E53: Headlight Restoration

[JaySpec7]

Through the years I've been facing the issues of hazy and discolored headlights. I've taken it to a couple local shops to restore them but was told that the haziness from condensation and is located on the inside of the lenses. Man I wished it was easy to replace just like my E46, but i attempted to grab some different grit sand paper and was not successful. I left it alone for a couple years looking for a cheap replacement or some euros.

Recently my friend recommended the 3M restoration kit and mentioned he had much success with his VW. At 25 bucks from my local AutoZone, I figured I'd try it...

Here are the results...

[JaySpec7]

Huge difference. I also replaced my HID bulbs with the D2S Osram Xenarc 66240 Nightbreaker. WOW!
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[TiAgX5]

That 3M kit works good. Used it last summer on my Moms 2005 MB E300. That car is parked outside at the NJ shore, and they came back like new. She drove it a few nights later and called to tell me the difference is night and day.

[JaySpec7]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

That 3M kit works good. Used it last summer on my Moms 2005 MB E300. That car is parked outside at the NJ shore, and they came back like new. She drove it a few nights later and called to tell me the difference is night and day.

Good to hear. Did you apply any coating after? Just worried that now the UV coat is gone that it'll have to be polished more frequently.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by JaySpec7

Good to hear. Did you apply any coating after? Just worried that now the UV coat is gone that it'll have to be polished more frequently.

I would recommend a urethane sealant. For details see this thread:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...s-re-do-1.html

For pics see this post:

http://www.xoutpost.com/955168-post42.html

The top picture is what the lens looked like when I bought the car. The second one is what the lens looked like after I completed the polishing. The third is the drivers lens after the sanding / polishing but before the application of the urethane sealant. The fourth is the lens after the application of the urethane sealant. In person it looks brand new. And it continues to look that way today...almost a year later.

[JaySpec7]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

I would recommend a urethane sealant. For details see this thread:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...s-re-do-1.html

For pics see this post:

http://www.xoutpost.com/955168-post42.html

The top picture is what the lens looked like when I bought the car. The second one is what the lens looked like after I completed the polishing. The third is the drivers lens after the sanding / polishing but before the application of the urethane sealant. The fourth is the lens after the application of the urethane sealant. In person it looks brand new. And it continues to look that way today...almost a year later.

WOW!! Can't believe how bad your lenses were! But thanks. Going to rebuff then seal.

[JaySpec7]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

I would recommend a urethane sealant. For details see this thread:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...s-re-do-1.html

Thanks Sunny! Attempted on my Honda before I committed to do the UV on the X. Came out awesome!!

Paint brush didn't work out that well and redid it with cloth.

[Ricky Bobby]

They look pretty damn good, you can get them even clearer with a few more passes of a finishing polish and a foam pad as well.

Nighbreaker bulbs are amazing, such an underrated thing to restore light output by replacing with fresh OEM bulbs. Our cars are 10 years old, these bulbs dim with age but very slowly so its not noticeable!

[JaySpec7]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

They look pretty damn good, you can get them even clearer with a few more passes of a finishing polish and a foam pad as well.

Nighbreaker bulbs are amazing, such an underrated thing to restore light output by replacing with fresh OEM bulbs. Our cars are 10 years old, these bulbs dim with age but very slowly so its not noticeable!

Yea.. my bulbs where tired... started to look yellow... barely any intensity... swapped them out and what a huge difference. Forgot what it was like to see that intense blue on start up and bright white light after it's warmed up. My high beams actually work now! LoL

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

They look pretty damn good, you can get them even clearer with a few more passes of a finishing polish and a foam pad as well.

So adding the finishing polish will be ok to have on the lenses before applying the Opti-Lens coating? Shouldnt the Opti-Lens coating stick directly to the plastic? I'm Gonna read up a bit more...