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I read enough to know you weren't getting the answer you wanted to hear.
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No I didn't because nothing was definitive. However being some members did it and said it did work I would have to assume it does and everybody who got crappy results did it wrong although there seems to be only one way to do it so I really don't know how some have better results than others.
I hope I make it to the nursing home before my lenses go bad. At any rate, it's interesting none the less.
It's sure a lot different than going to Noah's Ark and buying a new "sealed beam" for $1.59 and then 5 minutes to install. I got so I could align my headlights on my dad's garage door from 15 or 20 feet away and they were good -- always passed inspection.
Another tip I learned which won't help anybody today: After aligning, go out for a drive and if even one car flicks his lights at you when you're on low beam, you know they're a bit high.
My brain is overloaded with what ends up being a bunch of useless knowledge.
No I didn't because nothing was definitive. However being some members did it and said it did work I would have to assume it does and everybody who got crappy results did it wrong although there seems to be only one way to do it so I really don't know how some have better results than others.
You don't think maybe they start with different degrees of disrepair?
It works fabulous. You'll be amazed at the result. Just follow the youtube. A child could do it. They use it on the space shuttle.
Yes you can wet sand and buff out the lenses. But you need a good high speed buffer and not one of those wimpy orbital pieces of crap. But with that said you better know how to use it. You can F#$K up a good paint job in nothing flat if you get too cocky with a high speed buffer. The problem you will ultimately run across is how to keep the results you obtain. I buff out the lenses on my wife's Acura about every 6 months. They look very close to new, but not quite. The problem is that I have yet to find anything that will keep them looking good for very long. Sure there are a lot of over-the-counter products that say the keep them looking good for months, but I have yet to fine one that works. It's the damn sun....it kills the lenses......
I read enough to know you weren't getting the answer you wanted to hear.
I said my experience echoes Ed's when I had it done. Looked better (no more peeling coating) for a short while, but the flaws (crazing) well into the lens plastic was pretty obvious upon inspection.
That there's so many discussions of replacing lenses should make it apparent that for most it's not amatter of scraping (the factory coating), sanding, polishing (and possibly coating). Those who have formulated superior aftermarket lenses have addresses the shortcoming of the stock lenses. These weren't developed just because folks were lazy and didn't want to sand/polish per youtube or infomercials.
If your car was routinely stored indoors, your results may be different.
Not sure what "number of hits" has to do with the number of headlight lens discussions.
I have to agree with this as sanding the surface of the lenses still doesn't address the underlying issue of the crazing that happens in the layer between the upper and lower coatings on the lenses. This can't be sanded away, and can only be resolved by either replacing the lenses, or replacing the headlights with an aftermarket upgrade. I opted to go with the Morimoto headlights from Umnitza (which I absolutely love btw) that only cost me about $300 more than replacing the lenses would (and I had them on my doorstep in a week), and ended up selling my original headlights to another Vette owner who was sending his out to have the lenses replaced, and needed something to use until he received his originals back. The only thing you have to lose if you choose to try sanding is time, but you'll wish you had it back when you don't get the results you expect. I have used the 3M kit on another car, as I have already mentioned, but recognized right away that the same solution does not work on the C6 because of the substandard quality of the plastic used on the OEM headlights. I have been on these forums for a long time, have been providing advice based on my own personal experience that others have appreciated, and would never steer anyone wrong when it comes to things like this. Take it for what you will.
I have to agree with this as sanding the surface of the lenses still doesn't address the underlying issue of the crazing that happens in the layer between the upper and lower coatings on the lenses. This can't be sanded away, and can only be resolved by either replacing the lenses, or replacing the headlights with an aftermarket upgrade. I opted to go with the Morimoto headlights from Umnitza (which I absolutely love btw) that only cost me about $300 more than replacing the lenses would (and I had them on my doorstep in a week), and ended up selling my original headlights to another Vette owner who was sending his out to have the lenses replaced, and needed something to use until he received his originals back. The only thing you have to lose if you choose to try sanding is time, but you'll wish you had it back when you don't get the results you expect. I have used the 3M kit on another car, as I have already mentioned, but recognized right away that the same solution does not work on the C6 because of the substandard quality of the plastic used on the OEM headlights. I have been on these forums for a long time, have been providing advice based on my own personal experience that others have appreciated, and would never steer anyone wrong when it comes to things like this. Take it for what you will.
How many times are we going to go over this and you keep bringing it up. I don't have crazing! How many times do I have to say it.I have de-laminating two totally different things.
How many times are we going to go over this and you keep bringing it up. I don't have crazing! How many times do I have to say it.I have de-laminating two totally different things.
And I have already said that if you're lenses are delaminating that you are also facing crazing. I have also said good luck with the 3M, but in my very experienced opinion, it's not going to be enough. I really hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.
Well, my favorite number is 3. But I figured there was no way this would be over by the end of October. That took me to winter setting in just about everywhere in North-North America, so I figured it would have to be a spring time project. That took me to the end of March, so 8 months. Buy that?
And I have already said that if you're lenses are delaminating that you are also facing crazing. I have also said good luck with the 3M, but in my very experienced opinion, it's not going to be enough. I really hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.
Again did you look at my pictures? I don't know how you come to the assumption that de-lamination and crazing are equated. My lenses are crystal clear other then that slight peeling.
So where are we now, what did you end up doing?? I have this same sort of peeling on my lenses, and stuck between buying new aftermarket lenses, or pulling the trigger on the Morimoto C7 style lights. Would be awesome if the peeling could be fixed with a good, aggressive polish...
So where are we now, what did you end up doing?? I have this same sort of peeling on my lenses, and stuck between buying new aftermarket lenses, or pulling the trigger on the Morimoto C7 style lights. Would be awesome if the peeling could be fixed with a good, aggressive polish...
I wet sanded mine when I first bought it. Went with one of the detailing shop's recommendations on grit: use the least amount of sanding as you can to get the scratches/cloudiness out. I started at 1,200 maybe and worked my way all the down to 220 or 320 before the one started to clear up. Worked my way back up to 2,000 maybe? 4,000? Then polishing. I posted about it back when I did it. Don't remember the details now 2 or 3 years later
Last edited by OregonMike; 12-04-2019 at 12:02 PM.
I wet sanded mine when I first bought it. Went with one of the detailing shop's recommendations on grit: use the least amount of sanding as you can to get the scratches/cloudiness out. I started at 1,200 maybe and worked my way all the down to 220 or 320 before the one started to clear up. Worked my way back up to 2,000 maybe? 4,000? Then polishing. I posted about it back when I did it. Don't remember the details now 2 or 3 years later
So, is the last pic the way it looks now after 2 or 3 years? If so, that's the way to go.
So, is the last pic the way it looks now after 2 or 3 years? If so, that's the way to go.
It is not. That's from when I finished. I did not clear coat it and they don't look that good now. I'll see if I can find a recent shot of the front.
On edit:
This is from March of this year, not a great shot of them but it's still pretty clear.
Last edited by OregonMike; 12-04-2019 at 03:35 PM.
07-18-2019, 09:08 PM
At any rate, it's interesting none the less.
