     
    #3 ETC(SS), Jun 7, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2019
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  4. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Mequiar's Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit. 2 grades of fine sand paper, polish, and clearcoat. It also has the polishing pad that you can put on your electric drill, really speeds up the process.
     
  5. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Interesting... I've always just used car polish and wax and it works but only for a few months... That clear coat part of it probably will get you a couple years or more. Thanks!
     
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  6. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    I did mine last week too. You can buy the Polish separate. I used a palm sander with 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000 wet dry paper with a bit of water. Made really quick work of the haze.
     
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  7. George W

    George W Active Member

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    I did not mention before, the kit comes with a palm sander for its 2 grit choices.
     
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  8. CLUBGUY

    CLUBGUY Member

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    Just viewed your post and pics...have had this kit for about 4 months...waiting for nicer weather...just had my 2012 "v" detailed but they did not do the headlight lens.. I'll do them myself; any tips other than follow mfg. directions ?
     
  9. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Have a an old, clean t-shirt to wipe the glass in between steps. I was surprised by how much surface residue there was.

    Instructions are written well. They recommend an electric drill (higher RPM). slower RPM are harder to hold-steady on the curved glass. Not having an electric nearby, I did it with my battery drill, and a full charge is recommended.

    Get yourself a stool to sit on so you aren't stooping so much (old guy advice).
     
  10. kens97uber171

    kens97uber171 Active Member

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    Nice job.. they do clean up nicely. If you have the regular H4 bulbs not HID. I highly recommend these LED bulbs. Very bright, but also great light control.. and good price too

    TECHMAX H4 LED Headlight Bulbs,

    Sorry can't get the URL to load... Search on Amazon.. make sure you put in H4
     
  11. George W

    George W Active Member

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    I have the HID bulbs. Would like to switch them to LED, but there seems to be some kind of a difference. Not sure what that is.
     
  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    If you have the original factory HIDs now, LED conversions will seem very dim and defocused by comparison.
     
  13. Graeme1949

    Graeme1949 Member

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    HID means High Intensity Discharge. The lamp is a high pressure, high voltage Xenon filled one. It operates at Very High voltage (not sure how much & I'm not near a manual right now.)

    HID is probably one of the brightest headlight systems you can get. I suggest "don't mess with it" because of the high voltage and because you probably can't improve it anyway.

    -Graeme-
    2004 Prius with >190,000 miles.
    Sent ?.
     
  14. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Interesting you say this, because the general consensus of Gen 2 is that their headlights aren't that bright.
     
  15. Graeme1949

    Graeme1949 Member

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    Only times I have thought that have been when the headlight exteriors need to be re-treated. It's about time for that, so I'll be getting a Meguiar's kit in the next week or so. Undo the mess a "professional" made a year ago. Otherwise, I am extremely happy with the HID, and think that all other types are pale or yellow by comparison.

    -Graeme-
    2004 Prius with >190,000 miles.
    Sent ?.
     
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  16. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Remember, that car was available with two different headlight systems. I'm not familiar enough with them to ID yours from your photos. If you have the halogen setup, conversions might be brighter. If you have an HID setup? Those are incredibly bright, unless broken. I'm very doubtful you can get an improvement.

    Another point though- if you have factory HIDs you'll find that none of the conversion parts on the market will fit without considerable modification. They're all meant to use halogen parts as a starting point.
     
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  17. Graeme1949

    Graeme1949 Member

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    I definitely have factory HID'S. As far as I know, they are the only ones with these warning labels.
    0527191541b.jpg 0527191541.jpg

    -Graeme-
    2004 Prius with >190,000 miles.
    Sent ?.
     
  18. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Your job is the most beautiful job I have seen done! Nice work!
     
  19. George W

    George W Active Member

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    All the credit goes to the Meguirs kit. They really have the right tool for this.
     
  20. GatorJZ

    GatorJZ Member

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    For a coating solution look into Optimum Opti-Lens. Optiumum is owned by a former lead chemist for PPG. It's expensive, but super easy to use. It offers UV protection and is marketed as a permanent coating. My longest experience with it is 18 months, so I can't comment on the permanence claim. I have used their glass and paint coatings as well and have been satisfied.