new ebay headlights..
11-04-2009, 09:35 AM
#42
I use Crystal Shine 2 once a year on the paint, before Collinite paste-wax. Earlier this year, I tried it on the headlight/taillight plastic and was very happy with the results.
http://www.carbrite.com/Home.aspx
So once every few months, I go over the headlights with Plastix, buff it out, then rub in Crystal Shine 2 and buff that. Like I said, I'm happy. My only regret was not paying better attention to the lens covers years ago. But they look pretty good today.
http://www.carbrite.com/Home.aspx
So once every few months, I go over the headlights with Plastix, buff it out, then rub in Crystal Shine 2 and buff that. Like I said, I'm happy. My only regret was not paying better attention to the lens covers years ago. But they look pretty good today.
11-04-2009, 09:52 AM
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 155
If you've got the 5.5 gen lights and they're in good shape other than hazing I would stay stick with them. You can definitely get the lenses clear again with some elbow grease and these lights look great when blacked out inside. I personally like the orange lens when the headlight is blacked out but most opt for the clear replacement.
Baking the headlights is tricky and make sure the glue doesn't come in contact with anything you don't want it to stick to. I baked my OEM 01 headlights just for practice and to buff em out a bit and that damn glue touched the lens when I was prying the two pieces apart and that glue wouldn't come off for anything. Ruined my stockies. Just be careful. But if you have an 00-01 I did go with the black housing OEM type headlights because I'm not a big fan of the ebay projector look.
BLK HOUSINGS
W/ 8k HID's- Good vision and glare is minimal after re-aiming.
Baking the headlights is tricky and make sure the glue doesn't come in contact with anything you don't want it to stick to. I baked my OEM 01 headlights just for practice and to buff em out a bit and that damn glue touched the lens when I was prying the two pieces apart and that glue wouldn't come off for anything. Ruined my stockies. Just be careful. But if you have an 00-01 I did go with the black housing OEM type headlights because I'm not a big fan of the ebay projector look.
BLK HOUSINGS
W/ 8k HID's- Good vision and glare is minimal after re-aiming.
11-04-2009, 10:07 AM
#48
Use this: http://www.amazon.com/3M-Headlight-L.../dp/B001AIZ5HY I used that on my 5.5 hids. Works wonders, easy to do. Gives you everything you need to do it, as long as you have a drill.
11-04-2009, 10:16 AM
#50
No. I buy it from a local wholesale distributor, who also sells retail during business hours. For your area, you'd have to start by calling local body shops to track it down.
Last time I bought some, I went with the Car Brite product that was one notch up the abrasive ladder. Don't remember which one that was. That's about all I have for you at this time by way of info. Sorry.
Last time I bought some, I went with the Car Brite product that was one notch up the abrasive ladder. Don't remember which one that was. That's about all I have for you at this time by way of info. Sorry.
11-04-2009, 12:16 PM
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,787
http://www.amazon.com/3M-Headlight-L.../dp/B001AIZ5HY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t1RBw0IGXA
11-04-2009, 12:40 PM
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 1,222
The Nissan manual actually recommended the 3M kit for the headlamps hazing.
Have tried Brasso and it works. But a friend has introduced me to Novus 2 cleaner...an industrial type plastic cleaner (known by Jukebox restorers) and it is wonderful, he gave me some and after Brasso, used this Novus 2, worked like a charm! The used Novus 1 is the clear protectant (like wax) which he also gave me some!
Now the headlamps look decent and the fogs, too!
Have tried Brasso and it works. But a friend has introduced me to Novus 2 cleaner...an industrial type plastic cleaner (known by Jukebox restorers) and it is wonderful, he gave me some and after Brasso, used this Novus 2, worked like a charm! The used Novus 1 is the clear protectant (like wax) which he also gave me some!
Now the headlamps look decent and the fogs, too!
11-04-2009, 02:40 PM
#55
11-04-2009, 02:46 PM
#56
OP: You can try pittman alr (their website sucks). It's only good for haze though, if you have scratches or dents dominated the surface of your headlights then I wouldn't bother lol.
I used it on my 00 oem lights, it cleared up the yellow but you could still see some small dents/chips.
http://www.ibc34.com/Onestep.html
PS: I've owned the twin-ring (non-proj) ebay lights. You should absolutely NOT drop your 2k2/3 oem's for those. Of course...if you want to make a trade I'd be willing
I used it on my 00 oem lights, it cleared up the yellow but you could still see some small dents/chips.
http://www.ibc34.com/Onestep.html
PS: I've owned the twin-ring (non-proj) ebay lights. You should absolutely NOT drop your 2k2/3 oem's for those. Of course...if you want to make a trade I'd be willing
11-04-2009, 03:34 PM
#57
I got my 5.5 (oem) headlights off ebay for $175.
Baking theses lights is a peice of cake, the hardest thing for me was shaping the clear lens perfect (Im ****).
As far as polishing goes, I used 3M headlight restore kit ($20 has the buffer, polish, drill attachment, & 3 types of sandpaper) and man there brand new now! All the pits are gone and there super clear, all you need is a drill..
I wouldnt do these by hand it would take WAYYYYYYY to long...
Baking theses lights is a peice of cake, the hardest thing for me was shaping the clear lens perfect (Im ****).
As far as polishing goes, I used 3M headlight restore kit ($20 has the buffer, polish, drill attachment, & 3 types of sandpaper) and man there brand new now! All the pits are gone and there super clear, all you need is a drill..
I wouldnt do these by hand it would take WAYYYYYYY to long...
11-04-2009, 05:32 PM
#58
wow thank you everyone for the response!!
i'm definately gonna have to keep my lights then. Still kinda iffy on the baking stuff lol... but i really do wanna fix the lense and paint the backround.
should i do flat black?
i'm definately gonna have to keep my lights then. Still kinda iffy on the baking stuff lol... but i really do wanna fix the lense and paint the backround.
should i do flat black?
11-04-2009, 05:54 PM
#60
200 degrees 20mins on a towel and cookie sheet, you just wanna get the adhesive soft so you can pull it apart, its cake bro!
11-04-2009, 06:05 PM
#61
ya wet sand yours. Start with 250 then to 500, 750, 900, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 then buff it with a foam pad. My fog lights came out great and im doing the headlights next. If you can afford it have a clear bra put on it after your done. They will never turn yellow of fade again.
11-04-2009, 07:37 PM
#62
Hey i am new on here and work at a benz dealer. we have a lot of hazed over lights from cars being over 10 years old, we just started carrying a product from a company we deal with for all of our transmission services, power steering and fuel injection services. he have used the headlamp cleaning kit many many times with no issues it is very easy to use. AS LONG AS YOU GO BY THE DIRECTIONS. as long as you go by the way they say to use it your headlights will look brand new.
http://www.bgprod.com/products/headl...storation.html
This is the link to the kit so you can get an idea of it, no buffers are involved its all done by hand. i think we have before and after pictures of a set we did on a mercedes benz ill try to get my hands on it so everyone can get an idea of how good it works.
I am going to do this to my newly aquired maxima after the winter after the crap is up and off of the ground. The other thing I tell customers all of the time to after they do this kit, put some clear lamin-x on the lights to protect it from getting pitted up also.
If anyone is interested in the kit pm me and ill get wholesale prices on the kits for everyone rather than list prices. it takes about an hour per side, but its a lot cheaper than trying to find full headlights to replace something that can be repaired easy and cheaper.
http://www.bgprod.com/products/headl...storation.html
This is the link to the kit so you can get an idea of it, no buffers are involved its all done by hand. i think we have before and after pictures of a set we did on a mercedes benz ill try to get my hands on it so everyone can get an idea of how good it works.
I am going to do this to my newly aquired maxima after the winter after the crap is up and off of the ground. The other thing I tell customers all of the time to after they do this kit, put some clear lamin-x on the lights to protect it from getting pitted up also.
If anyone is interested in the kit pm me and ill get wholesale prices on the kits for everyone rather than list prices. it takes about an hour per side, but its a lot cheaper than trying to find full headlights to replace something that can be repaired easy and cheaper.
11-04-2009, 07:43 PM
#63
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 78
I've done this and it is perfectly safe. Ibaked my headlights @ 250 degrees for about 10-15 min, popped the headlights apart, painted the inside black, put headlights back together, rebake, and you're all done. It sounds like a lot of work and like it would be hard to mess up but it's very easy..trust me I am no experienced mechanic lol Stay away from those ebay headlights! at all costs
11-04-2009, 07:48 PM
#64
ya wet sand yours. Start with 250 then to 500, 750, 900, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 then buff it with a foam pad. My fog lights came out great and im doing the headlights next. If you can afford it have a clear bra put on it after your done. They will never turn yellow of fade again.
or if you dont have a month to waste or want your forearms to look like Popeye, BUY THE 3M kit and use a drill
11-04-2009, 09:28 PM
#65
if i were you i would just baked them and paint the chrome part black as many here suggested.. and give this a try for your fading is amazing, good luck
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3M-He...Q5fAccessories
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3M-He...Q5fAccessories
11-05-2009, 12:32 AM
#66
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Toronto, ONT
Posts: 1,044
Here is my 2 cents on those ebay headlights:
-I have seen them on a friends 5th gen..the output is horribly bad..I mean worse than the projector version
-The angel eyes are LED-powered...therefore they are dim and are prone to failure since the heat from the headlamps ruins LEDs (the LEDs in my projector headlights blew after only a few months)
-The fitment is likely to be good...fitment really isnt an issue with these aftermarket headlights
-Im not sure you can use an HID bulb with those headlights...the reflector shroud may be placed in a way that does not allow for the longer HID bulb to fit in behind it
Just keep these things in mind:
-If you open your headlights by baking them there is a chance you will get condensation inside the housing
-Make sure the headlight is sealed back properly...you may think you have done everything properly...but on a really humid/rainy day you may find that you STILL have condensation
-I do not recommed opening your headlights if you do not have the time and patience to do the job completely and using the utmost care
-I have seen them on a friends 5th gen..the output is horribly bad..I mean worse than the projector version
-The angel eyes are LED-powered...therefore they are dim and are prone to failure since the heat from the headlamps ruins LEDs (the LEDs in my projector headlights blew after only a few months)
-The fitment is likely to be good...fitment really isnt an issue with these aftermarket headlights
-Im not sure you can use an HID bulb with those headlights...the reflector shroud may be placed in a way that does not allow for the longer HID bulb to fit in behind it
Just keep these things in mind:
-If you open your headlights by baking them there is a chance you will get condensation inside the housing
-Make sure the headlight is sealed back properly...you may think you have done everything properly...but on a really humid/rainy day you may find that you STILL have condensation
-I do not recommed opening your headlights if you do not have the time and patience to do the job completely and using the utmost care
11-05-2009, 01:45 PM
#68
11-05-2009, 04:46 PM
#71
If that doesn't work well enough, follow the directions in this post ( http://forums.maxima.org/detailing/4...highlight=fogs )...applied to your headlights of course.
11-07-2009, 12:47 PM
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,787
And now the pics:
Before
