Really digging Meguiar's Headlight Restoration kit

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.

 

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!

 

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!

 

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.

 

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 ?

 

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

 

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

 

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 ?.

 

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 ?.

 

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.

 

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


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

 

Your job is the most beautiful job I have seen done! Nice work!

 

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.