In the 7-8 years I've been on the board I don't think I have posted about a product that really worked for me.

We have a 2006 Honda Odessey, the headlights were very badly oxidized. I tried a mother's product, and another one that didn't work. I had all but given up and thought that the lens were shot. My FIL gave me 'wipe new and this product worked awesome.



The after result. I would have had a before but I didn't expect it to work. The lens aren't perfect and the Mothers product scratched the lenses but they turned out better than I thought they would.

Good to know, thanks!!

Is this a one time fix? Or how often would you need to reapply this restorer?

On a related note, I just had the front of my new work truck covered with a clear paint protecting film. They also did the headlights, and added that in addition to rock chips, the film blocks UV and prevents the lenses from discoloring.

I find that regular maintenance seems to be the best medicine for this problem.

Clean the lenses frequently to remove oxidation buildup, use a fine polish occasionally, and the lenses a little wax from time to time to seal it.

I have used Meguiar's on my sons 2010 Civic and they came out well. It will only hold up for a year, then you have to do it again. Next time I am going to put a clear coat paint when I'm done.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
They also did the headlights, and added that in addition to rock chips, the film blocks UV and prevents the lenses from discoloring.

Please update us over time and let us know how that works out. I've seen a number of films do a great job at protecting against abrasion, but I've yet to see one that did very much for protecting the headlights against UV degradation. I'm curious to see how yours works out.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I find that regular maintenance seems to be the best medicine for this problem.

Clean the lenses frequently to remove oxidation buildup, use a fine polish occasionally, and the lenses a little wax from time to time to seal it.

Excellent advice, but I'd recommend a good synthetic sealant instead of a wax to provide better protection and longevity. There are so many good ones on the market, you can pick the one you personally like best.

Good to know I had some that were really bad and used the 2M restoration kit, which worked well, followed by a sealant.

For the record, I use toothpaste and water. Makes a perfect buffing compound that cleans headlights. Leaves a refreshing aroma afterwards too. haha

I was thinking of buffing and covering with Lamin-x (https://lamin-x.com), but I may give Wipe New a quick try.

I just bought new ones for my wife's 2005 Toyota Solara. Will be quite a few years before they will be cloudy again.

I have two vehicles that have oxidized headlights. I've been hesitant to try the Wipe New, as it seemed it was too easy & too good to be true. Maybe I'll give this stuff a try.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
For the record, I use toothpaste and water. Makes a perfect buffing compound that cleans headlights. Leaves a refreshing aroma afterwards too. haha

Minty fresh headlights!!!

couple years ago had 2005 Chevy 23' RV; the light lenses were totally messed as described above.

Used some product at least similar to this stuff the OP posts, and had amazing improvement. Worked so well we sold the unit with no effort, I'm sure that stuff helped.

quote:

Originally posted by craglawnmanor:
I have two vehicles that have oxidized headlights. I've been hesitant to try the Wipe New, as it seemed it was too easy & too good to be true. Maybe I'll give this stuff a try.

The Wipe New system is essentially a really aggressive solvent. You scrub with a little abrasive pad to remove contaminants that don't react to the solvent (water spots, for example), then you wipe the solvent on. The solvent essentially just melts away the top layer of plastic, revealing shiny new plastic underneath.

Seems pretty simple, albeit a little aggressive. I prefer using a rubbing or polishing compound and removing the top layer of plastic a little less aggressively.

Wax or, better yet, sealant after is the key. It's just plastic, it will get worse all over again.

Unless you clearcoat them after polishing, they will get cloudy again with time.

I wet sand with 1000 grit, then wash, dry and clear coat. Lasts 1-2 years or more if not driven much. Costs less than 15 bucks.

I have a truck and car I need to do

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
On a related note, I just had the front of my new work truck covered with a clear paint protecting film. They also did the headlights, and added that in addition to rock chips, the film blocks UV and prevents the lenses from discoloring.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did that run you? I had my windows tinted a couple weeks ago and they were offering a similar product for the hood of the car. The quoted cost was $1800 for the entire hood.

For that price I'd rather just repaint the hood if I have to.

My 1997 Toyota Corolla...New headlight lenses were cheap enough from Amazon that I just bought all new lenses. I'm gonna say, accounting for time and effort, it was cheaper in the long-run than "restoring" the OEM lenses, which I had done once before with a 3M kit.