Lists of best headlight restoration kits

A clouded headlight’s oxidation raises safety issues because it can significantly reduce nighttime visibility. UV radiation, pollution, ozone, and various car wash chemicals all contribute to the yellowing of headlights. Despite always having my brights on, I still feel as though I am driving in the dark. This is why I will be making a review on the best headlight restoration kits you should consider using.

These restoration kits are completely effective, and they’re a DIY project you can complete in your garage or driveway. “After utilizing these kits, your night vision will improve significantly.” Learn about Consumer Reports’ headlight testing procedure. Find out everything you need to know about your car.

Note that this article is not sponsored, the products are based on the top-performing headlight restoration kits in the industrial market, amazon to be precise.

Let’s dive in!

Contents

Best headlight restoration kits

The following are the lists of the headlight restoration kits in the market:

Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit
3M Headlight Lens Restoration System
Mothers NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit
Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit
Rust-oleum Wipe New Headlight Restore
Meguiar’s Heavy-Duty Headlight Restoration Kit

Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit

Sylvania is well known for its automotive lighting components, but it also offers items that can be used to repair damaged headlight lenses. The Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit’s three-step procedure yields some of the highest clarity outcomes, demonstrating its ability to combat severe yellowing. It is the greatest headlight restoration kit overall because of this, in our opinion.

Spraying on the surface activator to soften the plastic is the first step in utilizing the Sylvania product. The initial clear coat is then removed using sandpaper, and a polishing chemical is then used. The final step is to use a UV blocker to stop further sun damage.

Using progressively finer emery paper grades, rinsing, and a final coat of UV-blocking polymer coating—which is best applied while wearing rubber gloves and in a well-ventilated area—are among the six processes that make up this process. It lowers the possibility of harming neighboring paint by being totally applied by hand. Although the Sylvania sanding papers are larger than those offered with some other products, making them easier to use does not guarantee the greatest results.

For a gadget that sells for less than $20, Sylvania is so confident in it that it offers a lifetime warranty, which is a pleasant bonus.

3M Headlight Lens Restoration System

The performance of the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System was nearly identical to that of the Sylvania, with significantly better brightness and look and no discernible decline. It takes four steps instead of the five of the Sylvania, but further polishing is needed. Sanding disks that fit on an electric drill are part of the set. This form of application may be preferred by DIYers who are experienced with power tools, but it does call for a steady hand, a little bravery, and masking tape to protect the surrounding paint. Curved lenses might be especially challenging.

It does not come with gloves, a towel, and sealant. Additionally, it uses less wet sanding. To begin, fasten the disc pad holder to the drill, sand the vehicle’s headlight lens dry with 500-grit paper, then move to an 800-grit disc and do the same. Finally, sand it smoothly with a 3,000-grit foam disc and water. To polish, fasten the big foam pad to the holder and fill it with 3M Rubbing Compound in a dime-sized amount. The lens should be polished, dried, and rubbed with a microfiber cloth.

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Mothers NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit

The Mothers NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit aims to deliver high-quality outcomes while taking its time with the repair. Its inclusion on our list of the top headlight cleaners is due to this. A drill attachment, rough repair discs, a foam ball polish applicator, and polish are all included in the set. You should check the directions carefully as you go with the cleaning process because they specify a combination of dry and wet sanding. Painter’s tape, gloves, and a microfiber towel to dry your freshly polished headlights are the only supplies you’ll need to bring.

You might only need to polish your headlamps if they only have minor oxidation. However, the Mothers NuLens kit still does the trick for minor blemishes, dirt accumulation, or pitting. Gloves, a towel, or a sealant for the headlight coating are not included in this kit. The backing plate must first be secured to the drill exactly like any other drill bit before the 800-grit sanding disc can be used. After wet sanding, turn to the 1,500 grit disc to sand the plastic headlight lens. A foam disc with a grit of 3,000 is then used for the last round of sanding. A nickel-sized amount of the PowerPlastic 4Lights compound should be applied to the PowerBall 4Lights foam ball before polishing. Buff using a microfiber cloth that is clean and dry to finish.

Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit

If you’re seeking a ceramic coating that will both protect against UV light and restore light output on heavily oxidized headlamps, Cerakote has the best headlight restoration kit.

An oxidation removal wipe is the first stage in the three-phase procedure used by the Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit. The next step is to apply a long-lasting ceramic coating to preserve your car over the long term after washing and drying your headlamp and sanding.

The sanding pads in this kit don’t attach to a power drill, so you’ll need to put in a little extra work to achieve a high-shine finish, unlike some of the other multistep systems on our list. It’s a fantastic product, though, for someone who values the time and hands-on learning that come with DIY projects.

Rust-oleum Wipe New Headlight Restore

The Rust-oleum kit undoubtedly improved the clarity of the Subaru’s headlight lens, but the little polishing pad was a little awkward to hold. As I used it, the tips of my fingers frequently rubbed on the plastic headlamps because it is only about 1.25 inches square and not very thick.

In addition to a sealant, the headlight cleaner kit comes with a microfiber towel, and a pair of gloves, but as with all of these kits, you’ll also need a spray bottle filled with water. The headlight should first be wetted before using the 2,000-grit side of the tiny polishing pad and continuing polishing with the 3,000-grit side. Apply the Wipe-It sealant on the plastic lens after drying it with the provided cloth. According to the instructions, the lens will be dry to the touch in an hour and shouldn’t be exposed to any moisture for 24 hours to prevent finish streaking or spots. Hazing and fading of the headlights are avoided by the ceramic coating, which chemically adheres to them.

Meguiar’s Heavy-Duty Headlight Restoration Kit

My headlights became clearer but not crystal clear after using Meguiar’s Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit. Depending on the grit level, the discs come in a variety of colors. However, the instructions only make reference to the numbers printed on the back and not their colors. The only container I hadn’t used was the Headlight Sealant, so it was easy to figure out what the directions were talking about, although it may have been clearer at the end when it merely says to “apply the coating to the gray applicator pad.”

Although a clear coat sealant is included, this kit does not include gloves or a towel. Hand sanding is used for the first two passes on the car’s headlight housings, first with a 1,000-grit paper disc and subsequently with a 3,000-grit paper disc attached to a hand pad resembling the one included in the Cerakote package. In order to polish, fasten the yellow polishing pad to the drill, add a nickel-sized quantity of the PlastX lens clarifying compound, and polish as much as you like. Apply the Headlight Sealant to the grey foam applicator and wipe the headlight by hand after completely cleaning and drying it with a microfiber towel. According to the instructions, the substance dries to the touch in 15 minutes, but the lens should be kept dry for a full 24 hours.

Headlight Restoration kits: FAQs

What are the best headlight restoration kits on the market?

Our picks for the top headlight restoration kits are:

Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit
3M Headlight Lens Restoration System
Mothers NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit
Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit
Rust-oleum Wipe New Headlight Restore
Meguiar’s Heavy-Duty Headlight Restoration Kit

Is there a headlight restorer that actually works?

The repair kits are completely effective, and they’re a DIY project you can complete in your garage or driveway, according to Stockburger. “After utilizing these kits, your night vision will improve significantly.” Learn about Consumer Reports’ headlight testing procedure. Find out everything you need to know about your car.

What is the number one headlight restoration kit?

Due to its robust functionality and simplicity of use, the 3M Ultra Headlight Restoration Kit is our top choice. Everything you need to perform the task is included in this package. This headlight restoration kit comes with everything you need, including gloves, protective tape, and polishing and sanding discs.

How do you restore badly oxidized headlights?

Apply a small amount of the restoration polish directly on the buffing pad, place the pad flat against the headlight, then turn on the drill.

Will WD-40 clean foggy headlights?

Spray the headlights with WD-40 liberally, then wait for 5 to 10 minutes before using them. The precisely designed solution will expertly dig under the buildup and gunk as you wait, making your next step simpler.

How do professionals clean headlights?

Professional clean headlights by buffing the lens with polish as the follow the steps below:

Wash the headlight with plenty of clear, cool water and dry it.
Wet one corner of the flannel cloth with the polishing compound.
Using firm pressure, polish the headlight in a circular pattern until it becomes smooth and clear.

How do I permanently fix faded headlights?

The best and most effective way to permanently restore auto headlights is to sand them. Headlight sanding removes the cloudy layer to reveal the once-shiny light lenses you liked.

Will Magic Eraser clean headlights?

Cleaning cloudy headlights using a Magic Eraser is totally safe, even though using it on a car’s paint has become somewhat of a cautionary tale. In the park, the cleaning tool even removes the obnoxious yellow coloring over time accumulates. Use a damp Magic Eraser to buff each one, and when they dry, wipe them with a paper towel.

Should I wax my headlights after restoration?

You should wax the lights to complete your headlight restoration.

What do detailers clean headlights with?

A rotary polisher is one of the expert tools used in a car headlight restoration service. Any lingering sanding scratches or blemishes will be easily removed with the help of this practical piece of equipment. A rubbing substance appropriate for cleaning plastic vehicle lenses will also be used by the detailer.

Conclusion

After reading the reviews and the buyer’s guide, if you’re still unsure of which headlight repair kit is best for your car, you’re probably overthinking the matter. Consider Meguiar’s G2980 Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit if your headlights have severe oxidation already and you need to try everything. Even though it costs a little extra, it has a powerful punch that can restore practically any headlamp on the market. But getting anything that you order is really what matters the most. As a result, it will be more difficult to restore your headlight assembly to its original condition the longer you wait. For a good reason, the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System is our top pick, and it will work wonders on your car.

That is all for this article, where the review of the best headlight restoration kits is discussed. I hope you got the best pick, if so, kindly share with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!