Headlights finally yellowing...

[DopeCelicaGT]

Well, it has taken it 8 years but my headlights are finally yellowing near the top. I guess it is most likely caused by me not washing my car 1-2 times a week like I did many years ago. In fact, in the last two years it has probably been washed 7 times. I used to love doing crap like that but not anymore. Things change when you get a house, get married, etc. etc.

Anyways I am trying to figure out what I should do here. Every single time I polish them out they look good for a day or so then they go right back to the way they were or worse. I am not completely convinced that the yellowing is not on the inside either. Anyways I can either tear them apart, clean them, and put them back together, buy some new headlights (maybe an OEM HID conversion to a newer model), or I can buy some of the new black housing lights that I see everywhere now. I just do not know how good the quality is on some of these knockoff Halo lights they have out now. What do you guys/gals think?

[v3bahumut]

I just bought myself some microfiber clothes, polishing compound, 800, 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper....so you know what my vote would be.

[breakablecookie]

I used Meguiars Headlight Restoration kit on my headlights. It was 20 bucks and comes with a micro fiber towel, Plastx polishing compound and a buffer attachment for an electric drill. After 30 minutes my headlights looked brand new and they still do 2 months after restoring them.

[DopeCelicaGT]

^^^See I have used PlastX and it doesn't really do much. I may have to go the wetsanding route. I just can't tell if the yellowing is on the outside or the inside of the lights.

[Mido]

i highly recommend going to Discount Auto Parts, they have a kit in a shiny silver ( chrome kinda look ) bag, it has the whole kit there, i used it on my headlights and it did wonders, but be ready to rub and rub and rub for at least a good hour on each headlight, but the finished product was very nice.

its around $14-$16

[breakablecookie]

When you used plastx did you use a buffer or do it by hand?

[bionictony]

an 8 year old oem headlight will yellow overtime.. try 3m polishing compound to see if it gets better. if not then try 1500 wetsand and 3m polishing compound. it depends on how badly it's yellowed. mine are 9 years old and still look okay. i have a use 3m polishing compound about every other month.

[trdmsprts27]

the headlight restoration kit mido is talking about does work but the clear coat is crap. after a year it starts to flake or peal off. best bet is to go to your local paint shop get yourself some 1500, 2000 and 2500 grit and wetsand the headlights clear again then take a buffing compound and go to town on buffing it out. by the time your done they will look like new again. maybe take about half a days worth of time.

[chrissilverceli]

i picked up a 01 eclipse for my daily driver about a year ago...headlights were in pretty bad shape (looked like i was runnin some 3k hid colored lights the output was so yellow and they were very ruff to the touch)...i picked up the headlight restore kit in the silver/chrome package that MIDO said and it worked amazing, such as looking almost new. advanced auto had it and it only took about 10minutes per light.

[v3bahumut]

Just finished up wet sanding and polishing mine today....boy what a difference.
http://newcelica.org/forums/showthread.php?t=301862

[Tokyo2006]

I bought the Meguiars Headlight Restoration kit. This stuff is magical.