Thread: Anyone restored headlights before? With results.

I have a 2005 Grand Prix. The car only has 68,000 miles on it, but this probably actually started around 60,000 miles. Almost like you would see clearcoat peeling on paint. Very thin and crispy. You can chip it away with your fingernail. Under that, the lens is very dull.

What's the best way to restore these? I would assume I would have to remove all of the coating, whatever it is. And then sand/polish. Would they need to be recoated?

Pics


Driver Side





Passenger Side

The 3M headlight kit works pretty good.

the right way would be wet sand with 2000ish sandpaper and have them recleared, if you use the polish kit it will work, but the hazing comes back quicker

if you sand and use a buffer if turns out way better i got a decent buffer from harbor freight for pretty cheap.

i did mine but they are the 98 style headlights and didnt have any kind of film over them

i have an 04. when i did mine last summer i sanded then with 800 grit to get all that shiz off (which is a clearcoat). then i sanded with 2000 and clear coated. i also tinted the flat section on the top and the side where the reflector is. buffed it out. even after you get rid of the factory clear there is still hairline cracks that you wont be able to get rid of. if you want perfect headlight you will have to get good used ones or new.

Grand Prixs Of North America • View topic - Hardcore Headlight Restoration

No problem!

Only if you retrofit http://www.grandprixforums.net/04-sp...hem-39939.html

Originally Posted by speedy2

I prefer OEM ones anyway. I think all of the projector ones are hideous.

Didn't mean to hijack your post and if I was driving our GTP I'd probably stick with the OEM lights too. My son drives the car and thinks the LED's and the halo's look cool (which they sorta do) But it was a pain in the ass to wire the LED's and secure the lights so they would not bounce. Plus we had to silicone the damn things so they would not get condensation inside. You would think they could seal the things from the factory!?!? I have to say that the projectors do put out decent light though... more than the OEM bulbs at least. My 2010 GMC has factory projectors and I'd say the Spec-D's light up the road almost as much.

Make sure to post after pics when you are done

That looks great man! Believe it or not, I have never sanded anything. Cosmetic work has always spooked me. I'm afraid I will mess it up and it will look worse than it did before.

Nice job! Use 2000 grit wet sand paper in between coats

dang, i wish mine turned out that good. i failed my restore and ended up painting the top and sides black and made "eyebrows" lol

I restored my 99's headlights, thankfully my new 05 doesnt have that problem.. i see a few spots on mine but nothing bad.. you did a good job there!

i used 800, 1500, 2000
2000 between coats of clear. Make sure you use temp resistant clear. Or they will bubble. Mine looked freaking awesome but now they have bubbles because I used a crappy clear coat.