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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 03:33 PM
  #1  
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ryangambrill
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Default Headlamp Restoration

I need to attempt a repair of my headlamps on the Touareg.

Has anyone tried any of the kits? If so, can you point me in the right direction?
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 03:55 PM
  #2  
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Whats wrong with them? Are they broken? Yellow? Scratched? Rolling down I70? Being used as strobe lite on a stripper pole?

Don't ask me how do the last one...
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 04:09 PM
  #3  
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DAMN!!!! I did not think that anyone could guess the stripper pole.

They have some light scratches. Probably going to replace with new, but thought I would give them a shot with a restoration kit.
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 05:12 PM
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i did it on my 911, it worked decent, you dont necessarily need the kit tho, it depends on how scratched your lenses are, but you can start with 800 grit, sand them down good, then 1000- then 1500 then 2000, then if you have a buffer (straight buffer not random orbital) then buff them out with a cutting compound and they should look brand new!
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 05:23 PM
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Mine got road tar on them. I used a tar remover an it totally trashed them. My deal had a guy do the sandpaper/buff deal for $100. Looks like NEW.
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 11:21 PM
  #6  
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Don't bother with the kits. I tried them and got better results with wet sanding (various grits as described above), followed by buffing and then polishing.
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 11:24 PM
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I've heard that when sanding/polishing after you're done whats left is softer glass and the same would again.
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Old Aug 30, 2010 | 11:51 PM
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ivangene
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what about clear coating after? has anyone tried spraying them?
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 12:47 AM
  #9  
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They definitely need a UV protectant sealer applied.

Someone just had a pro come in recently (a couple of weeks ago?) and do theirs after some minor troubles. According to the poster, the vendor took care of the problem and applied a sealer.
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 09:08 AM
  #10  
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Any info on the UV sealer? Mine do seem to have yellowed a bit from their initial clarity. The sanding works great but if there was a uv Protectant it would be removed...
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 10:19 AM
  #11  
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Doesn't one of the kits come with a UV sealer. I can't remember where I saw it but I read a review about a kit that included a UV sealer as the last step. I think I saw it over on Jeepforums. It was turtlewax's headlight restoration kit. The grand cherokee guys seemed to like it.

Anyone tried it here?
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Old Aug 31, 2010 | 11:49 AM
  #12  
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For the cost of new headlight units, I would find a really good professional detailer in your area that has experience in that sort of thing. I can't imagine headlight restoration costing more than a couple hundred from a professional detailer.

And, as always ask for references!

/m
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