@@tyronevaughn8787no never polish only last less than a year.. clear spray coating last 4 till 5 years im going into round 2 with mine. Or buy new headlights the could last 10 years mayby 15
This is not how you do it. You don’t use 2K clearcoat for your headlights. This ultimately will cause spider cracking overtime especially when done improperly companies make product specifically for headlight restoration and 2K clearcoat is not one of them.
@@FlyWithTyyglad someone said it. It turns into aligator skin after a while. Then when you restore it the correct way you have to remove a shitload of plastic and it will take 5x longer to do it. Also, the way light refracts through it is not the same as true headlight clear. It might look clear but your beam isnt projecting the same as headlight clear. Its way too hard for headlights. Also doesnt have the same uv resistence.
Or you can just use an angle grinder with buffing wheel and Mothers mag and aluminum polish.. Take 5 minutes. But if a light is really bad with deep oxidation this technique is definitely best
If it's your own car then do what you want, but if it's a customer then old lights mean broken clips ,loose wires and shook bulbs..you don't know what your talking about..you should learn from this video...
Hey man just wanna say thank you. I'm no stranger to detailing/headlight restoration using sanding to 2500 grit and then polishing/sealing. I picked up some OEM bi-xenons for my car to retrofit and they were awful. I followed your steps and took the plunge with a can of (expensive!!!) 2k headlight clearcoat from Spraymax and followed exactly how you did it. I have one or two dirt spots but that's it, otherwise the headlights look crystal clear and way better than I was expecting. Thanks again for giving me the confidence to do this!
Hey instead of the 2k why didn’t you Cerakote coating or Griots headlight coating? I use it a lot and I have prof that it’s so far lasting me 2 years. I’m a detailer as well and I offer headlights restoration services for my customers and I use Cerakote headlight coating and that thing is Amazing. It’s cheaper than 2k for sure and if I remember correctly once you break that bottom seal you have a day to use that whole can or it will just harden in the can.
Finally someone who properly repairs headlights that will last years and years insstead of rubbing some cheap wax or coating claiming it will “protect”. Well done
Headlights have been plastic for only 25 years lol and uv coated at the factory when produced. I’m just replicating the factory coating as best as I can. Polishing only improves the look and leads to permanent damage to the lens
Hey my friend! I LOVE this video and the outcome of the headlights! I would like to try it on my 2008 E60! I saw the price of the sandpaper you used and it’s expensive lol! Can the 3M wetordry sandpaper be used in comparison to the 3M wetordry abrasive sheet?
AMAZING! BEAUTIFUL! EXCELLENT VIDEO! OUTSTANDING VIDEO EDITING! THANK YOU! Oh, use black cartridge's on the respirator for chemical vapors, as you were using a dust filter.
Take a can, fill it with nail polish remover 100% Acetone.. put a hose in the can. Heat the can with a torch and point the hose end towards the headlights, they’ll look brand new in 5 min.
I see your in prospect. I'm I'm new haven and I would like you to detail my car inside and out asap. I'll hit you up soon bro. I love your work hands down
I sanded mine from 400 to 2500 them used a cerakote kit as well as resealed the housing. Because new ones cost 600 for each side on a 1999 mercury cougar v6.
the sanding process of 400 only is needed if you have all the deep scars/scratches if not you can even start out at 800 grit. There is no need to do extra sanding IMHO.
@dannytrinh07 I had deep scarring from uv so it was needed before clearing them with 1k clear to fill in the gaps and cracks. Then I sanded it down to an even coating between the gaps and cracks to be flush with the surface and then used the kit which has 2 wipes. I used both of them spaced 30 minutes drying time between coats.
my only question is in between the 1st and 2nd coat wouldn't contaminates in the air stick to it? I've only ever buffed my headlights it does the same thing
That’s a great question! This is the reason why I tack before each coat! Dust or debris can only land on the headlight after the 2nd coat and if that happens you can always wet sand and polish it out
Why do I get these headlight repair videos when I just got my headlights glass changed a couple days ago because it was to dirty and the dirt wasn’t coming off??? HOW DOES RUclips KNOW THIS
Out of interest how long does this last for? I normally wet sand, polish then ceramic coat them. I was wondering if you could do the same after this and make it invincible 🤔😂
Not the worst idea for the diy at home but for a business owner it’s a no go for sure. Too many things can go wrong lol not to mention many cars require removal of the front bumper to access the assembly
it can't be like that because in the winter, when everything freezes and you turn on the light, the plastic expands much faster than the varnish due to the heat of the light bulb and it cracks, this is only a temporary solution, it's better if you sanded it to 2000, then sanded it with a machine to 3000 and polished it
Should make peal off layers.. it’s a safety hazard for real. Should be laws past and better design where they get ugly peel the later off.. like nascar windshields.
Somebody is going to become rich when they start manufacturing aftermarket glass headlight lenses for all kinds of makes and models of vehicles. You can only restore// sand the plastic so many times, then youll be forced to buy new ones
Honestly if you restore with my method you should be able to get 3-6 years out of them. Should be no issues even if you have to restore them again in the future
As a service you should definitely not remove the headlights at all but if it’s your personal car and the headlights come off easy, it’s not the worst idea lol I prefer masking all the time tho
I’ve done this thousands of times and never seen that. It seems like it was either a defective can, it was applied in weather that was too humid or it was applied too thick
Thanks and one can can do up to 3 sets of headlights in one day. For best results, use the can only for the first 10 hours. After that it will start acting up lol
Depending on the modell its not that easy to take off the headlights. This way you dont need to take it off. Masking takes 2 Minutes of time without any risk to scratch something.
yeah some cars you got to remove the whole front bumper to get to them. If that were that case I would assume he would charge more for that. I know I would.
It all depends on the car I’m working on. For German cars 220-400 is usually the starting point. You can start at 600 for some softer german headlights
@@modernvehiclecare hahaha its not to be mean or anything, it's just that I know it's mandatory in the US. In Europe we don't have them like that. It's all transparent. Only the light itself has to be amber.
Thanks for all the love as always!! Here is a link to all the products I used in this video! www.amazon.com/shop/modernvehiclecare
Cars stand out as a hobby. There are many inconspicuous madmen.
I'm confused I thought after sanding u are supposed to compound and then polish
@@tyronevaughn8787no never polish only last less than a year.. clear spray coating last 4 till 5 years im going into round 2 with mine. Or buy new headlights the could last 10 years mayby 15
Is it the same spray from the first to the end?
@@Kioscetak yes
Damn I should’ve watched this before spraying mosquito repellent on my lights
🤣🤣
I pissed on mine and sanded my own piss so I definitely did worse than you😂. The acid didn't work.😂
Buy a sylvania headlight restoration kit
@@YellowDohor do the restoration the right way
Off spray worked perfectly fine for mine
Kids, this is how it should be done. This video is a rare gem amongst the crap that is out there.
Thank you! 🫡
indeed so glad to see someone actually masking the rest of the car
This is not how you do it. You don’t use 2K clearcoat for your headlights. This ultimately will cause spider cracking overtime especially when done improperly companies make product specifically for headlight restoration and 2K clearcoat is not one of them.
@@FlyWithTyy I was thinking more about the technique than materials. You can use whatever you like or is avaliable, basics stay the same.
@@FlyWithTyyglad someone said it. It turns into aligator skin after a while. Then when you restore it the correct way you have to remove a shitload of plastic and it will take 5x longer to do it. Also, the way light refracts through it is not the same as true headlight clear. It might look clear but your beam isnt projecting the same as headlight clear. Its way too hard for headlights. Also doesnt have the same uv resistence.
First video I've seen it done right
Thanks bro!
yes for a marketing video xD
Or you can just use an angle grinder with buffing wheel and Mothers mag and aluminum polish.. Take 5 minutes. But if a light is really bad with deep oxidation this technique is definitely best
Done it right is to take it out of a vehicle first
If it's your own car then do what you want, but if it's a customer then old lights mean broken clips ,loose wires and shook bulbs..you don't know what your talking about..you should learn from this video...
Hey man just wanna say thank you. I'm no stranger to detailing/headlight restoration using sanding to 2500 grit and then polishing/sealing. I picked up some OEM bi-xenons for my car to retrofit and they were awful. I followed your steps and took the plunge with a can of (expensive!!!) 2k headlight clearcoat from Spraymax and followed exactly how you did it. I have one or two dirt spots but that's it, otherwise the headlights look crystal clear and way better than I was expecting. Thanks again for giving me the confidence to do this!
I’m glad to hear that bro!!
@@modernvehiclecare ...What does the *_Track_* step mean ?
How is it holding? Fading?
@@franciscomachado852 seems ok, however they weren't installed onto a car for a bit so not a real test. But see no reason they would fade etc :)
Hey instead of the 2k why didn’t you Cerakote coating or Griots headlight coating? I use it a lot and I have prof that it’s so far lasting me 2 years. I’m a detailer as well and I offer headlights restoration services for my customers and I use Cerakote headlight coating and that thing is Amazing. It’s cheaper than 2k for sure and if I remember correctly once you break that bottom seal you have a day to use that whole can or it will just harden in the can.
We need them to start using glass again.
Imagine that lol
Yeah, never had to worry about that with my old camry, spent a decade under the sun in one of the harshest UV countries in the world.
Or base plastic with a glass coating maybe since they dumbed glass for cost and safety reasons not to mention environmental ones.
@@ermias75ermis2glass is the most environmently friendly material ever. Plastic is not.
So they can shatter?
Not sure what clear this is but it's the correct process and 2k clear will last years.
About 2 years in the desert sun. Substantially longer than 2 weeks with the average buffer job
What is “tack”?
@@user-qf6ut4cz9s tack cloth is a paint prep cloth to remove fine particles.
@@user-qf6ut4cz9s tack cloth
@@user-qf6ut4cz9sIt's a tack cloth. It picks up dust and debris from the surface.
Im a professional head light cleaner but you jus helped me improve !
Glad I could help!!
Honda… what do you charge?
@@MikeHensley-sc3ns i charge 20 $ full service just to help out the car community @losangelesheadlightrestoration
ur a professional head light cleaner? lmao i have never heard of more fake job title grow up kid likes wont get u famous
Finally someone who properly repairs headlights that will last years and years insstead of rubbing some cheap wax or coating claiming it will “protect”. Well done
Thanks I appreciate it!
Very well done. Other folks are not nearly as neat and clean - and careful - as you were. Great vid
I appreciate it Phil!
First video I've seen with a proper prep work. Looks good man.
Thanks bro!
2K is wonderful. Made my headlights good as new
wow... I'm amazed.
simple step-by-step guide
thank you
You’re welcome!!
Finally, not a video that shows them using 3000grit and toothpaste to finish it. Thank you.
Haha you’re welcome!
@@modernvehiclecarewhen you’re sanding are you just using water?
@@dvd541he’s using a wet/dry sand paper, so yes
@@Brycepsurferbecause some people use soapy water
What's wrong with 3000 grit
Лак уже сто лет не наносят на фары. Глубокая полировка и Поллеуритан
Headlights have been plastic for only 25 years lol and uv coated at the factory when produced. I’m just replicating the factory coating as best as I can. Polishing only improves the look and leads to permanent damage to the lens
I need to start offering this to my customers.
You do!
That's great. If it's not too hard, I usually remove the headlights rather than all the masking.
Thanks!
Excellent !! I’ve been doing that for years and people call me crasy
Thanks bro! Only crazy people are capable of changing the world
@@modernvehiclecare but a better tomorrow 🫡
@@modernvehiclecareand not necessarily for the good😳
The most useful video 👏
Glad you think so!
How long does it take to dry before you can drive it out the shop? About to do some lights now
A few hours to dry, 24 hr full cure. IR lamp will dry it fast
Wtf .... How simply amazing.
🫡
got the wind going the right way in this one love to see it
Is it special clear 2k with hardener in it or the cheaper clear? Looks great!! What do you get for a restoration?
2k clear with a hardener. Thanks, I have pricing on my website!
Good work!😊
Thanks!
Hey my friend! I LOVE this video and the outcome of the headlights! I would like to try it on my 2008 E60! I saw the price of the sandpaper you used and it’s expensive lol! Can the 3M wetordry sandpaper be used in comparison to the 3M wetordry abrasive sheet?
Hey thanks you!! Yes any 3m wet or dry will work just fine!
Makes it look so easy
lol thanks
AMAZING!
BEAUTIFUL!
EXCELLENT VIDEO!
OUTSTANDING VIDEO EDITING!
THANK YOU!
Oh, use black cartridge's on the respirator for chemical vapors, as you were using a dust filter.
Thank you!! I appreciate it!
YESSSSS!! Finally. I see a real professional job done. Great work brother
I appreciate it bro 🤝
Try a few applications of T-Cut, works just as well without the faff and ongoing maintenance issues.
That’s just a polish. No uv or rock chip protection
Well done nice job!!
Thanks I appreciate it!
This works. My son did that.
Nice!
And this kids,
Is how a professional works.
Thank you!
@@modernvehiclecareCredit where credit is due brother, Attention to detail is 💯 they look brand new! Keep up the good work. 🤝
They weren't even foggy to begin with 😂
Watch it again 😂
Are you mentally stable ?
Made that look easy wow hahahaha
Lol thanks bro
How long do you wait between clear coats? Is it just one light coat and one heavy coat?
10 min and yes
I've had my truck and head light lens still look as good as day truck was brand-new. All I do is wax them couple times a year and they look perfect👍.
That’s awesome! Most people don’t take care of their car like that! Lol
I'm pretty OCD with my truck 👍. My wife calls it obsessed lol.
My car is 16 year old and headlight look brand new haven't done anything to them. 125k miles driven.
@@mr.wizeguy8995 keep in garage?
@@dimav975 Under the open sky but we don't have extreme hot summer here so it for sure help.
Finally! This is the right one. Meanwhile most people are using wax after sanding
🫡
My head light buff with a heavy compound hasn’t failed once. Ima mobile detailer. I get the same results.
Polishing is cool lol I do it sometimes as well but 2k clear coat offers uv and rock chip protection
Some PPF and then ceramic coat would be a plut too
Wouldn’t hurt but just a bit overkill lol
What are the brands you recommend for someone barley starting
Check my Amazon link for all products I recommend!
This is the same model car I have i believe and this is perfect
Thanks!
hey man what do you use while sanding is it just soapy water ?
Just water no soap
Clean worker , i like that really
Thank you!
Looks good, works good, is nearly like now but less expensive... and this is maybe the reason why it is forbidden in germany :D
Thanks and yes perhaps! Lol
Take a can, fill it with nail polish remover 100% Acetone.. put a hose in the can. Heat the can with a torch and point the hose end towards the headlights, they’ll look brand new in 5 min.
It’s similar to the polishing method. No uv or rock chip protection
Bro you a beast!!!
My guy 🫡
I see your in prospect. I'm I'm new haven and I would like you to detail my car inside and out asap. I'll hit you up soon bro. I love your work hands down
Awesome work
Thank you
And just curious how much would you typically charge for a service like this
I have pricing on my website!
I sanded mine from 400 to 2500 them used a cerakote kit as well as resealed the housing. Because new ones cost 600 for each side on a 1999 mercury cougar v6.
the sanding process of 400 only is needed if you have all the deep scars/scratches if not you can even start out at 800 grit. There is no need to do extra sanding IMHO.
@dannytrinh07 I had deep scarring from uv so it was needed before clearing them with 1k clear to fill in the gaps and cracks. Then I sanded it down to an even coating between the gaps and cracks to be flush with the surface and then used the kit which has 2 wipes. I used both of them spaced 30 minutes drying time between coats.
Very nice. I like how you use a full face mask
Thanks, i appreciate it!
I'm amazed! how did you fix the turn signal ?
a synthetic blinker fluid with some special additives ?
😂
800 > 1500 > 2500 compound polish the same some times better.
Polish gives you a temporary effect only, cause the clearcoat is already fucked up or even missing and needs to be replaced completely.
Polishing is another method that I also use once in a while. It works but not as good as clear coating
Can you clear coat after polishing or will the clear coat not adhere correctly?
All manufacturers should have lights with easily replaceable lenses like BMW did years ago.
I agree but unfortunately I don’t think it will ever happen
Does BMW still does it?
i use high shine polishing paste as finish, 2 times with the polish machine, 1 slow then 2nd hand fast, gives them a nice protection coat and shine.
Polishing is cool but clear coating lasts way longer
Me with my 95 Firebird watching this🙂
Enjoy the glass while you can 😆
The whole light comes out lol I can’t change just the bulb unfortunately:(
The secret is the hoody.
No doubt 🤣
Use plastic primer first to prevent flaking in the future
Plastic primes is just not meant for clear polycarbonate since they all carry color pigments
Good job
Thanks
5m$ project outsourced to random coding university student. Thats similar energy right there
Lol bro what 🤣
hey bud , how many cans do i need for 4 parts of the headlights? is 1 enough?
Hey yes 1 can will do 2-3 sets of headlights
What is tack ? And what does it do ?
It’s the use of a tack cloth to pick up dust that would otherwise get trapped under the clear coat
my only question is in between the 1st and 2nd coat wouldn't contaminates in the air stick to it? I've only ever buffed my headlights it does the same thing
That’s a great question! This is the reason why I tack before each coat! Dust or debris can only land on the headlight after the 2nd coat and if that happens you can always wet sand and polish it out
In the grand scheme of things a few specks of dust isn't going to hurt your headlamps and their function.
Is it okay to polish the headlight before spraying clear coat?
No its not, the clear coat needs a rough surface for it to bond properly
You should cover the full car before applying clear coat, cause its very volatile and finish on the car painting, glass, wheels, everywhere
If the car is clean I usually do
Cool! 😍 what is that you use for tacking?
Tack is ???
Thanks bro! Tack cloth, the link is pinned on the comment section
Good work.
Just you should mention the lacquer spray goes EVERYWHERE haha. So be mindful of other vehicles near by :)
Thanks and yes it’s best to mask the car up carefully and be aware of surroundings when painting!
Good that you warn about 2k clear, it is nasty stuff.
Yes it is lol I had to
Can you explain the reasoning behind ”light coat” - ”tack” - ”heavy coat”?
Light coat will help the heavy coat bond better. Tack in between to keep dust at a minimum
@@modernvehiclecare what is tack
@jimbrannlund4677 @@jevinfitzgerald4889just wiping a tack cloth across it as a “clean wipe” for the heavy coat
Why do I get these headlight repair videos when I just got my headlights glass changed a couple days ago because it was to dirty and the dirt wasn’t coming off???
HOW DOES RUclips KNOW THIS
They hear you 😂
@@modernvehiclecare Probably
i’ve seen people use the same method and get orange peel, how do you avoid that?
Warm can and close/correct spray pattern
Nice job bro 🫡
Thank you bro 🫡
Out of interest how long does this last for? I normally wet sand, polish then ceramic coat them. I was wondering if you could do the same after this and make it invincible 🤔😂
Yes ceramic on top of the 2k will help but the 2k needs to be fully cured first
Do you tack immediately after spraying?
No, wait 10 minutes before tacking
Thoughts on removing lights instead of masking/covering surrounding panels?
Not the worst idea for the diy at home but for a business owner it’s a no go for sure. Too many things can go wrong lol not to mention many cars require removal of the front bumper to access the assembly
@@modernvehiclecareNot only that, but now you need yo charge the customer more.
it can't be like that because in the winter, when everything freezes and you turn on the light, the plastic expands much faster than the varnish due to the heat of the light bulb and it cracks, this is only a temporary solution, it's better if you sanded it to 2000, then sanded it with a machine to 3000 and polished it
Maybe with cheap clear coat but not 2K. Polishing is a good way make headlights look better but with that there is no uv protection
It will not crack in the winter
Then by your logic we should expect all the paint on plastic parts to peel. Bumpers? You lnow they are also plastic right?
How much does this cost? With time and materials compared to just buying new lenses
I have pricing on my website. It depends on the car but usually restoring is way more affordable compared to replacing
about 80-110 dollars
took me about 30 minutes but that because i buffed them out by hand
what is tacking?? really want to give this a go
The use of a tack cloth to pick up dust that would otherwise get trapped underneath the clear coat
@@modernvehiclecare thank you!
Should make peal off layers.. it’s a safety hazard for real. Should be laws past and better design where they get ugly peel the later off.. like nascar windshields.
I have honestly thought of the same thing before!! New cars should come with factory Ppf on all headlights!!!
@modernvehiclecare my mom's car had ppf on it that was old and dried out and flaking. It took forever to get that stuff off the lights.
W końcu ktoś pokazuje, naprawdę profesjonalną robotę. A nie co pół roku polerować lampy...
Thank you!
Somebody is going to become rich when they start manufacturing aftermarket glass headlight lenses for all kinds of makes and models of vehicles. You can only restore// sand the plastic so many times, then youll be forced to buy new ones
Honestly if you restore with my method you should be able to get 3-6 years out of them. Should be no issues even if you have to restore them again in the future
That is not so true because you're sanding very very very little
Yeah kids. WD-40 got nothing on this
🫡
Question: Why you did not use grid 3,000 after the 1,000?
That’s only for the polishing method. You shouldn’t sand any finer than 800-1000 if clear coating
How much do you charge for this service???
I have pricing on my website!
I’m so glad I have glass headlights.
my 04 volvo has glass headlights but theyre full of rockchips lol
That’s the only downside of glass headlights lol can’t fix the rock chip damage
in germany we say hält von 12 bis mittag. You need a vaporizer.
What grit would you start at on a Lexus (3)GS 460?
600
genuine question as someone new in the car scene, is it easier to remove the headlight to avoid all the masking?
On most cars it's a pain.
As a service you should definitely not remove the headlights at all but if it’s your personal car and the headlights come off easy, it’s not the worst idea lol I prefer masking all the time tho
Nice way to clean your lights bro,been liking for a tip
Thanks bro!
Is it necessary to polish before the 2k spray?
No polishing, just wet sand and clear coat
Tried this on my Civic 2009😢
The 2K reacted with the plastic and ended up replacing the whole goddamned unit.
I’ve done this thousands of times and never seen that. It seems like it was either a defective can, it was applied in weather that was too humid or it was applied too thick
Do you per 1 can of 2k clear per job, since I researched that the shelf life is only 2 days? Love the videos
Thanks and one can can do up to 3 sets of headlights in one day. For best results, use the can only for the first 10 hours. After that it will start acting up lol
if you have those cheap led solar lights, you can clear the solar panels at the same time. Or do your tail lights, signals as well.
Most genuine video on youtube, tried and got amazing results ❤
That’s awesome!
First time I've seen it done professionally and not with quick hacks
Thank you!
Quick hack of the day, use bug off or toothpaste 😂 jk don’t do that
When you can take off car headlights and carefully polish it on the table...
Depending on the modell its not that easy to take off the headlights. This way you dont need to take it off. Masking takes 2 Minutes of time without any risk to scratch something.
Too many reasons my friend lol
yeah some cars you got to remove the whole front bumper to get to them. If that were that case I would assume he would charge more for that. I know I would.
I’ve never seen you use 400 grit for restoring headlights in your previous videos. How come you use it now?
It all depends on the car I’m working on. For German cars 220-400 is usually the starting point. You can start at 600 for some softer german headlights
@@modernvehiclecare interesting. Thanks!
Better replace them because they won't last. But good job restoring them to the best it can be done
Lol thanks man, it lasts 3-6 years on average
@@modernvehiclecareyeah but he wants 7 yrs
what does tack mean in between the 2 coats?
It’s the use of a tack cloth to pick up dust that would otherwise get trapped under the clear coat
@@modernvehiclecare thx bruv
How do you clean the insides?
Not worth the hassle in most cases. Look for used replacements on eBay or local scrap yards
How long does this last?
3-6 years depending on the amount of sunlight the vehicle is exposed to
Great work. That ugly orange reflector tells me that is a North American car.
lol yes it is
@@modernvehiclecare hahaha its not to be mean or anything, it's just that I know it's mandatory in the US. In Europe we don't have them like that. It's all transparent. Only the light itself has to be amber.