Reflections Detailing - OPC Headlight Restore

[lambchop]

My Mate Danny contacted me in connection with his headlights and wanted to know if i could being them back to life. I thought id take this on as a bit of a challenge as Ive never done a headlight restore.

I must say this was a bit of a ball ache to say the least and very time consuming to ensure the finish was correctly done.

The headlights were treated with 1000 - 1500 -2500 -3000 and machine polished for clarity

Before.





After


Before


After




i also did an engine bay clean as it was a bit grubby and needed a wash
The engine was dressed with Auto Finesse Dressle

Revive in action



Afters

 

[MariusH]

looks good :thumbs:

 

[Peter@AEW]

What is this "dressle" you speak of?

 

[sash]

nice work nick

 

[lambchop]

What is this "dressle" you speak of?

Ooph. This stuff is amazing Peter
Its a brilliant product from Auto Finesse

http://www.autofinesse.co.uk/dressle/

 

[MikeR]

:thumbs:

 

[herr bmw]

looks good

 

[Jakkals_F30]

Very very nice... :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

[WyKiD]

Great result!

I know restorations like this is common practice, tons of online info. There is also mention of UV protection being removed by this process which leads to the return of the dullness and in some cases it happens at an accellarated rate.

Is this fact?

My E39's lights would benefit from a restore but just been apprehensive...

 

[lambchop]

Great result!

I know restorations like this is common practice, tons of online info. There is also mention of UV protection being removed by this process which leads to the return of the dullness and in some cases it happens at an accellarated rate.

Is this fact?

My E39's lights would benefit from a restore but just been apprehensive...

Well let me ask you this. Your headlights are +- 10 years old full of sand blasting and exposed to UV rays on a daily basis? If "Yes" to any of those questions then basically your headlights are already exposed and the UV protection has been compromised

To be honest you have nothing to lose and would give it a go if I was you. But be warned its not as easy as it looks. Its a very tricky but its not impossible

Good luck

 

[MariusH]

What if you put some of that clear protective wrapping on top after restoring it to protect it? Think that will work?

 

[lambchop]

What if you put some of that clear protective wrapping on top after restoring it to protect it? Think that will work?

could do

 

[Henry330i]

Looks better than new. Well done

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[KSINGH]

I used glassy lite kit. Comes with new glass paste.

Where did you find 3000 grit? The kit only had a small piece.

 

[lambchop]

I used glassy lite kit. Comes with new glass paste.

Where did you find 3000 grit? The kit only had a small piece.

Got it from one of my detailing connections
Its a meguiars pad. But they expensive

Was that the final product on the right ?

 

[Dippies]

Look really good.

 

[KSINGH]

I used glassy lite kit. Comes with new glass paste.

Where did you find 3000 grit? The kit only had a small piece.

Got it from one of my detailing connections
Its a meguiars pad. But they expensive

Was that the final product on the right ?

Yes. Did head light too.

Before

After