Top Headlight Restoration Services for Improved Night Driving
Over time, your headlights can degrade to the point of diminishing nighttime visibility. This can not only affect your driving experience but may also lead to failing a pink slip inspection and subsequent fines.
Restoring your headlights is not your ordinary do-it-yourself project. This is why many opt to have professional auto detailing services do the job.
1. UV Protective Coating
Over time, your car’s headlights can become yellowed or hazy due to various factors. These include oxidation, water vapor, and dirt from road debris. Having your headlights restored can improve visibility on the road and reduce the risk of traffic accidents.
Most headlight restoration products involve sanding the outer layer of the lens using progressively finer abrasives and then polishing and sealing the plastic lens. Some also include a hard coating that must be sanded off to expose the plastic lens beneath.
Restored headlights increase the light output by up to 70%, allowing you to see better during nighttime driving. The improved clarity of your headlights can also boost your vehicle’s resale value and make it more appealing to potential buyers. Moreover, a professional headlight restoration service typically offers a warranty or guarantee to ensure that the work performed is of high-quality and long-lasting. This can give you peace of mind that the investment is worth it. The cost of a headlight restoration service can vary depending on the scope of work and materials used.
2. Ceramic Coating
Getting on the road at night requires bright headlights that can illuminate the way ahead. Unfortunately, these light bulbs can degrade and become foggy over time from a variety of factors, including dust, UV rays, and harsh weather conditions. These issues can make driving dangerous for both you and your fellow road users, which is why it’s important to restore your car’s headlights if necessary.
Several products are available for DIY headlight restoration, but they vary in price, ease of use, and effectiveness. Most involve sanding away the outer layer of the lens using progressively finer abrasives, but some require power tools and can be quite messy. Professional headlight restoration services can provide much better results and may even offer warranties or guarantees.
One popular option for restoring your headlights is to apply a ceramic coating. This product is a non-stick, scratch-resistant, mud-repellent, and hydrophobic chemical solution that can be applied to all of your vehicle’s exterior surfaces. However, it’s important to remember that your car’s ceramic coating will need regular maintenance, which involves washing the surface with pH-neutral detergents and microfiber wash mitts.
3. Clear Coat
It’s common for the polycarbonate plastic that makes up headlight lenses to experience significant wear and tear over time. This is due to a process known as oxidation that can make your headlights appear foggy and less effective.
Professional car headlight restoration services can remove the haze that has developed on your vehicle’s headlights, restoring their original brightness and making them look brand new. This is a far more cost-effective option than replacing your headlights altogether.
Maintaining a restored headlight is simple with the use of a clear coat, ensuring that your lights remain bright and clear for improved visibility during night driving. It’s a quick and easy application process that protects your investment against environmental conditions like UV rays, salt water, and car wash chemicals.
Our 3M Quick Headlight Clear Coat Wipes can be used by themselves or in conjunction with our Headlight Lens Restoration Kits to quickly improve and extend the clarity of slightly oxidized or recently restored automotive lenses. This wipe-on formula applies a hard, clear coating to restore and protect headlights, tail lights, fog lights, and directional lights.
4. Polishing
Over time, headlights can become cloudy or hazy due to environmental factors. This reduces the amount of light they emit, which can significantly decrease nighttime visibility. This can be dangerous for drivers on the road and may even lead to accidents. Professional headlight restoration can eliminate these issues and restore their original clarity.
This process involves cleaning and polishing the headlights to remove the layer of oxidation that has developed on them over time. It also helps to improve the quality of the light they emit. The results are noticeable, improving driving safety and enhancing the appearance of your car.
This is a quick and affordable way to improve your headlights. Compared to replacing them, this is a much more cost-effective solution that provides better safety while driving at night. However, it is important to note that headlight restoration does not include restoring the brake lights. These are a separate component that is responsible for lighting up when you engage the brakes. It is advisable to have your brake lights restored separately from your headlights in order to maintain proper functionality and improve the overall look of your vehicle.
5. Sealing
Keeping your headlights clean is vital to improving night driving. Dirty, yellowed headlights can not only make it difficult to see your way forward but also makes it harder for other drivers to see your vehicle. Brighter headlights are essential for visibility during fog, rain, and snow, reducing accidents on the road.
Many DIY headlight restoration kits are available at automotive stores. Choose a kit from a reputable brand known for producing quality car care products and backed by an outstanding warranty. Read the directions carefully. A good kit should include a surface activator, sanding pads of varying grits, and a sealer for headlight lenses. The product should be water-based and work by lubricating the surface as it is sanded, which helps to avoid scratching the lens.
Always wash the vehicle before working on the headlights to remove dirt and grime. Line any surrounding areas that could be damaged by the chemicals in headlight restoration products with masking tape. It is also important to wear gloves and protective eyewear. Be sure to sand the headlights with the grain and not against it, as this can cause damage.