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Meguiar's headlight restoration kit way better than the Mother's Nulens kit

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Old 01-27-2019 | 04:27 PM
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Default Meguiar's headlight restoration kit way better than the Mother's Nulens kit

Just restored my headlights and wanted to pass on an opinion. I tried both the Meguiar's Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration kit and the Mother's Nulens Headlight Renewal kit. The Meguiar's kit worked MUCH better. The hand sanding 1000 grid and 3000 grit pads followed by the fuzzy polishing wheel was a super easy process. For the second headlight I did have to start with a separately purchased 400 grit wet sanding pad to get all of the lumpies off. In the process reaching the conclusion to do this I bought the Mother's Nulens kit since it came with sanding pads that mounted in the drill. I figured "wow, this should cut through that lumpy crap." Despite being extra careful to keep the drill perpendicular to the surface (easy to do with the right-angle handle I can mount to my drill), I got zillions of little circular scratch marks that were HELL to get off. Took me forever. Never again will I use the Mother's kit when it was so easy to use the Meguiar's heavy duty kit.
Old 01-28-2019 | 02:08 AM
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Thanks for sharing. I've been looking at getting it myself.
Old 01-28-2019 | 02:12 AM
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The Meguiar's kit is what I originally started with about 5 or 6 years ago..
Now I use 1000 and 3000 sanding blocks and finish up with Meguiar's polish, which can be purchased in a large bottle.
I've probably done 80 headlights in the last few years and everyone has loved the difference it has made.
Old 01-28-2019 | 02:45 AM
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TexSquirrel, you’re totally right: if you’re doing a lot of headlights, you don’t need the kit. It would be more economical to just buy the sanding blocks, polishing wheels and bottles of Meguiar’s polish as needed.
Old 01-28-2019 | 10:47 AM
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The Meguiars Heavy Duty Kit will do a bunch of headlights itself.
4 or 5 cars at least.
It’s definitely a good way to get started.

https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/...-kit-g2980-kit

Then you can add sanding blocks and the larger bottles of polish.

https://www.meguiars.com/automotive/...0-10-oz-liquid
Old 01-28-2019 | 11:29 AM
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How long will they stay looking good? I’ve always worried once you start down this road it’d become a regular thing.
Old 01-28-2019 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by AnthonyGS
How long will they stay looking good? I’ve always worried once you start down this road it’d become a regular thing.
It depends upon if it is stored outside or not and what kind of vehicle.
The 996 headlight has no protection from the sun above.
That's the worst design for UV damage.
Other vehicles that only have plastic that is exposed on the front of the vehicle don't have as many problems.
If you skip the UV protection and your 996 sets outside, probably 6 months.
If you add the Meguiars UV protectant then you'll probably be good for a year or two.
If you go with XPEL, you'll likely not have to worry about redoing it for a VERY long time.

I have had to redo some vehicles, but they're ones that I did 4 or 5 years ago.
Most of those are stored outside, but they don't have the sun from above issue.
Old 01-28-2019 | 05:29 PM
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Thanks for the feedback.
Its on my list for next spring and I will go with the Meguiar's kit!

At first I was about to apply UV protective paint + protective film but TexSquirrel said something about the XPEL film which seems to do both jobs... seems interesting!
Old 01-28-2019 | 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by TexSquirrel
If you add the Meguiars UV protectant then you'll probably be good for a year or two.
If you go with XPEL, you'll likely not have to worry about redoing it for a VERY long time.
Yup. I was going to add to your first comment above that you really should use a UV sealant on top...not just for protectant but because it also adds a level of gloss to the headlight that IMO makes it look newer.
Old 01-28-2019 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by bpoteat
Yup. I was going to add to your first comment above that you really should use a UV sealant on top...not just for protectant but because it also adds a level of gloss to the headlight that IMO makes it look newer.
Meguiar's heavy duty kit comes with:
  • Headlight Coating (4 oz.) – Proprietary coating that provides durable UV protection to preserve clear plastic surfaces for up to one year.
Old 01-28-2019 | 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Simonripley
Meguiar's heavy duty kit comes with:
  • Headlight Coating (4 oz.) – Proprietary coating that provides durable UV protection to preserve clear plastic surfaces for up to one year.
Right, but they were talking about buying the materials separately and doing it without a kit.
Old 01-29-2019 | 12:46 PM
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Unless you're going to do it professionally, I would just buy the Meguiars kit.
But if you want it to last, I would use XPEL to protect it.
The lights on my car in my signature don't have XPEL because I can easily re-do them myself.
But I might add XPEL to my second set of headlights (without headlight covers) for rock protection.
Old 01-29-2019 | 02:33 PM
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I wish I could polish my wife with this stuff. Oh well.
Old 01-29-2019 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by NuttyProfessor
I wish I could polish my wife with this stuff. Oh well.
You can, just don't forget to XPEL her too.
Old 01-29-2019 | 03:24 PM
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No sense in spending where one doesn't have to. Go by a family run body shop, or an auto paint shop. Get 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 grit paper, maybe 3 sheets each. Small bottle of Meguire's M4916 Oxidation remover, and have at it. I've done a few myself, and so far good results.

BTW, there are two different Meguire's kits. Not sure which one the OP has. G2970, or G2980


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