25 minute headlight cleaning (9 pictures; 2.08mb)
12-26-2005, 03:48 PM
#41
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 369
brinkley....you need to remove the two ten millimeter bolts on the top of the housing and then thats it. Then you just need to pull the headlight out in the direction the car is oriented (towards your knees, not up). There is a retaining clip on the bottom that is a little stubborn in some cars, and then there is the metal pin (connected to the housing by the turn signal pictured above) that fits inside the retaining tab (connected to the car). Be careful to pull out straight towards you away from the car and not at an angle away from the car. This will break the retaing clip for the pin and chip or scratch your paint if your not careful. Any other Q's, just ask. 
Kevin
Kevin
12-29-2005, 07:04 AM
#43
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 369
You will have to repolish but that should be just about it. Sanding won't be neccessary down the road if you keep up with it. And if you use a polymer or a good quality hard shell wax you shouldn't even have to do that but once every couple of months! Hell, for a $12 bottle of sealant that will last you forever it's a pretty solid deal if you ask me. Just keep your headlights in the car cleaning loop and you'll keep all that ugly oxidation and mold away.
Kevin
Kevin
01-05-2006, 02:49 AM
#48
Originally Posted by ajcool2
This is probably a crazy question but will certian motions while sanding give better results than the other. For example circular, up and down, or left to right.
01-12-2006, 12:03 AM
#54
Originally Posted by Hoooper
soooo, what did you guys use to buff? mine didnt come out nearly as clear. i used meguiars plast-x and then a wax and didnt get the results...how/what do i buff with?
01-12-2006, 11:14 PM
#60
Originally Posted by Hoooper
so nobody has an answer on the buffing headlights? how do it do it and what do i use?
01-22-2006, 01:41 PM
#63
Thanks for the great thread. Apparently no one ever answered the question "what do you use to buff?" Wet sand with progressively finer grits, check. Use plastic polish, check. Use Meguiar's Polymer Sealant, check. But before the sealant, what product do you use to BUFF?
02-17-2006, 06:58 AM
#67
Originally Posted by ctrent86
If you dont have access to a buff to finish the job after sanding. What would you use if you are relying on elbow grease? A regular towel?
yes, but If I was you I would go buy the Mothers Powerball.... it is great for doing the headlights and other small projects. I did mine using all sorts of wax and polish when I did it with a towel, but wasn't satisfied, then I bought the powerball and they are perfect now.
02-20-2006, 11:52 AM
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 184
I have a 5th gen max. I just used 600,1000,2000 grit paper. For about 5-10 mins a piece. Make sure you keep it wet. THen I got some megiurs scratch x. Used a terry cloth to rub in the meguirs no buffing and the results speak for themselves. I have not tried powerball but I would assume the headlight couldnt be as polluted as mine because I saw it in the store and I dont think it is abrasive enough to lift the strong cloudiness if you let it go as far as I did. JUst do the sanding it will tak you like 40 mins totally and is really worth it.
Before (ewww gross I know)
After Dang that is sexy
Before (ewww gross I know)
After Dang that is sexy
02-26-2006, 02:56 PM
#72
I'm planning to. I really don't think it's worth the trouble to take out the headlights. I might put up some newspaper around the lenses to protect the paint.
Has anybody successfully clipped or sanded off the three aiming thingies? I'd love to get rid of them but I think that would be a lot of work.
Has anybody successfully clipped or sanded off the three aiming thingies? I'd love to get rid of them but I think that would be a lot of work.
02-26-2006, 03:22 PM
#73
please remove your headlights before doing this, you shouldn't even consider trying this while they are still on the car. It only takes about 10 minutes to remove the headlights, so take the time to remove them and then you don't have to worry about scratching your paint...
02-26-2006, 03:34 PM
#74
The clearance lights on my 99 are truly a b!tch to remove (I've already chipped one while trying to remove it) and you have to remove them before you can remove the headlights. So rather than chip another one I think I'll polish the headlights on the car. There's no way I'm going to scratch my paint.
03-07-2006, 12:06 PM
#76
Originally Posted by NismoMax80
It's been 3 months. updates???
does this work well for rock chips too? or are they too deep?
does this work well for rock chips too? or are they too deep?
I'm going to give this a shot and will take plenty of pictures.
03-07-2006, 05:20 PM
#79
Originally Posted by RR5
I would venture to use a little super glue since it dries 100% clear like clear plastic looks. Then you can wetsand and polish after that.
I'm going to give this a shot and will take plenty of pictures.
I'm going to give this a shot and will take plenty of pictures.
03-08-2006, 05:49 PM
#80
I'm worried lol. I want to take the headlights off, but I have data dots. When the HIDs are on, theres a cloud where they shine through. Other than that, they are mildly pitted from 74k of highway driving. I'm afraid if I sand and then buff, the cloud will be worse. Am I being stupid? I've read all the posts in this thread (not skimmed but read... basically I searched around before asking this question), and the NYC write up, and some of the pictures look like there are still some little pits left over, or even tiny scratches left over from the sanding. Any thoughts? I have a 2002 SE w 74k, thanks