taylorgang

iTrader: (5)

Okay... so I've been wanting to touch up on my headlights for a while now. My headlights are a little dirty so first I'd like to clean up the lens...

here are my headlights :


CLOSE UP



at one point one even looked like this :


^ That was when I tried to clean it using Mother's headlight restoration kit... too much polishhh!! The drivers side headlight is fine, it's the passengers side that I need to touch up on

Anyway... I want my headlights to look like this :



my steps would look like this (obviously the top corner would still be amber) :

1. Remove the headlight
2. Restore the lens (if anybody has any advice on how to make the lens look nice, please let me know!
3. Bake the headlight so that the housing comes off.
4. Remove the housing and sand off the chrome
5. Paint the housing matte black
6. Paint the bottom corner of the lens (a very helpful member on these forums told me to use 1 part generic orange mixed with 5 parts clear coat)



If anybody has any advice/help PLEASE pm me or post in the thread
I've been waiting to do this for a while but I've never done any sanding/painting and I want it to turn out nice so I need all the help I can get! Thanks

m4tt VIII

iTrader: (32)

I just redid my headlights. As long as you take your time you will be fine. Be patient in taking apart the headlights after baking and do not rush to get them apart, slowly work around the entire headlight before pulling it apart. As for the sanding and painting, make sure you sand all of the chrome and spray painting is pretty easy. Hold the can horizontal when you spray and use light coats. PM me if you have any other questions.

iEvoVII

iTrader: (2)

1) dont even worry about sanding the chrome. Just paint straight over... The inside of the headlight is not exposed to the elements do youll be fine. JDM VIIIMR headlights have the matte black painted straight over the chrome as well..
How do I know? Coz I bought a brand a brand new set 3 years ago, opened it up, left it exposed to the atmosphere for 2.5 years, now the matte black has flaked in some parts exposing the chrome

2) only paint you need to used is (FINAL LOOK):
VHT prime coat SP305 "Satin Black
http://dbrhighperformance.com/cart_n...s-vhtsp305.jpg

^^ gives 95% smooth finish as OEM VIIIMR matte black... This stuff is awesome... You couldn't give it the "Over spray" look even if you tried.. This stuff just evens out so well...

Check out my sig... I don't mess around

taylorgang

iTrader: (5)

So all I need to paint the housings is this? :

http://www.amazon.com/VHT-SP305-Sand.../dp/B000CPAVCK

Thanks for the replies, if anyone has anymore advice I'd appreciate it!

iEvoVII

iTrader: (2)

^^ Yep, VHT Satin Black primer as the final finish

sujinX

iTrader: (22)

i just painted my headlights and did the lens. doing the headlights i just used the vht satin black and painted straight over the chrome. as for the lens. they were wet sanded. using 400/600/800/1000/ 1500 and 2000 grit sand paper. now they are clear and clean as ever. you HAVE to take your time on doing both. especially sanding because if you skimp out, the end results will suck. after the 2000 grit, apply some rubbing compound the wax it.

BLK_EvIL

iTrader: (7)

I used the mitsubishi headlight restoration kit got it off ebay like 25 bucks. By far the best restoration kit iv used i tryed the mothers kit and it started to look like crap after a couple weeks.Made my lights 100% better.

iEvoVII

iTrader: (2)

^^ post some pix...

Starting off with 400 grade sand paper may not be everyone's situation. It'll depend how deep the scratches are.. If you're using 400 grade then you must have some deep scratches. I'm sure you could get away 800.. I wouldn't like to be using 400 on my lenses...

MaD_CaNaBiCe

iTrader: (2)

so how would you get the amber look like the jdm ones?

BLK_EvIL

iTrader: (7)

A few pics after the mitsubishi headlight restoration kit wish i had some before they were really bad. Car has 105k its a 03' i painted the housings about 2years ago and restored them like a month ago.Sorry pics kinda suck