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Old 01-25-2010, 01:56 PM   #1
CoolRex
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Vehicle:
2002 E46 M3
2006 RC51

Default 3M Headlight Restore kit....it freaking works

I've used Meguiars Plastix in the past and it worked ok but never to satisfaction.

So I found the 3M kit everyone talked about and bought it for $15.

3M Headlight restore kit. WORKS!

Before: Mine were a LOT yellower as this pic is almost a year old. The Passenger side was a lot worse and almost had a green hue to it.


Passenger light fixed...
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Old 01-25-2010, 02:05 PM   #2
trex616
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Member#: 132365
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Tampa, Fl
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'02 WRX
EPL B5 S4 & B6 USP

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Hmm, Ive used the Meguires product myself and results were so-so. Definitely an improvement, but I might have to check this out. Looks great, and sweet retrofit.
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Old 01-25-2010, 02:07 PM   #3
CoolRex
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Yes this will freak you out at first but it sands out the crap. 4 steps of sanding/polishing.

All you need is a drill (used my Craftsman cordless), painters tape, and a spray bottle of water. 30 mins to 1 hour and you are done. So easy.
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Old 01-25-2010, 03:06 PM   #4
dub c
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I f'd mine up.
I wanted to get every single gash out so i used like 500 first then i took so much time wet sanding the rest with like 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500. Then I bought some 3M cut and polished them but they are hazier then when I started .
I've tried redoing them but they didn't come out much better.
Anybody wanna offer me some guidance?

CoolRex, what did you use on the end of your drill? what?
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Old 01-25-2010, 03:10 PM   #5
CoolRex
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I used the thing the 3M kit came with. You must have used regular sandpaper.....the 3M kit comes with EVERYTHING minus the drill, tape, and water.
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Old 01-25-2010, 03:21 PM   #6
dub c
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Ah I bought another name brand kit...It uses wet sandpaper but you have to sand by hand

So even though I used non-wet 500 grit can I still fix them?
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Old 01-25-2010, 03:33 PM   #7
CoolRex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dub c View Post
Ah I bought another name brand kit...It uses wet sandpaper but you have to sand by hand

So even though I used non-wet 500 grit can I still fix them?
Yeah you should be able to. The 3M kit uses a drill so the movement is faster. Try it. It's only $15.
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Old 01-25-2010, 04:16 PM   #8
King of Poop
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Where can I get some cake

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Quote:
Originally Posted by dub c View Post
Ah I bought another name brand kit...It uses wet sandpaper but you have to sand by hand

So even though I used non-wet 500 grit can I still fix them?

rubbing compound and a buffer...make sure to tape off all surrounding paint and have experiance with a buffer
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Old 01-25-2010, 04:25 PM   #9
dub c
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Yeah I got a big bottle of 3M cut...So I just keep buffing and keep putting the cut/polish on until its crystal clear?
By buffer...I can use any ordinary orbital buffer right?
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Old 01-25-2010, 07:16 PM   #10
REVNU
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^^
Orbital buffer will work fine. I used my Meguiars G110 to polish out my headlights and it works great. Just make sure it uses small pads. I used 4" pads on mine.
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Old 01-25-2010, 08:16 PM   #11
Simes
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
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2002 STi w/'07 body
Black

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Only thing is that you cannot create too much heat when you buff. If you do, the plastic will irrepairably haze from the inside. I believe there is some kind of anti reflectivity coating on the inside of the headlight, and it doesn't like too much heat.
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