Here's the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you! Rust-Oleum: amzn.to/3sRuH1G Armor All: amzn.to/3PetmJy 3M: amzn.to/45ZtgfE Cerakote: amzn.to/3PzGtql Rain-X: amzn.to/489J9C7 Meguair’s: amzn.to/3Pf2OYV Sylvania: amzn.to/3PeB1HM
What’s up guys? Quick question, do these kits typically come with enough materials to do both headlights or should I buy 1 kit per? I already feel stupid for buying 2 brand new housings, so don’t make me feel worse for asking this question.😂😂
Cheap alternative, Off Deepwood. Works. Simple spray s thick coat on the lens. Let it set for s few seconds, then wipe. Doesn't come out perfect but it does last for at least a year before having to do it again. But way cheaper and a lot less work.
Was just talking with my daughter two days ago about this very subject. I told her most of the kits were junk and she would be better off with aftermarket replacements. Or just using sandpaper working it wet moving from six to twelve hundred grit and then finish with a good polish. Set of replacement lenses for her vehicle are around 130 dollars. I just sent her the link to your video and told her to give the Sylvania a try. I also reiterated to her the importance of looking at your channel any time she was looking for a product like this or especially tools because you are by far the best out there. Without a doubt you are the modern day consumer reports. Thanks again for all your hard work and ingenuity in bringing us the information we need to make smarter decisions. It has saved me a lot of time money and heartache through the last several years.
@@cPetan2 Sylvania sells the coating from their kit separately and it's less toxic than dealing with 2k clear. I'd recommend that for most people. Just don't let it dry in direct sunlight or it'll burn weird lines into the coating.
The Sylvania works great. Used it after your last video to restore headlights so cloudy the high beams couldn't cut through it. 2 Years later they still look like the day they rolled outta the factory.
@@Jerry-sy8rd "Polish the lenses with Mothers polish…treat every few weeks with 303" - Could you be more specific? // Edit: Okay, I dug up the videos on TH-cam Jerry was referring to, and the results looked impressive. In order: "Mothers Polish" = "Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish" in a red jar, and "303" = "303 Protectant" available in a spray bottle (like Windex) from Walmart for @ $16. It has good reviews. I think I will try this method as it seems intuitively simpler, and I like simple.
Same here, outside kept truck with lenses so oxidized that one looked like it was cracking on the inside. Been a few years and the truck still lives outside in the sun and weather, they faded a little bit since, but still night and day to how they were. Might have held up even better if they had the full dry time, but l ended up driving in light rain an hour or so after application
In December of 2020, I purchased the Sylvania headlight restoration kit based on your review of that product back then. Over 3 years later, the headlights on my 1999 Buick Park Avenue still looks great! I see Sylvania is still the product to beat! Thank you for all your in depth reviews!
@@webster695 If you can afford both, the 3M drill-mounted kit for the sanding/polishing steps and then the coatings in the Sylvania kit, especially the UV coating. The combo is awesome and much less tedious than hand-sanding. I just posted a more in depth review of the combination at top-level here.
Love PF, he doesn't take sponsorships, doesn't have a crazy video set up, doesn't give you biased BS reviews (like 99% of YT, esp the millionaire tech reviewers) ... just cold hard facts coupled with great narration of his testing methodologies.
I used to write technical user documentation so I know how difficult it is to convey the right information to users. You do an excellent job in narrating your videos with all of the pertinent information. Very well done as always.
I also appreciate that he includes that he doesn't know everything (unlike a lot of TH-cam videos) and that there may be better/other ways to test things, but portrays the information as tested keeping those things in mind, based on this one application (especially if not being used/tested as intended) of a product, it did (or did not) work well.
Off topic, but your old job reminded me of a 6th grade assignment we had. The teacher was "extreme" and strict, we had to write directions for something like a product or process. Partner and I chose to write instructions on "How To French Braid Hair". Classmates did "How to Make a PB&J" and of course we came up with something I didn't even know how to do yet lol as an adult I have more appreciation for a clear set of instructions and demonstrations. And while niche, there's a very important career in it. I tried teaching my sister how to tie her shoes....oh boy lol
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this channel is top tier for trying to objectively test products as much as physically possible. This guy is the real deal. I was actually thinking of buying one of these kits but it seems like a lot of effort to just save a few bucks. I'd rather just pay a shop I trust to detail but I understand not everyone has that option. Again thanks for all you do man.
With the health problems I have, I decided to just replace the headlights on my cars. These kits look like a lot of work for me. The new headlights for my Silverado look great, and I am waiting for the others to arrive. The headlights on one car are so bad that I might sand all the way through the plastic trying to clean them.
@@garylangley4502 It's usually just the outermost part of the plastic which has degraded; my Bronco (1993) lights looked really foggy yellow, but cleared up nicely. I used the 3M kit almost 7 years ago, and it lasted decently until now. This time around, I'm going to try the Sylvania. FWIW, use a kit with a drill setup, it makes prep much easier (I have arthritic hands). If you use the 3M, you will need an additional can of special spray to be the new coat for the headlights. I can't remember what I used, but it was on the same amazon page as the 3M kit. Supposed to be UV resistant.
I was a detailer for 35 years and when I started cleaning vehicles for customers when the vehicle was waxed, I always waxed the head lights and tail lights and they never changed in color and always stayed clear. I am proud of all the vehicles I helped to maintain. Just a suggestion that really works. I am 77 and retired 2 years ago. Many of my customers I had for many years.
This makes sense as long as it's a UV-blocking wax (many/most are, since UV is also what's nasty to clearcoat and paint fade). But should be reapplied every 6-12 months.
I have used Liquid Glass Polish on all my cars for 40 years, including headlights. I have never had a headlight assembly that oxidized. Great comparison and advice.
Being a body shop owner for 45 years and most recently utilized the performance of cerakote products I am looking forward to trying the Sylvania, always greatful for your diligence and hardwork to make it easier for the public obtain wisdom.
I found the cerakote kit to look worse than original in about 6 months. It looks great for 1-2 months and started to fade/yellow dramatically. Back to the real body shop method, sanding and clearing!
@@promodvette I've used the Sylvania on several cars over the years. It always lasted the few years until I got rid of the car with minimal weathering. Consumers Reports also ranked it the best for whatever that's worth
not to mention that the box says life time warrantee!! I contacted them about my yet again yellowing headlight and they sent me a replacement kit!! def. the kit to go for for a decent long term solution.
Cerakote doesnt make a ton of products but the ones they do work very well for the price. Minus getting it professional done Cerakote having the ceramic wipe to seal is the game changer.
Please do these headlight showdowns annually! I bet you these manufacturers would love to see their products benchmarked against their competition as well. Thanks for all that you do!
I think these products are evolving I wonder if different car brands or different years have different finish layers on their plastic headlights? Newer cars now coming with more crystalline plastic than the first cars with plastic headlights had? Did the early (1990) Fords with their first plastic headlights really begin to yellow badly while the cars were still fairly new? Some kinds of clearcoat/sealer will mess up if applied directly on a surface of a different kind of sealer? But might tolerate being layered onto a previous layer of the same thing ? A light duty Turtlewax product that can be used (advertised for) for light waxing of the plastic headlight whenever the car (and headlight) has just been washed ? Better than just waxing the headlight with Turtlewax' "Ceramic Hybrid Solution" car wax that is supposed to be safe on plastic ?
I did the Cerakote kit on my wife's car, and I was SUPER impressed. What a great value for not having to replace the lens housings. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
Sad to see this phrase. To me, it represents people seeking to make enemies out of who could easily be friends just from truly knowing each other. Is this accurate for you? I grew up during the Cold war when the USSR was villainized. When I was still in high school, I saw a documentary of Russian families eating dinner, playing with each other, dealing with long lines to buy food, dealing with Russian bureaucracy. I thought my God these are just families trying to get along and loving each other! In my career I became friends with a Russian family. I still carry guilt feelings for thinking poorly of people I don't even know. On my street, there are families from various religions and political parties. They are all fantastic people.
Not only was this a comparison between the products, it serves as a quick how to guide for the use of each one. I look forward to seeing what a year's worth of exposure does.
I found you can do this but they will yellow again here in the south fairly quickly. I just decided to get new ones. Have an older car, they are pretty reasonable to buy new. Have a 2007 and 20 15 and they were $85.00 and $115.00. per set.
I found no kits last well over a year. I finally spent 3 hours taping off and sanding the oxidation off and then polishing with paint grade finishing polish and a final clear coat. Has been 2 years and still crystal clear.
good choice... I saw a video on pans and the granitstone for the price was unbeatable... even Chef Ramsey's Hex shit failed with the granitstone was better....@@robbro3589
I have only used the Sylvania kit for the last several years on multiple cars. Love it I also install clear tint on headlights afterwards so they do not haze again
Yesterday I used a a 3M headlight restoration kit on my 2012 Subaru Legacy. I got pretty good results, but next time I'll choose the Sylvania kit. Thanks Todd!
Based on your last review, I used the Sylvania kit on my 2012 Ridgeline just about a year ago. My truck spends its life parked outside, and is often parked in a parking lot with no shade. The headlights still look *great*.
Pro detailer here with acces to cerakotes pro quanteties of ceramic. im going to be doing a 9 step process on my 2007 workl ridgeline to getv the headlights perfect. a copy of 3Ms PRO grade headlight kit but with even better polish. and then finishing with an aplication of cerakotes ceramic.
Over the past decade, I have used both the Sylvania and 3M, both worked very well and lasted 2+ years, on about a dozen cars. Some advice is to remove the headlights, if you care about damaging the paint or trim. Tape can help but isn't perfect and is quickly damaged by the drill powered sanding. Use plenty of water and touch of detergent to, lube, clean, and cool the sand paper and lens as you go. Keep moving around in an even pattern and don't press hard to keep from over heating the plastic and melting trash back onto the lens. Stick with the first grit until you don't see any yellow at all in the dust.
We own a 2019 Peterbilt 567 and it has 800k miles on the vehicle. My wife drives at night and had a hard time seeing the road. We purchased the Sylvania kit and it took me about an hour to do both sides. I let it cure for 48 hrs before we left for work. These headlights look brand new. My wife is amazed at how much better at night she can see. The results are flawless. My tip is to keep alot of water on the headlights and sandpaper when sanding. It keeps the grit off the headlights and sandpaper. Will keep using this product when needed. I hope this product will last for at least 2 years.
Hello from the UK. I have only just found your channel and have watched around 10 videos. I am hooked! Your reviews are so indepth and honest. My wife keeps asking what the hell am I watching.
Women watch reviews of makeup they're probably not going to buy, men watch reviews of tools they're probably not going to buy 😂 (though when I do buy them I always start here!)
I appreciate how you read the instructions verbatim. Not only did the Sylvania do the best job, it also had the easiest to follow instructions as far as I can tell.
@@scottlanier5133 ....nowhere as durable as Cerakote... my experience with Sylvania after 2 years of 24/7 exposure to elements still has almost 0 oxidation.
I had used the Sylvania kit about three years ago on my 2012 Mazda 3 and it made them look brand new again, but I didn't use their clear coat. Instead I used Lens Bright UV clear coat on the headlamps on a sunny day about 40C/103F to bake it on. Three years later they still look new... very happy with the results.
@@vladmirputin7139 Because you used the clear coat that came with the product, that stuff is garbage. Use the dedicated UV clear coat protection stuff that you can buy off the shelf for protecting paint or specific types of lens. Works far better. Sylvania is just really good at removing the yellowing.
Was searching exactly for this. Based on his findings, I got the Sylvania kit. Result? Get it. It works. My precious is a 2015 Genesis Coupe, restored the headlights like new. My mind was blown. Saved me $500. One thing to note: in the final step before you apply the clear sealing layer, I recommend rinsing everything clean, dry it and then apply new tape around the headlights. And then perform some practice wipes to see where your wipe will hit the paint around the headlights. It will help with approach and any other areas to tape. On my car, I could not apply w/o inadvertently wiping on the paint. So I taped over those parts. I have questions, I go to this channel. Life changer.
2 years ago, I bought the restoration kit from HFT for use on my 12 year old Tundra headlights. After about an hour of polishing, about 2/3 of the oxidation had been removed. They looked a whole lot better, but were still foggy and somewhat yellow. HFT's product didn't have a clearcoat, so they've yellowed again. Doing research on Amazon, I settled on the Sylvania kit, which I'm going to apply today. Todd, you once again proved to me that all your hard work is absolutely valid and I trust your results entirely. Kudos to you and cousin Eddy.
Luckily I'm in the fortunate group with non-yellowing and extremely scratch resistant headlights on all my cars, but I have watched many videos on the subject, AND only now has it become definitive.. and the "how-to aspect" went un-noted..cleary another benefit......thanks again...
Hell yeah, I bought the Sylvania Kit since the last time you uploaded "Best Headlight Restoration Kit" for my 2001 corolla headlights and it's still clear after 3 years
Thank you for this comparison. I am trying to find a product that works. I have had my headlights polished before and it was a little pricey. I watched and thought I might be able to do the same if I know what products were used. This video helped me a lot.
I recently used the 3M kit sandpaper and the Sylvania kits chemicals to store three cars headlights. I am pleased to say that the two together are a dream team---The 3M sandpaper makes it fast, the Sylvania chemicals make it last. Thank you for another exceptional review!
I have used the 3M kit many times. However the 3M kits I have used did have the protectant included. In my experience the coatings last around 2 years before being noticeably worn and reapplication is necessary. Maintain the coating and one should almost never have to polish again.
I've always found the best (and most long lasting) results from wet sanding 600-2000 grit, quick IPA wipe and a few light coats of UV resistant clearcoat. The fine scratches from the 2000 grit create a perfect surface for the UV clearcoat to adhere to. Did my headlights in 2019 and it hasn't faded at all. Plus it only costs around $15 NZD for a 'kit' that can do probably 10 headlights before the paper and paint runs out.
1 can of 2k uv clear is $25 . Only stays usable for approx 24 hours. So unless your doing several headlite restores in same day , it can get pricey for the 2k clear. Wish it was available in mini cans for cheap.
@@thegeneraljoe67 hmm maybe the stuff I’ve been using isn’t actually ‘UV resistant’. Either way it seems to be holding up for multiple years so I’m not complaining
@@thegeneraljoe67 if you do that for the first time 1 whole can may be required due to potential mistakes and orange peel removal compensation. My HID headlights for a ford focus were $1600 new. So $25 is not a big deal imo.
I'm so glad you'll do a 1 year follow up to this video and I found the scratch test very useful I have a 15 year old ford fiesta and my headlights are not yellow at all but they have lots of surface "cracks" most likely due to road debris.
Thank you for your time. You have saved me hundreds of dollars over the years. I try to commet on every video and a thumbs up. Thanks again for your test. They are some of the best test hands down.
I came here to ask you to put these out in the sun for a year, but you were already ahead of me! I have used the Sylvania several times. My only complaint is that it only seems to last a year before re-yellowing. And they claim a lifetime warranty, but I tried that and did not receive any response multiple times. For the price, it's not really a big deal, but longevity will be a crucial factor for when I do it again. Thanks for your efforts!
@@A_Maggot I used a Cerakote kit on my sisters car last year. Did a very good job of restoring them and they still look as good as the day I finished them. I tried a RainX kit 3 years ago on a truck I no longer own. It did a lousy job that I was very dissatisfied with.
i think the best move is to use the Sylvania kit but purchase an after market ceramic coat or better yet, just paint it with UV resistant clear coat and then polish like normal
This is so weird. I just noticed a slight haze starting to form on the corner of my headlights. Truck is 10 years old. I considered using a restoration kit, and didn't know which one. Now I do. Timing is everything. Thank you very much for doing what you do!
Hello friends! I restored the headlights on my 2011 Toyota Prius early 2021. I used the Sylvania kit as it was the winner of Project Farm's last show down. Since then I have put approx. 50k miles on the vehicle. The headlights are needing restoration again as they are badly yellowed. I already bought Sylvania kit again, but I think next time I may get a 3M kit and a cerakote kit and see if its the best of both worlds of time savings and a better quality coating. Thanks a bunch for your videos, sir! :)
For those playing along at home who want the best results: 1. Use 3M dry/wet sandpaper sheets (600/1000/2000 grits) keeping wet while sanding. 2. Clean with soapy water. 3. Use a Meguiar’s buffing compound and Plastic Restorer with a foam disc. 4. Clean with soapy water and then with isopropyl alcohol. 5. Finish with Cerakote wipes.
Did it. Pulled my headlight buckets out of my 20 year old WJ Jeep yesterday (probably due for new lightbulbs.) Did one of them with the Sylvania kit and the other one with the Cerakote kit. At about 4 hours (keeping them indoors for a couple days to cure) the Sylvania one looks a bit more clear but both look much better than before,you can see the discolored 9005XS lightbulbs inside clearly now. To keep water out: taped up holes where the wiring harness with small bulbs twists in and kept the old main bulbs in (vehicle wire harness detaches from the rear bulb connectors,the bulbs form a water seal at their base when installed . Also kept the units more or less upright since there are a couple drain hoses in back,don't want water entering those upside down and running into the unit. Had the garden hose on command as well as a spray water bottle. Both units washed with dishwater soap the night before. Of note,did not scrub or wipe the "surface activator" after it sat in place for ? 40 seconds but flushed it off with the hose. Both times. Multiple times during the wet sanding I sprayed off the gunk produced by the sanding and went back to more sanding with the same grit paper. [Also did similar during the Cerakote sanding stages.] Also when doing the "clarifying compound" which is just fine polish when thinking it was complete I washed down the lens so as to see where a bit more rubbing with the polish towel looked worth doing. It is very important supposedly to have everything completely dry before applying the clearcoat of most of these products. I also notice that a 3M kit contains some kind of clearcoat. The headlight buckets were very difficult to get out of the WJ. They are held in by a sort of ball stud (3 of them for each bucket/headlight) on the bucket rear which fits into a sort of spring clip. I was able to look down through crevices behind the buckets with a strong pencil beam LED flashlight and hit a couple of them with "Powerlube" through a straw. There is a security "jackscrew" that has to be removed,supposedly spraying stuff down its hole will reach the bottom ball stud and/or its spring clip holder. Not until the next morning would they come out. I imagine my car isn't the only kind that uses something like that. When I put things back together I will put some plumber's grease or Sil- Glyde on the ball studs so hopefully won't be so hard to get out the next time. Also noticed that the clearcoat for the Sylvania smells much different than the Cerakote's clearcoat stuff.
For what it's worth, I purchased a 3M kit well over a decade ago. In that time I've successfully restored dozens of headlights with that kit. I'm still using it; I last used a couple of weeks ago, in fact. The early kits included a "Clarifyer" pad, and the velcro backing on mine is just now starting to separate from the pad. Naturally, I've purchased new sanding discs as needed. And I've incorporated Meguiar's PlasticX polish into the process, and finish it all with 2 coats of ceramic protectant.
A couple of other people have recommended Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish, and you've got to try it, even if it's not for a video. I've tried probably half a dozen headlight restoration kits over the years, and using Mother's is faster and easier and cheaper than any of them, with results just as good. $4 for a small jar of the polish. Clean the lens, wipe the polish on, rub it around a bit, wipe it off. Repeat. Do a third time, if necessary. Clean it again and put a car wax or a sealer or clear coat on top to keep the UV off. Done. My girlfriend's car is a 2007 Honda Fit and has HUGE headlight covers, but it's twenty minutes and no arm strain, no drill necessary, to do both with Mother's, and they look almost new. There's so little work necessary that I think the effect must be chemical more than abrasive, but it just works. I was skeptical, but there you go.
That's what I used on my previous ride's headlamps. They were large for the car size (Scion iQ), with both sharp angles and curves. The Mother's outdid three others I had tried, which all gave poor results. I was amazed at how clear the Mother's made them, and with so little effort! I liken it to using a good clear coat, but the cool bonus is, you can just polish them up again a year later. No sanding! My current ride has textured (on the outside! Grr.) DRLs, and they're pretty frosted since made in 2011, and I am considering trying acetone vapour treatment tried on them. It depends on the price. Otherwise, I'll just replace them.
I used Mother's for decades. You should try Meguiar's ultimate compound. It's meant for a final polish for auto paint, but I'm finding it great for anything I want to shine. 👍
You could use the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic spray that project farm tested as the best ceramic coat to finish the headlights after the mothers mag polish.
I have personally used the Sylvania restoration kit and it is absolutely amazing. It takes some time and effort, but if you have patience and follow the directions exactly, your result will be amazing. I have used it many times and the headlights look brand new every time. Definitely recommend just have some patience.
I came here to thank you. I used your recommended kit on my wife's 183k miles , 17 years old suv headlights with impressive results. I did it for safety, but got impressive looks as-new lenses
Great video! Having restored headlights on 15-20 different vehicles for myself, family, and friends, I was very interested in this topic. But my preferred kit was not included! I use the Meguiar's HEAVY DUTY headlight restoration kit and have had very good results on nearly every vehicle. It includes 1000 and 3000 grit sanding pads and a compound that is applied with a drill using a provided buffing pad. The final buffing with compound is where the magic usually happens. I think I will get the Cerakote kit for its superior final coating, and use the Meguiar's HD for the rest. The other challenge here is differences in headlights among various manufacturers. Besides the noted variation in UV damage, different brands have different properties and may affect the outcome of the testing. It would be great to see a re-do of this that includes the Meguiar's Heavy Duty kit with the top two from this video, in a showdown on the same headlight unit, from two or three different car brands.
I really like the immediate results of using the coatings, but they seem to breakdown and look bad faster. A quick cleaning and reapplication every 6mo-year is easy enough and looks great. Still sanding and polishing back to original condition is my preference for the project car. The kids junkers get the clean and wipe. Sylvania you can get just the chemicals (activator + coating) in a larger size for cheap. I haven't found if that is an option for the cerakote, but I would like to give them a try.
It’s funny you said that as I also use the Meguires HD kit for lots of headlights. I was also thinking maybe I’ll get the Cerakote kit for the final coating for superior longevity. Great minds think alike! 👍
That’s what I do on those heavy damaged plastics, even 180 grid and increase up to 2500 then light polish w CSI ceramiX and lastly Cerakote coating… good choice!
Absolutely wonderful! I live in So Cal and our headlights are exposed to a lot of heat/ozone/dust and pollutants. These restoration kits are great for people who don't have access to a polisher. One tip - for those using these kits, make sure you use masking tape to protect the paint around the headlights. Wide blue painters tape is a good idea vs regular masking tape. Don't use duct tape or anything like that. Great video! Thanks for you hard work.
I've been using the Cerakote on my family's vehicles, it works really well. One car is 2 years in and they still look like the day I did them. Our summer heat in FL is brutal also.
watched this video -- went and bought cerakote and am very happy with the results - thank you for posting this test - took me about 2x or 3x longer than it took him but I'm lower RPM guy than he is and I wasn't in a hurry and didn't have 6 more products to test
My guy, it's just like you read my mind. I was just watching the old video on Friday since I was needing to restore my headlights, then you drop this today right before I was going to place an order for a kit online.
I've used the sylvania kit before, the initial spray is amazing at taking off the old uv protectant. sometimes you don't even have to sand, just reapply uv protectant.
Cerakote is by FAR the longest lasting restoration kit I've used which is most likely due to their excellent protective coating! I did my headlights about 3 years ago with the Cerakote kit & they're still not yellowing, but they are starting to get cloudy / hazy. All of the other headlight restoration kits I've used in the past reached this stage in about 6 - 9 months.
Because every single "kit" leaves out a critical step: Polishing with 3m hard lens and plastic restorer OR chemical guys headlight restorer. Every kit gives you everything minus ONE critical item. The 3m kit is the best - but - you MUST polish for a lot longer until they are clear. THEN you get Meguiares blue topped can headlight clear spray as the final step. Please use alcohol wipe or NON ammonia glass cleaner prior to spray clear.
Used the same product and hazing is happening. The Ceramic protection has failed and will yellow soon after. Best long term solution is to re sand from 600- to 800/1000 grit. Just need to remove an left over ceramic and defects from the headlights and re clear them with K2 clear or have an auto body shop to clear them
I went with the Sylvania kit based on your recommendations. The process involves a lot of sanding on the headlights that seems counterintuitive and leaves the headlights looking bad until the last step. The final coating step made the lights looks literally brand new. It is a lot of work but in the end, it turned out nice! My wife was even impressed.
Extra buffing with very fine polish to the point that the lights don't look too bad after drying might make them look closer to perfect after the final coating has cured.
Since I already have sandpaper and compound, I bought a bottle of Sylvania clear coat only based on your previous review. Luckily they sell it on it's own to reduce the waste. Another great review!
Cant wait to see the long term results. I've tried a few different brands in the past, and while they all looked great in the beginning, they have had wildly different results over time.
I am looking forward to your long term test to see how quickly these lights deteriorate with different coatings. After restoring dozens of lights the only thing I have found that works long term is 2k clear coat after proper preparation. One side not to your testing, different manufacturers use different uv coatings on their headlights. Some are easy to restore and some require extensive sanding so it is not always a fair test when using different lights to do a side by side test.
Amazing video, it gets to the point, shows several brand not one or two, shows all steps for everybrand but does it efficiently and lastly great conparisons in every aspect
I've used the Armour All kit on my daughters vw Jetta headlights, they were heavily oxidized. Kit was easy to use and I was VERY happy with results. Several months later and they still look good.
I have to do that on my Jetta headlights. I got a 3m kit at habitat for humanity store so will try that. Funny thing is Toyota headlights of same vintage look clear and good as new .
I'm shocked you didn't test 'Deep Woods Off' bug repellent. I picked up a used headlight a couple years ago and the salvage yard suggested it. Simply washed it in the sink with a little Dawn and warm water, dried it, then wiped 'OFF' across the lens, repeating with clean portion of the rag, till the rag stopped showing signs of discoloration. Blew my mind, looked fantastic, did my GMC after that, both still look great, been a couple years now. In the Air Force, we had 'Windshield polishing kits', if an aircraft window had a minor scratch, they'd attempt to polish it out by hand. No idea what the white slurry was but the final abrasive was 8000 grit, felt like a soft piece of t-shirt. Excellent content as always.
All that does is melt the polycarb. All the bums use it at intersections trying to get a handout. You must be parking inside, as with no UV protectant it seems to last 4-6 months depending on location, storage. I had to pick up an orbital buffer for my last car, and some wet sand paper, decent compound an Polycarb-rated UV protectant makes them look like new. Takes about 20-25 minutes per headlight, but glass clear.
Might try this first on my old 03 chevy work truck. Lenses are in rough shape so would be nice if the repellent did a quick job of cutting down the damaged areas. I'll use the Sylvania kit after and a decent UV protector as the truck is outdoors 24/7 and the summers get intense in Vegas. Hoping the repellent reduces sanding time is all, I'll research it a bit first so I don't damage anything, haha
@@boots7859 I'm parked outside but the garage eves do offer some shade. To be fair, I've always waxed my headlights when waxing the vehicle, that may contribute to their continued clarity.
@@boots7859 I lived in Florida, always parked outside and used DEET and after three years, until I sold it, it still looked better than when I used the 3M kit two years before trying the DEET. The 3M didn't last at all and using the DEET literally took 5 minutes total. I'll never waste time sanding and buffing and all that ever again.
The most recent 3m kit I have used came (edit: “ultra headlight restoration kit”) with 3 progressively finer sanding discs and a wipe on clear coat, and seemed to work well on badly oxidized headlights. Regardless of brand, that method seems to be the most effective way to do this. I’m surprised your 3m kit didn’t have the clear coat.
Absolutely should have tested the ultra kit. 3 different sanding pads, drill attachment, and the 3M coating that makes the kit so effective and longer lasting.
Same here, but I bought the meguairs clear coat spray separately and applied it after i finished using the 3m kit. Even severely oxidized headlights always came out looking brand new! The rain x kit also works well but the key is applying the meguairs clear coat. 2 years later and my headlights still look new.
I've used the ceracote on 2 vehicles and was highly impressed...INITIALLY. Less than 1 year they have already started to yellow. Yes, I applied it correctly. Spend over an hour on each headlight.
Interesting. I used the ceracote kit on my sisters car last summer and they still look the same as the day I did them and her car is always parked in uncovered parking. Guess I better keep a close watch on them.
Your content is the best on youtube. I always check if you have a review before buying something. Purchased the Sylvania kit and will attempt later today. Cheers.
I used the Cerakote on my headlights last year. It’s been about 8 months and they’re still clear as the day I applied it. I would highly recommend the Cerakote here.
Your videos are fantastic and so I trusted your #1 choice of Sylvania when I came to fix the headlights on my Porsche Boxster. Not only were they a mess, but they had deep scratches in one of the lights. I was doubtful that it would fix everything up perfectly. It was significantly more hard work than your video showed to get rid of deep scratches with 400 sanding paper, but the results are incredible. They are as good as new! Amazing!
Bravo. Ultra solid work. As always, no BS-ing, no stretching the content to make a longer video, just go, go, go. I occasionally get my ADD amplified, but I can always use 0.75 speed, if needed. Thanks very much! See you in a year! (for this matter)
Thanks for the review. I am wondering about the longevity of these treatments. It would be great to check back later and see which product held after prolonged exposure to sun and rain…
I used the cerakote and did exactly the way you did and the instructions said. The protective coating only lasted about 10 months before I started noticing cloudiness .
I have used the Sylvania brand twice and the only thing I did differently was used my DA 1 inch sander/polisher and used high grits and spent more time. Over 2 years later the headlights are still perfectly fine and it increased how far you could see with LED bulbs installed by a lot. I think you could mix a couple of these to really get a good outcome, but for the cost you really can't beat the top three and it's only 45 mins max of your time for a couple years of clarity.
I just bought the Sylvania kit based on this video. My wife’s 2016 Pilot’s headlamps were pretty hazy. After applying the kit they look brand new. Thank you Project Farm.
I've already done this process on five headlights, from two cars I have (2000 Honda Civic and 2004 Honda Fit). On both I used sandpaper (from 800 to 5000 Trizact), polished with a drill and applied a sealant from a Brazilian company called Vonixx (V-Light - specifically for headlights). Overall, the service was EXCELLENT, without the "random" products that many of these kits come with!
I wonder about longevity of the V-Light, because this is the most important part since alot of these restoration products just have headlights reoxidizing quickly over time.
@@TuneStunnaMusic For both the Civic and the Fit, it has been more than 2 years since I applied them and they are still in excellent condition, but they spend more time in the building's garage than on the street, as I use them occasionally. I have a third car, which is a Toyota Etios and that is my daily car. I only applied V-Light to it at the same time as the other cars and now it is starting to lose its protection, so I will have to do a new application. The product is really GOOD! I always recommend!
Wife just asked me about fence stains and didn’t see a video up(maybe I missed it), thought I’d throw an idea out there. Thanks as always for the great contact and uncompromising honesty!
@ProjectFarm please try and do something on safety toe work boots. Blue collar workers need something that shows what will and won't hold up. I'm tired of paying 200+ for boots that only last 7 months
Recently purchased the Sylvania headlight kit because of this video to give it a try on my car, and the results were absolutely incredible - it was like I basically had brand new headlights. I am glad you do these types of videos where you compare several different brands so that we have the best idea of which products are good and which ones to avoid. Thank you.
Been watching your videos for YEARS and really enjoy them. Honestly, I think it's time you revisited some of your older videos and redo/test the products again. Not that there was anything wrong with your initial videos or tests but sometimes a product wasn't included or hadn't been released yet, or perhaps a formula or manufacturing process changed . . ?. Also, you're so creative with your tests I'm sure you have devised some more effective and efficient tests over the years. Call them a revisit, rewind, rebound whatever. Easy but still very useful content.
I agree. I would like to see you revisit some tests with all new products. I don't think any formulas really change so I don't think you should redo any old products but all new products then put them on a performance list with the old ones tested and the new ones tested unless you add a test then maybe if you still have all the products tested you should just include them in the added test.
I just did the sylvania kit today and had like new results! My headlights were yellow and dull, you could not see the insides…they were pretty scratched up all over too…i did not expect to get the scratches out but after i was done, they looked amazing. This kit has everything and quality parts, the activator really removes the yellow nastiness at first, the sandpaper is high quality and lasts a long time when wet. After sanding the lights look ok but that uv coating makes them look brand new after 1 pass! For $20, I don’t mind doing this once a year even if they fade!
interesting, but someone was claimg HL lenses can develop haze on the inside(?) If true, non of these kits will, of course, fix that. Did you by chance notice any internal UV damage/haze on the interior/bulb-side of your lenses? Reason I ask, I'm thinking it might make more sense to by new assemblies, if I can find em for decent price, at least that way they'll be good to go for at least another decade or more.
@@__WJK__ so far so good. I don’t see any haze inside on mine. From what I’ve seen, what you’re talking about sounds like the seal failed around the lights and got moisture inside? I’ve seen that on cheap replacements. For $20, the kit is worth trying out before spending $$$ on new lights, just follow the directions exactly 👍
I have always used the 3M kit with great results. It would typically last a couple of years before i had to do it again. The new kits have the UV coating and maybe that will give longer lasting results. I just did my daughter's car with the new kit so I'll let you know if it lasts longer in a few years!
I used a proffesional 3M headlight kit in my detail shop. Same basic principle as the over the counter kit. I followed up with Automotive clear coat paint in a spray can. It prevents the oxidation and will last for years.
I'm not in the market for this type of product, yet as typical in this situation, I still love to watch and soak up the info. This is one of my favorite channels across all media formats.
I used the Sylvania kit over a year ago on my 10yo daily driver Toyota Corolla and it's still looks great. There is a lot of elbow grease needed for the Sylvania kit though. Great videos helps me choose a quality product and not throw my money away
Thank you! Hopefully, the sense of humor helps everyone smile and enjoy the reviews. Lots of humor in the comments area that makes me smile!! Thanks again!
WARNING!! If you go with the CERAKOTE, It works great but 2 things you MUST know before hand! DO NOT get it on your glass windows or windshield, i wouldn’t even risk using it around the glass on your car, I knew not to do this but still got some on my glass on accident and didn’t realize it so I didn’t wipe it off in time, IT WILL NOT COME OFF IF YOU GET IT ON YOUR GLASS AND LEAVE IT FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES!! 2nd piece of advice if you get the Cerakote, DO NOT overdo it with the wipes, one pass should be enough. If you do more than a few passes, especially after it starts to dry, it will leave little beads/drops of the coating that WILL STAY THERE FOREVER. As long as you listen to this advice and don’t do these 2 mistakes, you will be good and it DOES work VERY well as far as restoring headlights and anything plastic like black trim on your car!
About a week ago I was looking for a kit to restore the headlights on my girlfriend’s 2013 Prius. Consumer Reports recommended the Sylvania so that’s what I went with. Sure, it took a little extra time to get the lights all cleaned up but we were both extremely happy with the results. Then I see your review and that you also had a great outcome with the exact same kit. Right on! 👍
9:38 "Lipstick on a pig... no problem. But they really hate mascara." - Algernop Krieger The polycarbonate sheet experiment is brilliant! This is why I watch your channel! Please try the coatings on unsullied PC sheets and expose them for a year, too.
Here's the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!
Rust-Oleum: amzn.to/3sRuH1G
Armor All: amzn.to/3PetmJy
3M: amzn.to/45ZtgfE
Cerakote: amzn.to/3PzGtql
Rain-X: amzn.to/489J9C7
Meguair’s: amzn.to/3Pf2OYV
Sylvania: amzn.to/3PeB1HM
What’s up guys? Quick question, do these kits typically come with enough materials to do both headlights or should I buy 1 kit per? I already feel stupid for buying 2 brand new housings, so don’t make me feel worse for asking this question.😂😂
Cheap alternative, Off Deepwood. Works. Simple spray s thick coat on the lens. Let it set for s few seconds, then wipe. Doesn't come out perfect but it does last for at least a year before having to do it again. But way cheaper and a lot less work.
Was just talking with my daughter two days ago about this very subject. I told her most of the kits were junk and she would be better off with aftermarket replacements. Or just using sandpaper working it wet moving from six to twelve hundred grit and then finish with a good polish. Set of replacement lenses for her vehicle are around 130 dollars. I just sent her the link to your video and told her to give the Sylvania a try. I also reiterated to her the importance of looking at your channel any time she was looking for a product like this or especially tools because you are by far the best out there. Without a doubt you are the modern day consumer reports. Thanks again for all your hard work and ingenuity in bringing us the information we need to make smarter decisions. It has saved me a lot of time money and heartache through the last several years.
Instead of polish, stop sanding at grade 800 sandpaper and then spray it with proper 2k clear coat.
Thanks! Glad to hear!
@@cPetan2 no, keep wet sanding until 3000 grit then polish
@bamwa yes, and after a couple of months, you can do it again. When you spray it with a clear coat, it will last for years.
@@cPetan2 Sylvania sells the coating from their kit separately and it's less toxic than dealing with 2k clear. I'd recommend that for most people. Just don't let it dry in direct sunlight or it'll burn weird lines into the coating.
The Sylvania works great. Used it after your last video to restore headlights so cloudy the high beams couldn't cut through it. 2 Years later they still look like the day they rolled outta the factory.
Thanks for sharing!
Same experience- I’ve used it 3 times since the last video and it’s incredible
I agree and have used the Sylvania kit for numerous cars myself
@@Jerry-sy8rd "Polish the lenses with Mothers polish…treat every few weeks with 303" - Could you be more specific? // Edit: Okay, I dug up the videos on TH-cam Jerry was referring to, and the results looked impressive. In order: "Mothers Polish" = "Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish" in a red jar, and "303" = "303 Protectant" available in a spray bottle (like Windex) from Walmart for @ $16. It has good reviews. I think I will try this method as it seems intuitively simpler, and I like simple.
Same here, outside kept truck with lenses so oxidized that one looked like it was cracking on the inside. Been a few years and the truck still lives outside in the sun and weather, they faded a little bit since, but still night and day to how they were. Might have held up even better if they had the full dry time, but l ended up driving in light rain an hour or so after application
In December of 2020, I purchased the Sylvania headlight restoration kit based on your review of that product back then. Over 3 years later, the headlights on my 1999 Buick Park Avenue still looks great! I see Sylvania is still the product to beat! Thank you for all your in depth reviews!
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
That’s a great companion recommendation to this video. I’m definitely sold now, thanks!
@@webster695 If you can afford both, the 3M drill-mounted kit for the sanding/polishing steps and then the coatings in the Sylvania kit, especially the UV coating. The combo is awesome and much less tedious than hand-sanding. I just posted a more in depth review of the combination at top-level here.
@@Spudz76 where is your review?
Did you make a video of it?
Yep bought sylvania after watching this too. Only 5 months in but they look great.
Suggested video: Rechargable WORK LIGHTS- Battery capacity, discharge time, lumen output, water resistance, drop test
Thank you for the video idea!
This is a great one. I’m extremely interested in work lights.
Very good idea, I’ve been needing a led working for outside jobs
Torque Test Channel has some great light testing videos!
Candela > lumens
Love PF, he doesn't take sponsorships, doesn't have a crazy video set up, doesn't give you biased BS reviews (like 99% of YT, esp the millionaire tech reviewers) ... just cold hard facts coupled with great narration of his testing methodologies.
Thanks!
I used to write technical user documentation so I know how difficult it is to convey the right information to users. You do an excellent job in narrating your videos with all of the pertinent information. Very well done as always.
Thanks so much!
Hi can you please do video for car dash cam
I also appreciate that he includes that he doesn't know everything (unlike a lot of TH-cam videos) and that there may be better/other ways to test things, but portrays the information as tested keeping those things in mind, based on this one application (especially if not being used/tested as intended) of a product, it did (or did not) work well.
Off topic, but your old job reminded me of a 6th grade assignment we had. The teacher was "extreme" and strict, we had to write directions for something like a product or process. Partner and I chose to write instructions on "How To French Braid Hair". Classmates did "How to Make a PB&J" and of course we came up with something I didn't even know how to do yet lol as an adult I have more appreciation for a clear set of instructions and demonstrations. And while niche, there's a very important career in it. I tried teaching my sister how to tie her shoes....oh boy lol
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this channel is top tier for trying to objectively test products as much as physically possible. This guy is the real deal.
I was actually thinking of buying one of these kits but it seems like a lot of effort to just save a few bucks. I'd rather just pay a shop I trust to detail but I understand not everyone has that option.
Again thanks for all you do man.
With the health problems I have, I decided to just replace the headlights on my cars. These kits look like a lot of work for me. The new headlights for my Silverado look great, and I am waiting for the others to arrive. The headlights on one car are so bad that I might sand all the way through the plastic trying to clean them.
@@garylangley4502 It's usually just the outermost part of the plastic which has degraded; my Bronco (1993) lights looked really foggy yellow, but cleared up nicely. I used the 3M kit almost 7 years ago, and it lasted decently until now. This time around, I'm going to try the Sylvania. FWIW, use a kit with a drill setup, it makes prep much easier (I have arthritic hands). If you use the 3M, you will need an additional can of special spray to be the new coat for the headlights. I can't remember what I used, but it was on the same amazon page as the 3M kit. Supposed to be UV resistant.
I was a detailer for 35 years and when I started cleaning vehicles for customers when the vehicle was waxed, I always waxed the head lights and tail lights and they never changed in color and always stayed clear. I am proud of all the vehicles I helped to maintain. Just a suggestion that really works. I am 77 and retired 2 years ago. Many of my customers I had for many years.
This makes sense as long as it's a UV-blocking wax (many/most are, since UV is also what's nasty to clearcoat and paint fade). But should be reapplied every 6-12 months.
I have used Liquid Glass Polish on all my cars for 40 years, including headlights. I have never had a headlight assembly that oxidized. Great comparison and advice.
what product is your "liquid glass polish" and where can i buy it@@jackenrod6794
what brand of glass polish@@jackenrod6794
@@jackenrod6794
Never heard of it
Being a body shop owner for 45 years and most recently utilized the performance of cerakote products I am looking forward to trying the Sylvania, always greatful for your diligence and hardwork to make it easier for the public obtain wisdom.
Thank you for sharing!
I found the cerakote kit to look worse than original in about 6 months. It looks great for 1-2 months and started to fade/yellow dramatically. Back to the real body shop method, sanding and clearing!
@@promodvette I've used the Sylvania on several cars over the years. It always lasted the few years until I got rid of the car with minimal weathering. Consumers Reports also ranked it the best for whatever that's worth
not to mention that the box says life time warrantee!! I contacted them about my yet again yellowing headlight and they sent me a replacement kit!! def. the kit to go for for a decent long term solution.
Cerakote doesnt make a ton of products but the ones they do work very well for the price. Minus getting it professional done Cerakote having the ceramic wipe to seal is the game changer.
Please do these headlight showdowns annually! I bet you these manufacturers would love to see their products benchmarked against their competition as well. Thanks for all that you do!
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
+1, can't wait to see how they look after a year.
@@ProjectFarmthis comment, and include the HFT restoration kit
I think these products are evolving
I wonder if different car brands or different years have different finish layers on their plastic headlights? Newer cars now coming with more crystalline plastic than the first cars with plastic headlights had? Did the early (1990) Fords with their first plastic headlights really begin to yellow badly while the cars were still fairly new?
Some kinds of clearcoat/sealer will mess up if applied directly on a surface of a different kind of sealer? But might tolerate being layered onto a previous layer of the same thing ?
A light duty Turtlewax product that can be used (advertised for) for light waxing of the plastic headlight whenever the car (and headlight) has just been washed ? Better than just waxing the headlight with Turtlewax' "Ceramic Hybrid Solution" car wax that is supposed to be safe on plastic ?
I did the Cerakote kit on my wife's car, and I was SUPER impressed. What a great value for not having to replace the lens housings. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
This is the only channel I believe when I'm told to check back in a year, for a video update.
Yes, I set my alarm clock as I stand back and stand by.
Sad to see this phrase. To me, it represents people seeking to make enemies out of who could easily be friends just from truly knowing each other. Is this accurate for you?
I grew up during the Cold war when the USSR was villainized. When I was still in high school, I saw a documentary of Russian families eating dinner, playing with each other, dealing with long lines to buy food, dealing with Russian bureaucracy. I thought my God these are just families trying to get along and loving each other! In my career I became friends with a Russian family. I still carry guilt feelings for thinking poorly of people I don't even know.
On my street, there are families from various religions and political parties. They are all fantastic people.
Not only was this a comparison between the products, it serves as a quick how to guide for the use of each one. I look forward to seeing what a year's worth of exposure does.
I found you can do this but they will yellow again here in the south fairly quickly. I just decided to get new ones. Have an older car, they are pretty reasonable to buy new. Have a 2007 and 20 15 and they were $85.00 and $115.00. per set.
Need to do the 3m clear coat wipes and they usually last several years. Otherwise with no uv protection they'll yellow again pretty quickly
I found no kits last well over a year. I finally spent 3 hours taping off and sanding the oxidation off and then polishing with paint grade finishing polish and a final clear coat. Has been 2 years and still crystal clear.
It's a crime headlights are not made out of glass. My 1992 Honda Civic's headlights still look brand new, plus the car has never been garaged.
A year later after exposure to UV rays will be THE bottom line.
You're amazing. I needed to buy a frying pan and needed to do my headlights. Saved me from researching this stuff. Thanks Todd
Thank you very much!
I was in the market for a new pan and ended up buying the Granitestone.
lol That's one hell of an unlikely Venn Diagram. 😅
good choice... I saw a video on pans and the granitstone for the price was unbeatable... even Chef Ramsey's Hex shit failed with the granitstone was better....@@robbro3589
Same! 😂
I have only used the Sylvania kit for the last several years on multiple cars. Love it
I also install clear tint on headlights afterwards so they do not haze again
Thanks for the feedback.
Was just looking up restoration kits... thank you!!
The timing here is... VERY IMPRESSIVE!
You're welcome!
I thought the same…!
same on the handheld jumper pack.. love mine 👍😎✊
It's like mind reading. I was looking for a booster a while ago, and bam, new video about boosters. Man is a wizard.
Yesterday I used a a 3M headlight restoration kit on my 2012 Subaru Legacy. I got pretty good results, but next time I'll choose the Sylvania kit. Thanks Todd!
Based on your last review, I used the Sylvania kit on my 2012 Ridgeline just about a year ago. My truck spends its life parked outside, and is often parked in a parking lot with no shade. The headlights still look *great*.
Thanks for adding where you're parked, wish everyone would share this part of their evaluation.
Thanks for sharing.
Pro detailer here with acces to cerakotes pro quanteties of ceramic. im going to be doing a 9 step process on my 2007 workl ridgeline to getv the headlights perfect. a copy of 3Ms PRO grade headlight kit but with even better polish. and then finishing with an aplication of cerakotes ceramic.
@@lucashurley7612What do you think about doing Sylvanias kit with cerakotes ceramic to finish it off?
Over the past decade, I have used both the Sylvania and 3M, both worked very well and lasted 2+ years, on about a dozen cars. Some advice is to remove the headlights, if you care about damaging the paint or trim. Tape can help but isn't perfect and is quickly damaged by the drill powered sanding. Use plenty of water and touch of detergent to, lube, clean, and cool the sand paper and lens as you go. Keep moving around in an even pattern and don't press hard to keep from over heating the plastic and melting trash back onto the lens. Stick with the first grit until you don't see any yellow at all in the dust.
Thanks for sharing.
ty!!
We own a 2019 Peterbilt 567 and it has 800k miles on the vehicle. My wife drives at night and had a hard time seeing the road. We purchased the Sylvania kit and it took me about an hour to do both sides. I let it cure for 48 hrs before we left for work. These headlights look brand new. My wife is amazed at how much better at night she can see. The results are flawless. My tip is to keep alot of water on the headlights and sandpaper when sanding. It keeps the grit off the headlights and sandpaper. Will keep using this product when needed. I hope this product will last for at least 2 years.
Thanks for sharing.
Hello from the UK. I have only just found your channel and have watched around 10 videos. I am hooked! Your reviews are so indepth and honest. My wife keeps asking what the hell am I watching.
Women watch reviews of makeup they're probably not going to buy, men watch reviews of tools they're probably not going to buy 😂 (though when I do buy them I always start here!)
What planet are you living on!
Thanks for sharing!
Check out the review he did recently on non-stick pans, your wife might understand if she catches you watching that one!
@@ranat5526
You know there are probably god knows how many channels you'd be interested in which you haven't discovered yet, right? 😂
I appreciate how you read the instructions verbatim. Not only did the Sylvania do the best job, it also had the easiest to follow instructions as far as I can tell.
Thanks for sharing!
From my experience, Sylvania is superior to other brands, but it is hard to find in retail stores.
In my experience sylvania is nowhere as durable as cerakote though
@@scottlanier5133 ....nowhere as durable as Cerakote... my experience with Sylvania after 2 years of 24/7 exposure to elements still has almost 0 oxidation.
wonder what it would look like to use the Sylvania up to the coating and then use the Cerakote coating -- let each do their strength
Used the Sylvania Kit from your last showdown on a meter/screen for an older Honda atv. Worked phenomenally!
That's great feedback! Sylvania performed well once again!
Same! Its been almost two years and its just now starting to look like its need a touch up. For 20 bucks that was well worth it.
is it available in stores?
Same here, went with Sylvania based on the last video. Almost 2 years later and it's still holding up!
can you find it in store?
I had used the Sylvania kit about three years ago on my 2012 Mazda 3 and it made them look brand new again, but I didn't use their clear coat. Instead I used Lens Bright UV clear coat on the headlamps on a sunny day about 40C/103F to bake it on. Three years later they still look new... very happy with the results.
Thanks for sharing.
The Sylvania clear coat is garbage. My headlights yellowed again after about a month.
Where can one find this Lens Bright UV Clear Coat?
I also used the Sylvania kit and the headlights looked great when I was finished but it didn't take long for them to yellow again@@vladmirputin7139
@@vladmirputin7139 Because you used the clear coat that came with the product, that stuff is garbage. Use the dedicated UV clear coat protection stuff that you can buy off the shelf for protecting paint or specific types of lens. Works far better. Sylvania is just really good at removing the yellowing.
Was searching exactly for this. Based on his findings, I got the Sylvania kit. Result? Get it. It works. My precious is a 2015 Genesis Coupe, restored the headlights like new. My mind was blown. Saved me $500. One thing to note: in the final step before you apply the clear sealing layer, I recommend rinsing everything clean, dry it and then apply new tape around the headlights. And then perform some practice wipes to see where your wipe will hit the paint around the headlights. It will help with approach and any other areas to tape. On my car, I could not apply w/o inadvertently wiping on the paint. So I taped over those parts.
I have questions, I go to this channel. Life changer.
Thanks for sharing.
2 years ago, I bought the restoration kit from HFT for use on my 12 year old Tundra headlights. After about an hour of polishing, about 2/3 of the oxidation had been removed. They looked a whole lot better, but were still foggy and somewhat yellow. HFT's product didn't have a clearcoat, so they've yellowed again. Doing research on Amazon, I settled on the Sylvania kit, which I'm going to apply today.
Todd, you once again proved to me that all your hard work is absolutely valid and I trust your results entirely. Kudos to you and cousin Eddy.
Use the HFT kit and finish with Krylon plastic UV resistant clear coat spray can. It's a better protective coating than any of these kits.
Thanks!
I used Mothers headlight restoration kit in 2020. 4 years later my lights are still very clear. I’m impressed
Thanks for the feedback.
Luckily I'm in the fortunate group with non-yellowing and extremely scratch resistant headlights on all my cars, but I have watched many videos on the subject, AND only now has it become definitive.. and the "how-to aspect" went un-noted..cleary another benefit......thanks again...
@@kafklatsch3198why would you watch many videos on this subject if your headlights are fine?
Hell yeah, I bought the Sylvania Kit since the last time you uploaded "Best Headlight Restoration Kit" for my 2001 corolla headlights and it's still clear after 3 years
Ditto for me. Worked beautifully.
Agreed
Wow, that is great!
Thank you for this comparison. I am trying to find a product that works. I have had my headlights polished before and it was a little pricey. I watched and thought I might be able to do the same if I know what products were used. This video helped me a lot.
I recently used the 3M kit sandpaper and the Sylvania kits chemicals to store three cars headlights. I am pleased to say that the two together are a dream team---The 3M sandpaper makes it fast, the Sylvania chemicals make it last. Thank you for another exceptional review!
I have used the 3M kit many times. However the 3M kits I have used did have the protectant included. In my experience the coatings last around 2 years before being noticeably worn and reapplication is necessary. Maintain the coating and one should almost never have to polish again.
You are welcome!
I've always found the best (and most long lasting) results from wet sanding 600-2000 grit, quick IPA wipe and a few light coats of UV resistant clearcoat. The fine scratches from the 2000 grit create a perfect surface for the UV clearcoat to adhere to. Did my headlights in 2019 and it hasn't faded at all. Plus it only costs around $15 NZD for a 'kit' that can do probably 10 headlights before the paper and paint runs out.
That's what I'm saying 2K clear coat (UV resistant) is the only thing that works reliably. If done correctly it could surpass the factory coat.
1 can of 2k uv clear is $25 . Only stays usable for approx 24 hours. So unless your doing several headlite restores in same day , it can get pricey for the 2k clear. Wish it was available in mini cans for cheap.
@@thegeneraljoe67 hmm maybe the stuff I’ve been using isn’t actually ‘UV resistant’. Either way it seems to be holding up for multiple years so I’m not complaining
@@thegeneraljoe67 if you do that for the first time 1 whole can may be required due to potential mistakes and orange peel removal compensation. My HID headlights for a ford focus were $1600 new. So $25 is not a big deal imo.
I'm in nz too. What brand of uv clearcoat did you yse and where did you buy it from? Cheers mate
I'm so glad you'll do a 1 year follow up to this video and I found the scratch test very useful
I have a 15 year old ford fiesta and my headlights are not yellow at all but they have lots of surface "cracks" most likely due to road debris.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your time. You have saved me hundreds of dollars over the years. I try to commet on every video and a thumbs up. Thanks again for your test. They are some of the best test hands down.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I came here to ask you to put these out in the sun for a year, but you were already ahead of me! I have used the Sylvania several times. My only complaint is that it only seems to last a year before re-yellowing. And they claim a lifetime warranty, but I tried that and did not receive any response multiple times. For the price, it's not really a big deal, but longevity will be a crucial factor for when I do it again. Thanks for your efforts!
Used the Cerakote almost 2 years ago, still really clear. I am only halfway thru the video so I haven't seen the final results yet.
@@A_Maggot I used a Cerakote kit on my sisters car last year. Did a very good job of restoring them and they still look as good as the day I finished them. I tried a RainX kit 3 years ago on a truck I no longer own. It did a lousy job that I was very dissatisfied with.
i think the best move is to use the Sylvania kit but purchase an after market ceramic coat or better yet, just paint it with UV resistant clear coat and then polish like normal
Thanks for sharing!
Buy yourself some 3M headlight film and apply. Lasts for years and keeps them as clear as the day you cover them with the film.
This is so weird. I just noticed a slight haze starting to form on the corner of my headlights. Truck is 10 years old. I considered using a restoration kit, and didn't know which one. Now I do. Timing is everything. Thank you very much for doing what you do!
Hello friends! I restored the headlights on my 2011 Toyota Prius early 2021. I used the Sylvania kit as it was the winner of Project Farm's last show down. Since then I have put approx. 50k miles on the vehicle. The headlights are needing restoration again as they are badly yellowed. I already bought Sylvania kit again, but I think next time I may get a 3M kit and a cerakote kit and see if its the best of both worlds of time savings and a better quality coating.
Thanks a bunch for your videos, sir! :)
Leave sealant off, use Krylon plastic UV resistant clear coat spray can instead. Try that on one headlight.
Thanks for sharing!
For those playing along at home who want the best results:
1. Use 3M dry/wet sandpaper sheets (600/1000/2000 grits) keeping wet while sanding.
2. Clean with soapy water.
3. Use a Meguiar’s buffing compound and Plastic Restorer with a foam disc.
4. Clean with soapy water and then with isopropyl alcohol.
5. Finish with Cerakote wipes.
@@Steven-gv1ke No don’t. That screws with light refraction as it goes through the headlight lens.
Did it. Pulled my headlight buckets out of my 20 year old WJ Jeep yesterday (probably due for new lightbulbs.) Did one of them with the Sylvania kit and the other one with the Cerakote kit. At about 4 hours (keeping them indoors for a couple days to cure) the Sylvania one looks a bit more clear but both look much better than before,you can see the discolored 9005XS lightbulbs inside clearly now. To keep water out: taped up holes where the wiring harness with small bulbs twists in and kept the old main bulbs in (vehicle wire harness detaches from the rear bulb connectors,the bulbs form a water seal at their base when installed . Also kept the units more or less upright since there are a couple drain hoses in back,don't want water entering those upside down and running into the unit. Had the garden hose on command as well as a spray water bottle. Both units washed with dishwater soap the night before. Of note,did not scrub or wipe the "surface activator" after it sat in place for ? 40 seconds but flushed it off with the hose. Both times. Multiple times during the wet sanding I sprayed off the gunk produced by the sanding and went back to more sanding with the same grit paper. [Also did similar during the Cerakote sanding stages.] Also when doing the "clarifying compound" which is just fine polish when thinking it was complete I washed down the lens so as to see where a bit more rubbing with the polish towel looked worth doing.
It is very important supposedly to have everything completely dry before applying the clearcoat of most of these products. I also notice that a 3M kit contains some kind of clearcoat.
The headlight buckets were very difficult to get out of the WJ. They are held in by a sort of ball stud (3 of them for each bucket/headlight) on the bucket rear which fits into a sort of spring clip. I was able to look down through crevices behind the buckets with a strong pencil beam LED flashlight and hit a couple of them with "Powerlube" through a straw. There is a security "jackscrew" that has to be removed,supposedly spraying stuff down its hole will reach the bottom ball stud and/or its spring clip holder. Not until the next morning would they come out. I imagine my car isn't the only kind that uses something like that. When I put things back together I will put some plumber's grease or Sil- Glyde on the ball studs so hopefully won't be so hard to get out the next time.
Also noticed that the clearcoat for the Sylvania smells much different than the Cerakote's clearcoat stuff.
Thanks for sharing.
For what it's worth, I purchased a 3M kit well over a decade ago. In that time I've successfully restored dozens of headlights with that kit. I'm still using it; I last used a couple of weeks ago, in fact. The early kits included a "Clarifyer" pad, and the velcro backing on mine is just now starting to separate from the pad. Naturally, I've purchased new sanding discs as needed. And I've incorporated Meguiar's PlasticX polish into the process, and finish it all with 2 coats of ceramic protectant.
A couple of other people have recommended Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish, and you've got to try it, even if it's not for a video. I've tried probably half a dozen headlight restoration kits over the years, and using Mother's is faster and easier and cheaper than any of them, with results just as good. $4 for a small jar of the polish. Clean the lens, wipe the polish on, rub it around a bit, wipe it off. Repeat. Do a third time, if necessary. Clean it again and put a car wax or a sealer or clear coat on top to keep the UV off. Done.
My girlfriend's car is a 2007 Honda Fit and has HUGE headlight covers, but it's twenty minutes and no arm strain, no drill necessary, to do both with Mother's, and they look almost new. There's so little work necessary that I think the effect must be chemical more than abrasive, but it just works. I was skeptical, but there you go.
That's what I used on my previous ride's headlamps. They were large for the car size (Scion iQ), with both sharp angles and curves. The Mother's outdid three others I had tried, which all gave poor results. I was amazed at how clear the Mother's made them, and with so little effort! I liken it to using a good clear coat, but the cool bonus is, you can just polish them up again a year later. No sanding! My current ride has textured (on the outside! Grr.) DRLs, and they're pretty frosted since made in 2011, and I am considering trying acetone vapour treatment tried on them. It depends on the price. Otherwise, I'll just replace them.
I used Mother's for decades. You should try Meguiar's ultimate compound. It's meant for a final polish for auto paint, but I'm finding it great for anything I want to shine. 👍
You could use the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic spray that project farm tested as the best ceramic coat to finish the headlights after the mothers mag polish.
rubbing compound is the best stuff I have found to clean my headlights
Thanks for sharing!
I have personally used the Sylvania restoration kit and it is absolutely amazing. It takes some time and effort, but if you have patience and follow the directions exactly, your result will be amazing. I have used it many times and the headlights look brand new every time. Definitely recommend just have some patience.
how long does the coating last?
I came here to thank you. I used your recommended kit on my wife's 183k miles , 17 years old suv headlights with impressive results. I did it for safety, but got impressive looks as-new lenses
You are welcome! Glad to hear!
Great video! Having restored headlights on 15-20 different vehicles for myself, family, and friends, I was very interested in this topic. But my preferred kit was not included! I use the Meguiar's HEAVY DUTY headlight restoration kit and have had very good results on nearly every vehicle. It includes 1000 and 3000 grit sanding pads and a compound that is applied with a drill using a provided buffing pad. The final buffing with compound is where the magic usually happens. I think I will get the Cerakote kit for its superior final coating, and use the Meguiar's HD for the rest.
The other challenge here is differences in headlights among various manufacturers. Besides the noted variation in UV damage, different brands have different properties and may affect the outcome of the testing. It would be great to see a re-do of this that includes the Meguiar's Heavy Duty kit with the top two from this video, in a showdown on the same headlight unit, from two or three different car brands.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
I used the same McGuire's kit on my pickup, 10-15 minutes each light. Six months later, they still look good.
I really like the immediate results of using the coatings, but they seem to breakdown and look bad faster. A quick cleaning and reapplication every 6mo-year is easy enough and looks great. Still sanding and polishing back to original condition is my preference for the project car. The kids junkers get the clean and wipe.
Sylvania you can get just the chemicals (activator + coating) in a larger size for cheap. I haven't found if that is an option for the cerakote, but I would like to give them a try.
It’s funny you said that as I also use the Meguires HD kit for lots of headlights. I was also thinking maybe I’ll get the Cerakote kit for the final coating for superior longevity. Great minds think alike! 👍
That’s what I do on those heavy damaged plastics, even 180 grid and increase up to 2500 then light polish w CSI ceramiX and lastly Cerakote coating… good choice!
Absolutely wonderful! I live in So Cal and our headlights are exposed to a lot of heat/ozone/dust and pollutants. These restoration kits are great for people who don't have access to a polisher. One tip - for those using these kits, make sure you use masking tape to protect the paint around the headlights. Wide blue painters tape is a good idea vs regular masking tape. Don't use duct tape or anything like that.
Great video! Thanks for you hard work.
Thanks and yo are welcome!
I've been using the Cerakote on my family's vehicles, it works really well. One car is 2 years in and they still look like the day I did them. Our summer heat in FL is brutal also.
For the car that has the Cerakote for 2 years, is it parked outside in the sun every day?
@@wildfriscogood question. I’m curious as well
watched this video -- went and bought cerakote and am very happy with the results - thank you for posting this test - took me about 2x or 3x longer than it took him but I'm lower RPM guy than he is and I wasn't in a hurry and didn't have 6 more products to test
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
My guy, it's just like you read my mind. I was just watching the old video on Friday since I was needing to restore my headlights, then you drop this today right before I was going to place an order for a kit online.
Thanks for sharing!
I've used the sylvania kit before, the initial spray is amazing at taking off the old uv protectant. sometimes you don't even have to sand, just reapply uv protectant.
Thanks for the feedback.
Cerakote is by FAR the longest lasting restoration kit I've used which is most likely due to their excellent protective coating! I did my headlights about 3 years ago with the Cerakote kit & they're still not yellowing, but they are starting to get cloudy / hazy. All of the other headlight restoration kits I've used in the past reached this stage in about 6 - 9 months.
Thanks for sharing.
I used it and showing some haze after going on 3 years. I was going to use the Chris Fix clear coat paint method. Never heard any long term test.
Because every single "kit" leaves out a critical step: Polishing with 3m hard lens and plastic restorer OR chemical guys headlight restorer. Every kit gives you everything minus ONE critical item. The 3m kit is the best - but - you MUST polish for a lot longer until they are clear. THEN you get Meguiares blue topped can headlight clear spray as the final step. Please use alcohol wipe or NON ammonia glass cleaner prior to spray clear.
Used the same product and hazing is happening. The Ceramic protection has failed and will yellow soon after. Best long term solution is to re sand from 600- to 800/1000 grit. Just need to remove an left over ceramic and defects from the headlights and re clear them with K2 clear or have an auto body shop to clear them
I went with the Sylvania kit based on your recommendations. The process involves a lot of sanding on the headlights that seems counterintuitive and leaves the headlights looking bad until the last step. The final coating step made the lights looks literally brand new.
It is a lot of work but in the end, it turned out nice! My wife was even impressed.
Thanks for the feedback.
Extra buffing with very fine polish to the point that the lights don't look too bad after drying might make them look closer to perfect after the final coating has cured.
Since I already have sandpaper and compound, I bought a bottle of Sylvania clear coat only based on your previous review. Luckily they sell it on it's own to reduce the waste. Another great review!
Cant wait to see the long term results. I've tried a few different brands in the past, and while they all looked great in the beginning, they have had wildly different results over time.
Yeah, maybe we will need a second test showing results after 6 months.
Thanks for the feedback.
I am looking forward to your long term test to see how quickly these lights deteriorate with different coatings. After restoring dozens of lights the only thing I have found that works long term is 2k clear coat after proper preparation. One side not to your testing, different manufacturers use different uv coatings on their headlights. Some are easy to restore and some require extensive sanding so it is not always a fair test when using different lights to do a side by side test.
Amazing video, it gets to the point, shows several brand not one or two, shows all steps for everybrand but does it efficiently and lastly great conparisons in every aspect
Thanks!
I've used the Armour All kit on my daughters vw Jetta headlights, they were heavily oxidized. Kit was easy to use and I was VERY happy with results. Several months later and they still look good.
Thanks for sharing!
I have to do that on my Jetta headlights. I got a 3m kit at habitat for humanity store so will try that. Funny thing is Toyota headlights of same vintage look clear and good as new .
As always your reviews are the best you'll find on TH-cam. Thank you so much.
My pleasure!
I'm shocked you didn't test 'Deep Woods Off' bug repellent. I picked up a used headlight a couple years ago and the salvage yard suggested it. Simply washed it in the sink with a little Dawn and warm water, dried it, then wiped 'OFF' across the lens, repeating with clean portion of the rag, till the rag stopped showing signs of discoloration. Blew my mind, looked fantastic, did my GMC after that, both still look great, been a couple years now. In the Air Force, we had 'Windshield polishing kits', if an aircraft window had a minor scratch, they'd attempt to polish it out by hand. No idea what the white slurry was but the final abrasive was 8000 grit, felt like a soft piece of t-shirt. Excellent content as always.
All that does is melt the polycarb. All the bums use it at intersections trying to get a handout.
You must be parking inside, as with no UV protectant it seems to last 4-6 months depending on location, storage.
I had to pick up an orbital buffer for my last car, and some wet sand paper, decent compound an Polycarb-rated UV protectant makes them look like new. Takes about 20-25 minutes per headlight, but glass clear.
Might try this first on my old 03 chevy work truck. Lenses are in rough shape so would be nice if the repellent did a quick job of cutting down the damaged areas. I'll use the Sylvania kit after and a decent UV protector as the truck is outdoors 24/7 and the summers get intense in Vegas.
Hoping the repellent reduces sanding time is all, I'll research it a bit first so I don't damage anything, haha
@@boots7859 I'm parked outside but the garage eves do offer some shade. To be fair, I've always waxed my headlights when waxing the vehicle, that may contribute to their continued clarity.
@@boots7859 I lived in Florida, always parked outside and used DEET and after three years, until I sold it, it still looked better than when I used the 3M kit two years before trying the DEET. The 3M didn't last at all and using the DEET literally took 5 minutes total. I'll never waste time sanding and buffing and all that ever again.
DEET dissolves some plastic. Nasty toxic chemical. I have been using Picaridin based products, of course not for lights. LOL
The most recent 3m kit I have used came (edit: “ultra headlight restoration kit”) with 3 progressively finer sanding discs and a wipe on clear coat, and seemed to work well on badly oxidized headlights. Regardless of brand, that method seems to be the most effective way to do this.
I’m surprised your 3m kit didn’t have the clear coat.
Agreed. Not sure why they would bother selling a kit without the coating?
It would be the best as it actually sands a layer off the headlight.
Absolutely should have tested the ultra kit. 3 different sanding pads, drill attachment, and the 3M coating that makes the kit so effective and longer lasting.
Great point on the 3M kit. I wish I would have found a 3M kit with the coating.
I second this, I used the same one with the clear coat and it worked beautifully
Happy to see this as my headlights are looking bad
Lots of headlights out there that need restored!
I use the 3M all the time I’ve found this has been the best one! Thank you for doing this video!
Same here, but I bought the meguairs clear coat spray separately and applied it after i finished using the 3m kit. Even severely oxidized headlights always came out looking brand new! The rain x kit also works well but the key is applying the meguairs clear coat. 2 years later and my headlights still look new.
You are welcome!
Great job going through many tests, filming it, and putting it together for a 12 minute easy-to-watch video. So much information learned from this.
Thanks! Glad to hear!
I use the 3M Kit at my Auto Repair Shop. BUT, after using it, I Ceramic Coat the Headlight Assembly. All my Customers are Very Happy with it..
What ceramic coat product do you use?
@@JoeUrbanYYCProbably the Cerakote brand featured here.
Thanks for sharing!
Hybrid Solutions @@JoeUrbanYYC
Even though I don't own a car, this is maybe the most useful TH-cam channel out there!
Greetings from Spain 🇪🇦
I've used the ceracote on 2 vehicles and was highly impressed...INITIALLY. Less than 1 year they have already started to yellow. Yes, I applied it correctly. Spend over an hour on each headlight.
Thanks for sharing.
Interesting. I used the ceracote kit on my sisters car last summer and they still look the same as the day I did them and her car is always parked in uncovered parking. Guess I better keep a close watch on them.
Finally someone that said the truth, its junk. Most people will give 5 stars on amazon with their stupid phone as soon as they get something.
Your content is the best on youtube. I always check if you have a review before buying something. Purchased the Sylvania kit and will attempt later today. Cheers.
I used the Cerakote on my headlights last year. It’s been about 8 months and they’re still clear as the day I applied it. I would highly recommend the Cerakote here.
Just used this kit recently and Cerakote made my headlights look much better. We will see how t goes long term.
I used Cerakote 3X, very happy with results.
My ceracote lasted about 4 months before they yellowed agin
Did you follow the instructions I used worked great on my truck and its been a year now@@Shiznit304
I used the Cerakote yesterday.
Very impressed. Both covers were heavily oxidized. Cleaned nicely with a bit elbow grease.
Good kit, but it doesn't last very long. At least, mine didn't.
Your videos are fantastic and so I trusted your #1 choice of Sylvania when I came to fix the headlights on my Porsche Boxster. Not only were they a mess, but they had deep scratches in one of the lights. I was doubtful that it would fix everything up perfectly.
It was significantly more hard work than your video showed to get rid of deep scratches with 400 sanding paper, but the results are incredible. They are as good as new! Amazing!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Bravo. Ultra solid work. As always, no BS-ing, no stretching the content to make a longer video, just go, go, go. I occasionally get my ADD amplified, but I can always use 0.75 speed, if needed.
Thanks very much! See you in a year! (for this matter)
You are welcome!
Wow just last night i was looking at my headlight lens covers and wondering what should I do and then today I see this video. Great timing!
Great to hear!
I just restored 4 headlights yesterday with the Cerakote kit. I’ve liked it a lot
Thanks for the feedback on the Cerakote kit!
Thanks for the review. I am wondering about the longevity of these treatments. It would be great to check back later and see which product held after prolonged exposure to sun and rain…
Thank you. The headlights are in a safe place and in direct exposure to sunlight. Hope to provide an update on the headlights in the future.
Thanks for the quick reply! I’ve obviously closed the video too early 😅 . Enjoy the Super Bowl!
I used the cerakote and did exactly the way you did and the instructions said. The protective coating only lasted about 10 months before I started noticing cloudiness .
Thanks for the feedback.
I have used the Sylvania brand twice and the only thing I did differently was used my DA 1 inch sander/polisher and used high grits and spent more time. Over 2 years later the headlights are still perfectly fine and it increased how far you could see with LED bulbs installed by a lot.
I think you could mix a couple of these to really get a good outcome, but for the cost you really can't beat the top three and it's only 45 mins max of your time for a couple years of clarity.
Yep. Do not rush or see who can do it the fastest. There is no race
Thanks for sharing.
This one is a huge help. Appreciate the vid. I’ve been struggling with my headlights so this video couldn’t have been timed better.
Glad it helped
I've seen professional restorers use a the abrasive and then spray it with a UV resistant clear coat you can buy in the autoparts store.
I have found that Mother's Mag & Aluminum polish with a micro-fiber cloth and a bit of elbow grease does a great job.
Thanks for sharing!
I just bought the Sylvania kit based on this video. My wife’s 2016 Pilot’s headlamps were pretty hazy. After applying the kit they look brand new. Thank you Project Farm.
You are welcome!
I've already done this process on five headlights, from two cars I have (2000 Honda Civic and 2004 Honda Fit). On both I used sandpaper (from 800 to 5000 Trizact), polished with a drill and applied a sealant from a Brazilian company called Vonixx (V-Light - specifically for headlights). Overall, the service was EXCELLENT, without the "random" products that many of these kits come with!
I wonder about longevity of the V-Light, because this is the most important part since alot of these restoration products just have headlights reoxidizing quickly over time.
@@TuneStunnaMusic For both the Civic and the Fit, it has been more than 2 years since I applied them and they are still in excellent condition, but they spend more time in the building's garage than on the street, as I use them occasionally. I have a third car, which is a Toyota Etios and that is my daily car. I only applied V-Light to it at the same time as the other cars and now it is starting to lose its protection, so I will have to do a new application. The product is really GOOD! I always recommend!
You sir have a level of detail and patience not seen in a long time. Please keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do!
I really dont know how you do it but these videos are GOLD. Cheers from your biggest fan in Colombia 🇨🇴 amigo!
Thanks so much!
Wife just asked me about fence stains and didn’t see a video up(maybe I missed it), thought I’d throw an idea out there. Thanks as always for the great contact and uncompromising honesty!
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
I used Cerakote 6 months ago and the headlights still look good as they did on day one. The ceramic coating at the end is really holding up good 👍🏼
Was this the wipes?
@@chihuahuaverde425 Sandpaper, wipes & wipe on Ceramic Coat.
I did a lot of this on my own lights with the traditional wet sanding with a DA and they polisher. Since then these kits have come out.
Great feedback! Thank you
If you already have the polisher and materials then these kits don't add much. The final coating is all you need.
Ceramic coating is cheap online
@ProjectFarm please try and do something on safety toe work boots. Blue collar workers need something that shows what will and won't hold up. I'm tired of paying 200+ for boots that only last 7 months
@@garythayer9673 He did do boots last year and the year before
The Sylvania kit is my go-to! I have used it on four cars so far.
Thanks for sharing!
Recently purchased the Sylvania headlight kit because of this video to give it a try on my car, and the results were absolutely incredible - it was like I basically had brand new headlights. I am glad you do these types of videos where you compare several different brands so that we have the best idea of which products are good and which ones to avoid. Thank you.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing!
Been watching your videos for YEARS and really enjoy them. Honestly, I think it's time you revisited some of your older videos and redo/test the products again. Not that there was anything wrong with your initial videos or tests but sometimes a product wasn't included or hadn't been released yet, or perhaps a formula or manufacturing process changed . . ?. Also, you're so creative with your tests I'm sure you have devised some more effective and efficient tests over the years. Call them a revisit, rewind, rebound whatever. Easy but still very useful content.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
I agree. I would like to see you revisit some tests with all new products. I don't think any formulas really change so I don't think you should redo any old products but all new products then put them on a performance list with the old ones tested and the new ones tested unless you add a test then maybe if you still have all the products tested you should just include them in the added test.
I just did the sylvania kit today and had like new results!
My headlights were yellow and dull, you could not see the insides…they were pretty scratched up all over too…i did not expect to get the scratches out but after i was done, they looked amazing.
This kit has everything and quality parts, the activator really removes the yellow nastiness at first, the sandpaper is high quality and lasts a long time when wet. After sanding the lights look ok but that uv coating makes them look brand new after 1 pass!
For $20, I don’t mind doing this once a year even if they fade!
Thanks for sharing.
interesting, but someone was claimg HL lenses can develop haze on the inside(?) If true, non of these kits will, of course, fix that. Did you by chance notice any internal UV damage/haze on the interior/bulb-side of your lenses? Reason I ask, I'm thinking it might make more sense to by new assemblies, if I can find em for decent price, at least that way they'll be good to go for at least another decade or more.
@@__WJK__ so far so good. I don’t see any haze inside on mine. From what I’ve seen, what you’re talking about sounds like the seal failed around the lights and got moisture inside? I’ve seen that on cheap replacements. For $20, the kit is worth trying out before spending $$$ on new lights, just follow the directions exactly 👍
I use the 3M kit and finish with the Sylvania UV coating. The combination works very well.
Same, drill mandrel and superior well known sandpaper quality plus the lighting technology/coating expertise from Sylvania make the perfect combo.
I have always used the 3M kit with great results. It would typically last a couple of years before i had to do it again. The new kits have the UV coating and maybe that will give longer lasting results.
I just did my daughter's car with the new kit so I'll let you know if it lasts longer in a few years!
Great feedback on the 3M kit. Glad there's a UV protective coating available too!
I used a proffesional 3M headlight kit in my detail shop. Same basic principle as the over the counter kit. I followed up with Automotive clear coat paint in a spray can. It prevents the oxidation and will last for years.
I'm not in the market for this type of product, yet as typical in this situation, I still love to watch and soak up the info. This is one of my favorite channels across all media formats.
Thanks!
I used the Sylvania kit over a year ago on my 10yo daily driver Toyota Corolla and it's still looks great. There is a lot of elbow grease needed for the Sylvania kit though. Great videos helps me choose a quality product and not throw my money away
Thanks for sharing!
"The coating is like putting lipstick on a pig"
I burst out laughing from you saying that 😂🤣😂
I love your videos, you're the best 👍
Thank you! Hopefully, the sense of humor helps everyone smile and enjoy the reviews. Lots of humor in the comments area that makes me smile!! Thanks again!
@@ProjectFarm 😁👍
Off deepwoods on a microfiber towel and do not sprey off directly on the light and thats it...unbelievable how amazing this works
Yes, very quick, and works very well in my experience too.
Is that the only step? How often do you need to repeat this?
@@AlmostAnOldFart My mom did this years ago and it lasted a few months at best.
Describe your process better. What are you saying? Re type this again.
This works temporarily, but you have to do it again shortly. After a few times doing this your headlights get small cracks all over them.
WARNING!! If you go with the CERAKOTE, It works great but 2 things you MUST know before hand! DO NOT get it on your glass windows or windshield, i wouldn’t even risk using it around the glass on your car, I knew not to do this but still got some on my glass on accident and didn’t realize it so I didn’t wipe it off in time, IT WILL NOT COME OFF IF YOU GET IT ON YOUR GLASS AND LEAVE IT FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES!!
2nd piece of advice if you get the Cerakote, DO NOT overdo it with the wipes, one pass should be enough. If you do more than a few passes, especially after it starts to dry, it will leave little beads/drops of the coating that WILL STAY THERE FOREVER.
As long as you listen to this advice and don’t do these 2 mistakes, you will be good and it DOES work VERY well as far as restoring headlights and anything plastic like black trim on your car!
Thanks for the feedback.
About a week ago I was looking for a kit to restore the headlights on my girlfriend’s 2013 Prius. Consumer Reports recommended the Sylvania so that’s what I went with. Sure, it took a little extra time to get the lights all cleaned up but we were both extremely happy with the results. Then I see your review and that you also had a great outcome with the exact same kit. Right on! 👍
Thanks for sharing.
Obviously you saw my truck, thanks again
lol. Thank you!
9:38 "Lipstick on a pig... no problem. But they really hate mascara." - Algernop Krieger
The polycarbonate sheet experiment is brilliant! This is why I watch your channel! Please try the coatings on unsullied PC sheets and expose them for a year, too.
So basically just sand your headlights, finish with 3k paper, and buff....
This is the best headlight restoration video ever made. Bought mine and I will do this when the stuff comes in.
Tks 4 great video. I've only done this once, I used Sylvania. The results were great. Looked fantastic and stayed clear for years.
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Ive used the Cerakote on a Transit Connect van with severely yellowed headlights and it did a fantastic job for the price and completeness of the kit
Thanks for sharing.