PLASTIC HeadLight Restoration!! ONLY REAL WAY TO DO IT!!

[@Tubeagrutis]

Fixing OEM is definitely the way to go! Good work.

[@rolandbishop9716]

Just finished my headlights last night using this exact video guide, they look amazing!

[@DarkKniight89]

hand sand or did you use a drill attachment to sand faster?

[@rolandbishop9716]

@ hand sanded

[@mikesyria1787]

I think auto industry should just make better head lights

[@WildBikerBill]

I agree, but we both know that's not going to happen.

[@asadb1990]

There are some good after market ones. And you can wrap in clear vinyl to protect from uv damage

[@yappering]

Cleaned mine a million times and they always refade

[@alfredoibarra9825]

@@yapperingdid you coat with protectant? Before you clear it’s important to clean any foreign material from lenses or else there will be a reaction, bubbling, cracking.

[@nickyamertil9458]

They did. Head lights were made out of glass

[@thetubeschannel]

Best video I've seen on headlight restoration. Enjoyed. !

[@autophile-cv621]

UNBELIEVABLE !!! I hope it lasts a long time. Great job.

[@toycoma98]

up to a year only

[@karkule5919]

If you put car wax on them once every couple of months they last for years. If you do the same on brand new ones they will never turn yellow.

[@mynameismarko7]

​ You're right, that's in my case. 8 years old headlights still clear like new.

[@stinkletoes8285]

It will..but only if you use a 2 stage clearcoat.

[@alexlevingston]

I'm just gonna do it once a week.

[@chuyocaca4153]

Best restored head light video ever seen! (and seen a lot of them) You sold me will follow yours step by step! 🎯

[@michaelslifecycle]

Great video and editing. Every time I restore my headlights, while I’m half way through I’m like “next time I’m just going to buy some new ones.” But, by the time I’m done, I’m very happy with them and it feels very rewarding knowing that I did it all myself. Thanks for the content!

[@ganeshnarayan5505]

I just did this on my 97 Camry came out beautiful. Thanks for sharing

[@DarkKniight89]

How long did it take to finish 1 headlight?

[@rafaelmendez5758]

The satisfaction of doing it yourself and having results like these is really worth all the effort… Great work!

[@angelaransome1281]

Really enjoyed the video. It was totally worth it. You are fantastic.

[@DarthContinent]

I managed to successfully clean my cloudy '07 Toyota's headlight lenses using a 3M restore kit I'd bought some 10+ years ago and just forgot about and let sit in my garage until finally using it. Painter's tape, a cordless drill, and elbow grease led to making them almost factory fresh, without disassembly. It'd sure be nice if auto manufacturers simply used glass like back in the day, or from the factory generously coated their assemblies with road, grit, and UV-defying coatings.

[@ShogunMusic254]

those kits are $30 a piece, and get your headlights pretty good, but they do not last more than 6 months.

[@Kifaru4855]

The one step I wouldn't have done is to remove the headlights from the vehicle. I would have to remove the grill and pretty much the entire front bumper to remove my headlights. I'm not that brave! I'll probably just mask everything off really well. I really enjoyed getting to see the full step-by-step process with the sanding and polishing (including what grits to use and what compound and coating products you used). It took a lot of the fear out of it for me. I feel like I can tackle this project now. Thanks.

[@otallono]

some manufacturers make it hard to do certain tasks seemingly on purpose

[@vegasheat71]

This is the exact process I used for two of my cars 1 and 2 years ago. They are both yellow again and in need of restoration again... if you plan on doing this, just plan on light sanding once a year and polishing again to get them back to looking new. Elbow grease and using these products you already purchased are still cheaper than buying new lights that will Oxidize over time...

[@grahamepigney8565]

Applying the clear coat, which provides UV protection to your bodywork, should stop UV and oxidation damage.

[@pauls7771]

The clear coat turns foggy after 2 years. That’s why car manufacturers put plastic film over head lights.

[@vvogt4252]

No Way, Your work is Perfection. Great looking Toyota. I have a 2012 Rav4 original lights. Been using Meguires plastic polish for years, keeps my Headlights clear. I may use your methods to make mine showroom like yours. 👍🇺🇸

[@lennyevans4724]

I agree 💯 taking the extra time to restore the light lens yourself was worth it. I like tinkering with my car anyway and there’s a satisfaction of doing the job yourself and have amazing results plus saving yourself some cash as opposed to buying new ones or taking them to a dealer to restore, IMO..

[@brianparker460]

Love the video!! very in-depth details explanations!!

[@scotsmanofnewengland7713]

Thanks for this informative and well narrated video. I have a 2010 Subaru Impreza with really hazy headlights and they want $110. for only one headlight and I need both. Time to put my hands to work thanks !!!

[@danhambrick6331]

Nice job Jimmy..All your work was definately rewarding...

[@jumpinjojo]

*Definitely

[@PayneMaximus]

They look amazing. Great job! 👏

[@bondpit8750]

The finished result looks great. As a hobbyist somewhat familiar with automotive refinishing processes and products, I’d skip the polishing prior to coating. Polishing after sanding with 3k removes some of the tooth necessary for best adhesion. You generally polish AFTER painting, as a retired bodyman pointed out elsewhere here in the comments. Also, even though the headlights were removed, the flexible black gasket along the top edge of the capsule still should have been taped off to protect from overspray. Lastly, for the longest lasting protective coat a 2k clear with UV inhibitors would be the best choice. Whether a 1k or 2k, periodic cleaning and waxing as needed is essential, these plastic headlights literally take a beating in the elements.

[@gregcurlett2054]

Well im convinced. Ive been wanting to do the ones on my 2007 for a while now, this is a great setup!

[@russellterry2773]

Excellent job. fixing the factory headlights is the only way go.

[@pallidustigris]

Great video, very professionally shown, and the results are remarkable. Thank you for making this video 🙂

[@Yeti1183]

After using Meguiars Keep Clear a few times, I've noticed that 1 coat gets you the best results. A 2nd coat makes the lights slightly foggy again.

[@gallardo20000]

Correct. The restore pros all agree that a single heavy coat is best with this product.

[@Andy1416]

What an awesome turnout, great job Jimmy, I can't wait to see how long the refinish will last.

[@halhansen778]

I enjoy doing that stuff. Some people like to play golf, I like to do stuff like you just did!!!!

[@jimmyjoe1871]

You think that Toyota’s headlights are bad to get out or work on, try a GMC Acadia. You have to go through the wheel well to get to the bulbs. I just restored those headlights using the Cerakote kit with similar results. The clear coat is wipe on. Turned out great.

[@vincemartinez1436]

Thanks for the video.. I have been planning on working on mine. I like that it is a straight forward, no gimmick product process. Great work!

[@rickloera9468]

I just did that for my two cars. I did 800 to 3000 and used the Maguires cleaner, then cleared. They turned out amazing.

[@MrRaymond1021]

I've done mine and the fog lights as well. I know that we're never going to get the glass kind anymore because of expenses, but they are the best. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍

[@LaminJawara-x1q]

Oh my God! This is super great and it looks like exactly factory made.

[@rsr3959]

Good vid! I prefer the 3M kit to megulars, but yes, sandpaper is way to go on heavily oxidized lights. Got from Scotty Kilmer, but I now use the Formula 1 Scratch Out twice a year remove all hazing/yellowing/oxidization from my toyota and honda headlights. Any plastic UV protectant helps after using to stave off those problems for longer, but if parking in the sun, I haven't found anything that totally prevents... And I've found the megular spray to be a bit hazy and distortive of light when I've tried it on two vehicles. Removes easily with rubbing alcohol, but I pretty much just only use it on fog lights at this juncture, and leave it off the main headlights.

[@bybikenw7928]

It's never a waste of time if you enjoyed doing it, and are pleased with the outcome.

[@claytidwell]

I have the Meguiar's PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner, and I used it by itself and buffed out the light covers and it worked amazing all by itself. NO sanding needed.

[@AllTradesGeorge]

I redid head and tail lights lenses on a 2010 HHR I bought last month. Used a different product (Cerakote) that used a chemical wipe compound for the initial stripping of oxidized material, two different grades of sandpaper (I think 1000 and 3000), and then a wipe-on final coat that seals/UV-proofs the light. Never had to remove my lights, didn't need any power tools. It's been about 3 weeks since I did the headlights, I loved the results so much I did the taillights, as well, but that was earlier this week. Money well spent. I think it took me about 15 minutes per headlight (the taillights were so much smaller that I did them at the same time, so another half-hour or so), and the difference is just stunning. For the price, I could resurface my headlights another 2-3 times and still have it cost less than buying a replacement. I'll stick with restoring the lights unless/until something actually physically breaks them.

[@ivanjaramillo5665]

Headlights are restored! Amazing job my friend! Is Really worth it cause is kind cheap but fullfilled! Instead of paying for a brand new set of headlights that for sure will decay and turn yellow again.

[@paulmarriner5906]

Great job well worth doing I’m doing mine thank you

[@07wrxtr1]

Nice work - those are the exact steps at the headlight restoration pro (great guy) uses. Now if you wanna get "Rad" with it - you can put them in the oven - separate the lens - and black out some - but not all - of that chrome... I've seen a few do this... makes for a more modern look - or - I think Morimoto just came out with some Tacoma lights that are replacements and are actually quality (not cheap garbage) - very expensive - but - always fun to consider... The other thing you could consider is an HID retrofit - this is where you ditch the reflective surface and go with a projector lens inside - you'll get bulbs, a ballast, relay kit...all that good stuff... that will direct more light onto the road - less of a diffused cutoff - most like it - every now and then some don't like the sharp cutoff. Checkout the retrofit source, lightwerkz, and morimoto for upgrade options.... Or just leave as is and consider upgrading to the best: Philips or Osram bulbs

[@koblih69]

Nice work and nice result! I've polished a number of lights and I'll allow myself 2 comments: 1. never use 1k clear, if you want to paint the lights always use 2k clear coat. 2. if you are painting don't polish the surface before, but leave it sanded with a grit of say 3000 and the paint will hold much better and the transparency will be still perfect. Personally though, I find it much better to just polish the lights, not overspray them and care for them like a car paint job. Such lights will last many more years and much longer than newly painted ones.

[@gailrussell9104]

What do you polish with? This 68 year grandma is clueless.

[@bradleyford117]

I have bought aftermarket headlights that weren't sealed properly and moisture got in when it rained. End up doing the job twice and it's just as hard to seal them as to sand and coat them. Reconditioning them is the way to go. Nice Job.

[@1LifeAdvs]

​@@gailrussell9104the meguars polish cream

[@brazyuniverse4221]

Why polish instead of 2k?

[@marklundeberg7006]

Interesting I've heard though on other videos is that the clear coat is important for UV resistance. I.e. If you just leave bare polycarbonate exposed then it will yellow faster.

[@Rene-e6f]

Great video! I’ve got a Toyota Tundra that needs headlights restored. Just need to get my ambition ready!

[@maninacan.6285]

😮I was going to replace the passenger headlight for the Mrs. prius, but the dealership wants around 300 for 1 headlight. And for them to install it, it would be around 1000. So I just bought the cerakote kit for 16.00. I'll give that a try. I also seen people use toothpaste. Maybe next time. Enjoyed the video.

[@AllTradesGeorge]

I loved the results I got with Cerakote. Extremely simple. Jury's out on how long it lasts, but three weeks in, it still looks just like it did when I finished.

[@schadlarry]

I restored my headlights once and it lasted awhile. Then I tried aftermarket which are junk, many have a very crappy beam pattern, so I bit the bullet and bought new OEM headlights. I was going to do the clearcoat but there are many reviews saying it will screw up new headlights. Maybe it's better for restored ones, I don't know why but still only lasts a year or so. Maybe I'll give it another go on my old headlights and have a backup set ready down the road. 02 Tacoma, 290K.

[@Ffsdevgj]

What a great video about headlights restoration… so informative and fun ! Thanks!

[@CD-bm6rc]

I have used this same method for years. It is the best.

[@bruceaugustine6486]

I have been restoring headlights for a while now, you did all the steps as you should have, and they came out great. The headlight spray will last for about a year depending on the environment so to make it last a year longer get some Turtle wax pro graphene hybrid liquid wax and put it on the headlights and let it flash then polish it off. It will seal, them for another year and you just need a penny size drop per headlight on the corner of a clean microfiber cloth to rub it on and polish it off with the rest of the towel. I will comment on a couple of things that i found will make the process go faster. Before you start go to a dollar store and ger a bottle of L.A.'s Totally awesome spray the headlight and scrub it with a green 3M Scoth-Brite pad then a Scotch-Brite red pad and (if you can find it) a Grey Scotch-Brite. I then use a 3M Trizact 3000 grit sanding pad use tap water when using the pads wiping between each pad to make sure you are getting the proper result. it will save you about15-20 minutes per light then sprat the light there is no need to polish it first they will come out perfect. you are fortunate to be able to just remover the headlights however most newer vehicles those will need to be taped around the headlight i recommend 2-3 layers then tape plastic around the light when you spray the lights.

[@NissanMarchK11]

As you say in the video, fixing/renovating these OEM headlights is much more worthy than buying brand new cheap replicas. Less pollution, less costly and better quality for just a couple of hours and a couple of bucks.

[@faithjones9157]

Great job 👍🏽 I'm inspired 😊

[@ramennaidoo162]

I was taught to polish in a circular motion to get a better finish. That's how mirrors are polished. I am 80 and still drive around around.

[@rudyrodriguez7045]

Awesome job, thanks for taking the time to share your tips and ideas

[@ianlloyd1182]

Yep mate, thanks, great info. Just about to do the same here in Australia to a RAV4 and a Fortuner. Keeping the original parts is a good move as Toyota parts are good quality.

[@sortofkindofhandy6944]

Reason I'm here - I need to do this to a new to me old Honda Civic - so yes - I'd do it - or rather I will do this soon, thanks for a thorough video and process

[@davestewart9146]

Your headlights turned out amazing, nicely done Jimmy 👍😁

[@shrmntnk62]

I didn't do the spray, so I left mine attached for the cleaning. It is very helpful to tape it off though. I did after my first pass with the hand drill attachment. OOPS! Doing the sandpaper by hand is now my preferred method (extra curve in my camry light was easier by hand) and switched back for the soft pad buffer. Cheaper to clean and rewarding that you can do it.

[@rolamustang1]

Best DIY restoration I've seen.

[@calebgriffiths9062]

Beautiful job. I managed a passable job by masking my motorcycle headlight and using cutting compound on a polishing pad on my drill. Not as pristine but improved it from crap to ok in less than an hour. I finished off with a Maguire's paint polish. Seemed like a good result for the effort.

[@KimLind]

Many thanks. So informative. So easy and great result. Great content.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

This was so satisfying to watch!

[@1RoadGarage]

Thanks bro!

[@KRColson]

Great job Jimmy! Looks like a million bucks!

[@flaminspeed]

You did a great job, the previous owner of my car however did not. I caught it later but they basically made the headlight orange peely in texture with the spray clear coat and so whenever you turn the lights on it looks terrible and cloudy. I think they realized that since they did not do the other light but makes no sense why they did this on a 3-year-old Supra. Luckily the dealer will try to repair or replace the headlight if they can't have it restored. Hoping for a replacement honestly.

[@kendall221]

Good job! Yes, I’ve done that also and it’s definitely worth it and more economical.

[@donsternberg3600]

Jimmy, a new subscriber to your channel. This is an amazing video. Thank you for taking the time and effort to step through the entire process in detail! I can only imagine what you put into this. To restore or replace, that's the question!

[@clonedcat]

Mos-def will do this. And for 2014 frontier, getting the headlights out is just a pain in the neck. But well worth it. Thanks.

[@ED-ti5tc]

Looks great Jimmy! I did the same thing on my 98 Chevy. They looked great. Put them back in and tried at night and couldn't see any better. I shined my flashlight into the lens and i was so disappointed. My reflective chrome was flacking off! So disappointed, i had to buy new one. Great video though!

[@robs1852]

Nice job! Btw those are massive headlights, especially when compared to a glass sealed beam like you mentioned in the beginning

[@Caf1972]

Great results, Sir! Definitely worth the time and effort and $ saved.

[@vayabroder729]

That is a great car and you’re doing it justice. Looks great now! I think you made the right choice. Any replacement you can get will not match OEM quality.

[@QF_SPL_HAWAII]

Thanks for the run down. I got an older Toyota too. This is on the list of things to do to restore it. Factory always better. Manufacturers build and design things to fit correctly in there vehicles. I agreed.

[@Sherohnn]

Amazing work, detailed and very clear 👌

[@pokerface7920]

Thanks a lot, I tried it and it worked great for me.

[@exodo7727]

That kit works wonders I actually found it on clearance for $11 at Target

[@BCHAMBERS242]

If your doing a lot of painting or projects like this you really should look into a better respirator. That p100 is a good particualte filter, mowing, sanding etc. But you really need an organic vapor cartridge. 3M™ Cool Flow™ Valve Respirator Paint Protection - Advanced Comfort 7512 (M) is a great choice and then you just buy more cartridges when you need them.

[@dazzahaywood3298]

Great video explained very well gonna try mine at weekend thanks

[@ESMARSALAZAR]

I've dine thar, but not the maguire polisher.... that will be next on my 2001 Honda accord....❤❤❤ Great job you did !!!

[@WildBikerBill]

Absolutely worth it. I have a 2011 Honda Civic. Factory replacements, last time I checked, were ~$300 x 2. That sandpaper, polishing compound, spray on protectant, and polisher cost no where close to that. Unfortunately for me, the removal/installation process goes in through the front wheel wells.

[@DavidSomers-i5h]

Works good on tail lights and side marker lights also , nice job

[@skoparweaver7692]

I think you're better off going in one direction for each grit. The main reason is to see any areas you missed with the previous grit. People do this with metal polishing/grinding all the time and it highlights any areas you roughed and should go over with a finish wheel before you do final finishing. Other than that I like it. I opted for laminate rather than clear coat and we'll see how that lasts. Either way should protect the headlight from UV yellowing.

[@D.Upchurch100]

I think it looks great! I will have to try.

[@TTime685]

"It doesnt have to be perfect, it just has to be good" Words to live by. Sometimes people (even I) can get carried away trying to be perfectionists, only to end up screwing things up even more.. Do what works and is most efficient/effective. I've learn that over the years. There's no such thing as perfect anyway..

[@samtrolinder4837]

nice job now time to refinish the foglights/ blinkers& taillights to match

[@jasonsayre8102]

There is a coating on the lights from the factory . Some lights it is pretty obvious, you can see the edge where they delam, or turn yellow. That coating is why it takes years to turn cloudy and yellow. After you sand and buff most of that coating comes off. So either clear coat preferably the 3000 grit sanded light or just tape them off and a quick sand and buff once a year or so. Def better to do the oem lights than swap out for the cheaper aftermarket lights.

[@stevejacobs8375]

Great video and explainations !! Thank-you !!

[@zaluq]

Meguiars is good , they have 2 lines of product , one for consumer and the good stuff for proffesionals . We used the coating from Opticoat as its not a spray but a liquid you apply , and strong long lasting. On private I have used Turtle and Meguiars , both do well. Nive video.

[@gofasters1]

Wow great job.

[@johnhouli3450]

Absolutely I will do the work. I have a 05 Toyota Highlander 7 seater. And a 16 Nissan and the Nissan is the daily user we are unable to see at night with the Nissan. Will go to parts store and pickup the sandpaper 400,600,800,1500 and 3000 and start in a few days. TY

[@sidneyeaston6927]

Using silicon carbide sanding paper is the way to go if you want to do a fast job. The special polish is not needed, it is the same stuff as your paint polish. Clear coat is the same plastic polymer and you will find that using a good polish over the whole car once every two years will keep the paint and lights in good condition a UV protective wax will suffice to protect the surfaces, know the difference between a pure wax and a polish, when you polish you are cutting the surface, when you wax you should be adding another protective layer.

[@RobertEndl-pl9kr]

The headlights on my car are crazy expensive. I used a similar process but with different sandpaper and polish brands. Worked great.

[@bobstuckrath1805]

That really looks gnarly.

[@roncox2777]

Great job. I'm inspired!

[@NickWebber-vp4pd]

I’ve used Mother’s, and Meguiar’s in the recent past, and i must say…it was more work than i anticipated, used way too many different grits of sandpapers, special sanding discs and polishing balls to count….then i watched a video a few weeks ago that compared 7 or 8 of the most popular headlight restoration kits in real time…and one they used that appeared was way easier than the others, and yielded much better results early on in the process was TURTLE WAX headlight restoration kit. I know what i saw in the video, and to be honest (because i know from my own history) I was very skeptical of being able to achieve the same or similar results with the ease I have seen…but i decided to give it a whirl on a 2009 toyota venza. I was knoocked out with the results…blew my mind completely…i finished in just under 1 hr to do both headlights, and that included taping around the headlights, and applying the UV clear coat wipes that came with the kit. It was so easy. My headlights look brand new…i must admit, they were bad, but i’ve seen worse…but an hour…i will never use anything else…try it…what have you got to lose? You will thank me…

[@MatthewCuda]

Literally buying all the things to use for this would probably cost more than buying the aftermarket. I have used the aftermarket headlights and the fit an seal was perfect

[@bondpit8750]

Good point, except that aftermarket headlights don’t last more than 3 years, judging from personal experience in the conditions where I live and drive, 15k miles per year.. Insurance companies probably love them along with used car dealers because they are generally 1/4 to 1/3 the cost of replacing OEM.

[@TheSharpchisel]

Great work! At the risk of getting a lot of hate, all that overspray cloud is actual microplastrics. I am not against spraying anything but you could make a makeshift small spray booth out of a cardboard box, a fan and some ducting and lots of duct tape. Just get the airflow to pass through a furnace filter immersed in water. Later on, dry the water off and encapsulate the dust in candle wax. And voila! your kids will not get that micro size dust in their organs and bloodstream.

[@toyotabrony]

Now it looks sharper than ever. For ur headlights. Few options I’d recommend for ur badass 4Runner. If u prefer halogen but don’t mind the lifespan is less than halogen. 1: Sylvania - silverstar ultra If u want longevity for ur headlights and fog lights. 2: Sylvania - SL.BX2 led bulbs for ur 9006,9005, and I think H11. With that sweet 5 year warranty. If u want a reliable, yet high performance led bulbs. 3: Lasfit - LC Plus 4: Lasfit - LA plus 5: Auxito - Y13 6: Auxito - M3 7: Auxito - Y19 Or if u want to retain the same oem warm white or oem xenon white? 8: Formula J87 - G8 led bulbs with 4300K xenon white style. Prices u be lookin at for those led bulbs is between $40-$90 a pair. Either one of those options will be great for ur 4th gen 4Runner. @1ROAD and I highly recommend get Morimoto- Green dielectric grease, to add small amount inside between the connectors of ur factory and led bulbs. It’s basically a cheap yet affective product to prevent moisture from getting in and burned out. U can get them on Amazon.🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@1RoadGarage]

Thanks for the info. I do wish there were better (road legal) options out there. I do like the warmer look of standard bulbs though. It’d be nice if there was a well built long lasting LED option that was legal. 🤷‍♂️

[@toyotabrony]

@@1RoadGarage even if it’s illegal or not. That’s ok. As long as we’re not hurting anyone. U have fanless led bulsb on ur Chevy. If u have no issues where u live, and u had them for a long time. I wouldn’t even worry. Trust me, I think u will definitely not be disappointed for xenon white led. I guaranteed😎👍🏼

[@pacorbopc]

Great Job. Well worth it!

[@Peter_Riis_DK]

A job worth doing yourself. Well done. Now the fog lamps seem to have a bit of a haze too. ;)

[@ivanstefancic8938]

You did a great job! The only thing that id suggest is use more water! Get a hose on mist setting and point it away from yourself whilst sanding the lights. The dirty stuff needs to come off as quickly as possible eg you don't want to wet sand the light with that dirty water. One pass and wash it off! Legit might be easier just doing it in the shower 😅

[@adiadrian1758]

Just did'it !!! Good job 👍🏽🤝👏👏👏

[@justintynan2435]

I did my highlander headlights, wet sanding 800-1500. Grease and wax remover then Spraymax 2 n'1 headlight clear. The Spraymax stuff is spendy for the quantity of product you get, but i feel it was worth it.

[@ironheadhooligan]

Very good video, for diyers like myself,,, very much appreciated 🙏🏽😎

[@human1513]

Great video.Thanx for making.

[@rwm5518]

Nice work - keep it up!