C6 Corvette Headlight Restoration w/ 3M Ultra Headlight Kit! Does It Work?

[@keithroberts5611]

I have found using this same kit, I didn't skip the buffing stage!! Which is important to hydrate and seal the lens, Also i didn't use the wipes instead i used Meguiars certified clearcoat with added UV protection, Washing the lens first is wasted time as the surface is being removed anyway? When applying the p3000 trizact disk wet you only apply tap water once when a Claudy residue appears evenly over the lens your done, Then apply any glass cleaner spray to clean lenses before buffing the lens when finnished wipe lens useing a clean micro fibre cloth, Then clearcoat and be assured it will adhere to the lens despite what people say!!!Anyways a good job!!!🤔🇬🇧👍

[@mitchconner1407]

Very thoughtful and well done video. My Dad's looking at a C6 with crazed headlight lenses. Since changing the lenses is such a pain -- I was interested in seeing how your results turned out. Think doing this is worth a shot -- but after sanding I'll probably use a very, very fine polish like the weakest paint correction compound Mequiar's makes along with a machine polish to make sure everything is good before applying the top coat. Again, very well done. Thank you.

[@shockerracing]

Thank you, I’m glad we could help!

[@ScottO84]

You'll find that some headlight restoration kits basically just have you sand and polish the plastic lenses, but then leaves them bare. While this looks okays initially, it doesn't last at all. The 3M and some other kits have you sand the headlights and provides a protective coating to give UV protection so the plastic doesn't quickly oxidize again going forward. The reason 3M has you leave the lenses hazy and not fully polished is the same reasoning why automotive painters, powdercoating processes, etc require sanding beforehand: the substrate needs something slightly more textured to cling to. If you attempted to coat over something already completely polished and perfectly smooth, the clearcoat/paint/powdercoat doesn't adhere well enough and eventually begins to separate, chip, or flake away. All of that being said, I think you did a nice job with the kit. The remaining fogginess you have may be within the lens, which is somewhat common for those C6 headlights over time.

[@kendavis3604]

Thank you for this video. I will be doing this job on my headlights, and will make sure I do a through job on the sanding and polishing stages. I’d be interested in a video on your fog light mounting job. One of my fog lights has a ruined upper loop where the tab on the upper side of the fog lamp is supposed to be inserted to hold it in place. Not sure how to accommodate the damage to that upper mount point on the existing bumper to make it a durable mounting slot again.

[@shockerracing]

I have to pull the front bumper off still and see what’s going on with the fogs.

[@kendavis3604]

@@shockerracing yeah, I’ll probably just have to get a new fog lamp assembly, I think it’s actually a problem with the discrete support piece that you fit the lamp into…then that screws into the bumper. I’ll figure it out when I get the bumper off. I have a cylinder 7 misfire I’m diagnosing first.

[@vinman628]

Hey nice video, I have a 2006 and I have a slight haze on mine. But I think mine is in the inside, you can tell when lights are on.

[@enigma6482]

Well that was certainly easier than replacing the entire module.

[@robmccance]

Cool video, thanks for sharing. Definitely looks much better than when you started. 100% good enough for a track car, right!

[@shockerracing]

Exactly!

[@jrstormont]

I would do that kit, but add DA polishing before the clear coat, and get some 4k clear coat instead.

[@67judge]

How much was the Paint 🎨 job？

[@jestentice1766]

Definitely need to do a buffing stage, skip the clear coat packet thing and just go straight to a clear PPF on top and you are good for a very long time. $100 or so for a professional to do PPF maybe less since these lights are really flat and easy to do. DIY might be possible. Thank you for the video!

[@shockerracing]

I never thought about adding ppf to the lights, probably a great idea to protect them!

[@danlaur7973]

No polishing/coating procedure will work long term, you need to replace the lenses with new ones

[@grandmastert01]

Crazy that 3M gives you so many sanding disc but only 1 wipe for both headlights.

[@shockerracing]

Agreed

[@keithroberts5611]

That's the reason I opted to use a certified clearcoat like Meguiars!! As used by professionals!!!😂