As with nearly every other Florida resident that parks their vehicle outside without the benefit of cover, exposed to the brutal and unforgiving Florida sunshine, the safety of my family was in jeopardy because my 2006 Toyota Camry had dingy, dull and yellowed headlight lenses. Cloudy headlight lenses restrict your ability to see clearly while driving at night.
Plastic headlight lenses dull over time with age and exposure to the elements, especially the sun’s harmful UV rays. Restoring the lenses to their original clarity yourself is easy, provided you properly use a restoration kit such as the 3M Headlight Restoration System.
Price comparison
After researching a variety of products online, I visited my local auto parts store in Lake Mary, Florida, to compare the products on my “short list.” My criteria and expectations were simple. Price and effectiveness.
The 3M Headlight Restoration System varied in price buy only two dollars or so, depending on the store. I found one for less than $15.00 with tax at my local Advance AutoParts store in Lake Mary, Florida. By comparison, similar products range in price upto $31.24 for the Flitz FTZHR31501 Headlight Restoration Kit. For a professional body shop to polish you headlight lenses, it will run you in the hundreds of dollars.
Tools needed
Tools needed to restore your headlight lenses are minimal. Basically, for me, it took longer to grab my drill, run the extension cord and read the instruction than it took me to do the job. The tools necessary to restore your headlight lenses are:
3M Headlight Lens Restoration System Extension cord Drill Painter’s tape Clean, soft (cotton) rag
The process
Using the 3M Headlight Restoration System was simple, quick and effective. After setting up the equipment and masking the work area with painter’s tape to prevent scratching the car’s surface, it is only a matter of using the appropriate pad according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The total process, including masking is about 10 minutes per headlight. I was completely finished and drinking a cold beer within a half hour.
Conclusion
Without question, the 3M Headlight Restoration System is a quality product. It performs as promised when used according to the instructions and is highly recommended by users. I have used the product on several occasions and will continue to use it when I need to clear-up my headlight lenses or a friend’s.
Giovanni Badalamenti owned and operated an auto detail business in Tampa, Florida, for 2 years before closing the business and relocating to Orlando in 2005.
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Sources:
Personal experience
Bing Shopping, Headlight Restoration Kits Reviews and Comparisons
3M Collision Repair Solutions, “3M Headlight Lens Restoration System 39008″