How to Protect Your Headlights LONG TERM | No Yellowing!
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- Опубликовано: 9 янв 2022
- No more spraying on clear coats! Learn why it's best to use a clear film to protect your headlights.
Felt Squeegee Kit:
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Xpel Ultimate Plus PPF:
www.xpel.com/products/paint-p...
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Disclaimer:
Windows Down is not responsible for any damage or injury caused by the information contained in this video. Follow all directions and precautions outlined by the manufacturer. No particular result is guaranteed as the result of following the steps outlined in this video. Windows Down is not affiliated in any way with XPEL, Inc.
See XPEL's documentation regarding warranties and guarantees. www.xpel.com/warranty-informa.... Windows Down is not responsible or associated with any warranty or guarantees of the product. Note at the time of writing, XPEL may not cover any warranties for DIY or non-professional installations. 
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This is the best way! We've been doing PPF on our customer's cars for a few years now after headlight restorations and it works absolute wonders!
Great vid. So many YTB'rs don't get beginner tutorial. This is the first vid I have found that gives the slip solution formula and gave clear expectations of process. Good vid bruh
Awesome, thank you. Love the Z too...nice seeing one still on the road! Had a 1978 as my very first car... Geez that was a long time ago ! Loved that straight 6 engine.
Impressive video, both production quality and the info! Perfectly paced
Thanks glad it was helpful!
I keep telling people to use XPEL, not only does it last longer than 2K clear, it protects against impacts and it is self healing, any light impact or scratch can be reversed by pouring hot water over the film, it is also optically clearer, clear coat has that orange peel effect that you can correct after, but that’s another 2-3 steps of sanding, compounding, polishing again, plus you’re thinning out the clear by doing that pretty much shortening it’s life, like you said, the film is way thicker than any clear, so there’s no comparison. For some vehicles they already have the precut kits, you literally don’t have to do any cutting. 2K clear is a hassle, if it fails then you have to completely sand it off and do it all over again, sometimes they applied it so thick that you have to sand down to 240 grit to truly remove it all and then work your way back up. With the film you can just peel it off, give the light a quick polish and re apply the film again. There’s a shop by my house here in SoCal that offers a headlight restoration service using XPEL as the protection, they offer a 10 year warranty on the job for around $180-$200, it’s a no brainer to go that route.
Thanks for the feedback! Yeah, there's tons of videos and DIYs saying to use a spray clear but I had to learn from experience that it just isn't the way to go
I have XPEL on my 2014 Forester's headlights. Applied it right when I bought the car. Still looks brand new.
@@1979cavsfan you made the right choice 👍🏼.
Love seeing this car being used for examples
I’m going to do this on my aftermarket headlights on my F150. Thanks for the video!
I'm so trying this! I've tried everything, even sanding and clear coating and everything yellows. Thanks for the awesome reviews!
It's holding up great for me!
Not too bad!? Bro that looks amazing. I was wondering what would be a great idea to protect my headlamps. And the whole time I was thinking clear coat. Until I watched this video. Definitely going with this method. I can understand how a wrap could last year's versus a coating
Thanks Desin5, I made the mistake of doing clear coat before. This will definitely last longer, just takes some getting used to working the film
you're hired! awesome job!
Thanks!
really great video. love the Z broooo
Gonna have to try this when I get new headlights. I’ll probably put it on before installation to make it (hopefully) a bit easier
Yeah, that may be easier if you find a good way to hold them down
Great video
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome vid I’m going to try to make my own custom lights and want them to last so I’ll try this out thanks for the tips
Best of luck on the custom headlights!
Can I use it in my poly windshield racing car?
Any update? I wonder if I can find a local vendor to put this on my headlights.
Does anyone know, I've already removed, cleaned, and wet sanded my lights.. dried overnight, and I've clear coated them (spray gloss clear enamel)... Question is, can I polish these out now with a little wax, essentially polishing the clear coat?
What happens when you take the film off?
This is the way...
hey bro, what type of bulbs did u use? did you only need 1 pair or 2 because the daytime running lights?
The OEM-sized bulbs, which is two pairs: Low beam headlamp: HID-D2R. High beam/fog combo 9003.
As I mentioned, the HID bulbs were some cheaper ones (not sure the brand) so I'm not sure if that's why they didn't fit perfectly or if the housing is to blame.
Is it protected from the sun ?
Do you every have to take it off to replace it? I wonder what that process looks like. Thanks for the video!
I think as long as you can get an edge off the headlight it will come off, potentially with some heat
I bookmarked this for future maintenance on my car. Typically I have used the sanding/polishing kits and UV clear coat, followed by wet sanding to eliminate orange peel. Effective but probably less durable than the method you demonstrated. Regardless, I stumbled on this video while searching for this exact solution but for use on a greenhouse made of plexiglass. I haven't bought a greenhouse yet, but since the sun damages everything, I want to plan ahead and come up with a solution for mitigating oxidation starting on day one. Do you know if the company that manufactures the film possibly offers much larger rolls for use on bigger structures, like a plexiglass greenhouse?
Xpel does offer much larger pieces but it is pricey, especially at larger sizes
I was thinking of removing my headlights then applying the film
Isn’t alcohol and water a tac solution?
I thought slip solutions are baby soap and water?
Where did you buy this xpel film? I'm having a hard time finding where to buy some. Their website only has precut kits
You can find it in the ultimate plus product page. I think their official "headlight film" is probably only precuts
@@windows_down_ would it be able to stretch and form around a headlight that has protruding shapes and angles? Like the Honda Civic headlight in the pic linked below? Notice the protruding parts on the face of the lens, near the left side, and a smaller part near the bottom area
www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-hms-tmobile-us&sca_esv=584193398&sxsrf=AM9HkKm4WOKzvZ5kzvZ_M8lfnaimY5fcPg:1700542894737&q=2017+civic+headlight&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjx2qn5p9SCAxVrkGoFHaSeDPgQ0pQJegQIChAB#imgrc=sv-205736032-JPHL2171-2017
When you need to remove them then there is a chance of ripping out the uv clear coat. Ome said to use steam to remove but thats still YMMV.
Thanks for the tip. I wonder if the aftermarket headlights even have a UV coat considering the condition I see most of them in after a short time
I have some scratches on my sped D headlights what’s the best way to remove them before I do the protection
Depends how deep they are. It may be best to leave them. But if they're shallow scratches you could try wet sanding and buffing them out
@@windows_down_ not deep light scratches ima do it once I get my stuff from Amazon
@@kahikiller Nice, best of luck. Once they're buffed and crystal clear, don't wait too long to protect them
@@windows_down_ will be applying a ppf layer of the headlights. Thanks for the tip tho !
I just talked to Xpel and their clear film does not block any UV Rays from the sun, Tinted some but they had no percentages but Clear none..
I wonder how everyone is saying that it works wonders. 🤔
Do they last on extreme heat from the headlight? Aren’t this melting?
bro, may i request for a long term, maybe after 1 year or less, review on your ppf on your headlight? thanks
Thanks for the idea - I don't want to promise, but I put it on the list!
How is it now?
@@windows_down_it's been a year, how about a follow up??
@@chrisvesty9299 - Still zero signs of yellowing and no issues with peeling, going strong! Parked outside 24/7 in SoCal, so lots of direct sunlight. May do a video in coming months as a quick update!
Any updates on the condition?
Still no yellowing or cracking! Looks brand new and still in southern California, not garage parked, lots of sun
How do you know that film won’t turn yellow and dull just like the headlights do?
It's designed to avoid yellowing. I'm sure after a very long time it could. But xpel warranties their product from yellowing up to 10 years (with professional install). I'm at 4 years in SoCal sun, never garaged, and have zero signs of yellowing
Bro do these survive drive thru carwashes?
How do you prep for the film if the headlights are yellowing already?
Best bet is buying one of those kits that includes sand paper and buffing pads for a drill. I have another video on using the 3m kit :) get them looking crystal then put the film on
Go with the Cerakote headlight restoration kit or the Sylvania headlight restoration kit,they both good
I’m on my second pair of spec d headlight and I absolutely hate them, second pair was free because I returned 1st pair due to condensation, 2nd pair I’ve sealed 3 times STILL got condensation. I’m going back with my 06 oem headlights after I restore them
I'm fearing the day I get condensation, luckily I'm in SoCal so not a ton of rain and moisture. How long did it usually take before moisture got in?
@@windows_down_ from day 1 on both of them
@@bobbyholmes4586 dannggg
Xpel particularly, and 3m fpr the sake of this comment, are widely ised incthe film industry. Between tint and PPF, they are pretty much as good as it gets. If you see a super car or exotic woth a clear bra or PPF installation, its most likely one of these two brands. The key to making sure they dont yellow or ruin the headlight is to remove it and reapply after only a few years (hotter climates specifically, if the vehicle is garage kept ect ect your milage may vary). Be careful with chinese knock off replacements, theycwill he finicky with their finish. My truck has had 3 replacements in 3 years but with luck this film will save them and get me more life. I have a film on my mustangs headlights ajd fog lights and it kicks ass. You can get PPF in a tinted hue too. From light to blacked out. This is not the same as a headlogut tint film. PPF is thicker so it resists chips and scratches much better. Hope this helps anybody.
Thanks for the info!
You must use clearcoat specifically designed for the head light lens not random 2k clear coats. Those lens clearcoat gives clear finish, no need for sanding, they come like brand new.
Unfortunately, many of them will only last 6-12 months. And even on the bottle, it'll often recommend you to recoat them often. This is a more long lasting solution
What about ceramic???
That may hold up for a little bit but will definitely have to reapply. And not sure how much UV it blocks, i.e. prevent yellowing
I don’t even think u have to peel film off mine is peeling by itself
How are they going?
Great so far, no chipping or yellowing. Lots of sun here too
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍
thx for sharing something you can't diy. locate dealers. Maybe get lucky and they sell you some at a nice markup
.. xpel sells direct
I' ed buy more headlights before that much $ lol IMHO
Your headlights are relatively flat, but I have a 2015 4 runner, and the headlights have peaks and valleys that probably won't cooperate with this paper.
Problem with this is when you get a chip in the film it’ll look very unsightly and then when you lift the film you’ll wreck the headlights and they’ll need redoing all over again.
Hopefully if the film comes off, a light buff is all that's needed and not going through all of the grits
Imagine removing the chip from the actual headlight itself. Paint protection film is literally made and designed to withstand most of your average rock chips.
I heard Xpel ppf yellows overtime
I hope not, will let ya know! Their marketing sure says it doesn't but we know that isn't always the truth.
That’s NOT a slip solution, it’s the wrong mixture. Slip solution is DI water with few drops of baby shampoo, tack solution is about 10% IPA, or even better, hot water. Slip solution is for installation, tack solution is for the edges, you spray on the edges to rinse out the soap and allow the film to adhere and not lift, so you don’t end up with those fingers you got on the edges, that’s the mistake you made.
Thanks for the tip!
just spray wax your lights 1 a week
True, but I'd 100% forget that most weeks lol
@inoob8772 which type and brand of wax? I put Meguiars on mine, and it yellowed them 😕