[suacefiend]

They are really yellow probably some of the worst ive seen but was looking at the 3m kit that lots of people have recommended me not sure if it would just be a waste of time. Thoughts?

[spazzz]

A 3 inch hook and loop backing plate for a drill and some sanding discs, plus pads would be better. All you would need is some polish, maybe Meguiars Ultimate compound to finish.

Maybe go with XPEL ppf after that, which would be ideal.

[oVeRdOsE.]

this is a case of ;

- sanding
- 2k Max clear
- polish
- ceramic coat.


or

- change the lens, but it's not an easy job.


those all-in-one kits will help, but wont last.

[mainbearing]

If those are HID lights with very strong UV then the clouding may be on the inside. Not much you can do from the outside.

If the oxidation is on the outside then a simple $15 polish kit and a coat of Mcguiar's UV-resistant clear coat should last a while.

[suacefiend]

Originally Posted by mainbearing

If those are HID lights with very strong UV then the clouding may be on the inside. Not much you can do from the outside.

If the oxidation is on the outside then a simple $15 polish kit and a coat of Mcguiar's UV-resistant clear coat should last a while.

Is there a way to tell if its on the inside as well?

[Joe_in_WLA]

Hard for anyone to say definitively. imho

How do they look when they're on? Mine seemed yellowed during the day, but at night, when on, they looked fine. And I recently had them polished and clearcoated. Turned out pretty good. Not crystal clear but I'd say 95% there.

80k mile, 2008 in So Cal.

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by suacefiend

They are really yellow probably some of the worst ive seen but was looking at the 3m kit that lots of people have recommended me not sure if it would just be a waste of time. Thoughts?

I would definitely give it a shot before you opt to replace the headlights. I ve done my E90 headlights for the last 10 yrs or nore and always been happy with the results. They still look new for 18 yrs honestly.

I ve used the Meguiars headlights restoration heavy duty kit. They have a YouTube video you can follow. Good luck 🍀👍

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by GoRomeo

I would definitely give it a shot before you opt to replace the headlights. I ve done my E90 headlights for the last 10 yrs or nore and always been happy with the results. They still look new for 18 yrs honestly.

I ve used the Meguiars headlights restoration heavy duty kit. They have a YouTube video you can follow. Good luck 🍀👍

Oh and if you are wondering how many miles equals to is 225k miles.

[mainbearing]

Just try the headlamp restore kit and see. Also see if the HID bulb, which has a wire, makes an imprint on the lens, looking like a shadow of the letter "Q".

Originally Posted by suacefiend

Is there a way to tell if its on the inside as well?

[suacefiend]

update 3m kit is great

[Nando_e90]

A couple of days ago, someone posted on Reddit showing the results after polishing their LCI xenons, just like OP's. They shared a photo, and holy sh*t, they look brand new! They used something called Spray Max 2K Clear Coat.

https://www.reddit.com/r/E90/comment...t=share_button

I've polished mine with a 3M kit and Meguiar's clear coat for sealing and protection, and I got pretty good results in terms of appearance and durability—though not quite like that. Next time, I’ll be using that 2K clear coat.

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by Nando_e90

A couple of days ago, someone posted on Reddit showing the results after polishing their LCI xenons, just like OP's. They shared a photo, and holy sh*t, they look brand new! They used something called Spray Max 2K Clear Coat.

https://www.reddit.com/r/E90/comment...t=share_button

I've polished mine with a 3M kit and Meguiar's clear coat for sealing and protection, and I got pretty good results in terms of appearance and durability—though not quite like that. Next time, I’ll be using that 2K clear coat.

I can vouch for this. Recently redid mine, likely using a similar work-up, and finishing with Spray Max 2K headlight clearcoat (higher solids content and UV resistance relative to ordinary clear).

If you go this route, there are some specific considerations to avoid coating failure. Chief of them is to not sand too finely before applying clear. It needs something to bite/adhere to. Some people will fully polish their headlights and then apply clearcoat. It is pretty much guaranteed to fail early if you do that.

[Nando_e90]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

If you go this route, there are some specific considerations to avoid coating failure. Chief of them is to not sand too finely before applying clear. It needs something to bite/adhere to. Some people will fully polish their headlights and then apply clearcoat. It is pretty much guaranteed to fail early if you do that.

�� yeah I just saw the video shared in the Reddit’s post and you’re right. I did it wrong last time because I went all the way from 600 grid to 3000 and polishing compound, an only after that I applied the coating.

Will get a 2k coat and try this method. I like to have my headlights cristal clear.

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by Nando_e90

�� yeah I just saw the video shared in the Reddit’s post and you’re right. I did it wrong last time because I went all the way from 600 grid to 3000 and polishing compound, an only after that I applied the coating.

Will get a 2k coat and try this method. I like to have my headlights cristal clear.

Common mistake, so don’t feel bad!!

This is what my headlight looked like after refinishing. I fully removed my fogs.

I had them covered with PPF after I was done.

[iv]

I’ve done it 3 times on my E90 w/ halogens. Not worth the effort and can screw up the paint on accident. It’s definitely the better option to just install new lenses.

[Nando_e90]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Common mistake, so don’t feel bad!!

This is what my headlight looked like after refinishing. I fully removed my fogs.

I had them covered with PPF after I was done.

yeah that's the way. Looks brand new!

Thanks for sharing.

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by Nando_e90

yeah that's the way. Looks brand new!

Thanks for sharing.

No worries!

One thing that’s not great with my lights is hazing on the inside of the projector lens. I don’t know if it’s just off-gassing or some other kind of deteriorating of materials inside the housing that deposits a film on the lens or what, but it’s worse on one than the other. Tried cleaning it with a coat hanger and some Pec Pads, but it was a pain in the ballsack.

If anyone has suggestions, let me know. Not gonna open them up though…

Good luck too man! It’s mostly elbow grease and time. Otherwise relatively straightforward .

[tcphoto]

I’ve tried most of the kits and believe that I’ve found an easier solution. A few months ago, I used a DA polisher, orange pad with compound, a white pad with polish and then ceramic coated the lenses.

[Nando_e90]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

No worries!

One thing that’s not great with my lights is hazing on the inside of the projector lens. I don’t know if it’s just off-gassing or some other kind of deteriorating of materials inside the housing that deposits a film on the lens or what, but it’s worse on one than the other. Tried cleaning it with a coat hanger and some Pec Pads, but it was a pain in the ballsack.

If anyone has suggestions, let me know. Not gonna open them up though…

Good luck too man! It’s mostly elbow grease and time. Otherwise relatively straightforward .

You can get the projector out from the back of the headlight without open it up. Once removed, you can clean the projector lens. Here is a pic of my two projectors: one already cleaned and the other one still with that hazing you are talking about (if that’s what you are referring to).

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by Nando_e90

You can get the projector out from the back of the headlight without open it up. Once removed, you can clean the projector lens. Here is a pic of my two projectors: one already cleaned and the other one still with that hazing you are talking about (if that’s what you are referring to).

Damnnnnnn yeah that’s exactly what I’m talking about! Nice work!

Is the process straightforward or is there likely to be cussing involved? Can you describe the general steps (or link me to a post—your post probably?—where the process is described?

Thanks!!

EDIT: I have a pre-LCI car if that matters. Thinking it probably does, sadly…

[Nando_e90]

Originally Posted by e90yyc

Damnnnnnn yeah that’s exactly what I’m talking about! Nice work!

Is the process straightforward or is there likely to be cussing involved? Can you describe the general steps (or link me to a post—your post probably?—where the process is described?

Thanks!!

EDIT: I have a pre-LCI car if that matters. Thinking it probably does, sadly…

It's not a difficult task. The first time might take a bit longer, but after that, it becomes quite simple. I took photos of the process so let me organize them to make them useful.

[krhodes1]

My car's headlights are still as clear as the day I picked it up in Munich. BUT the Maine road salt/sand have taken a toll in terms of pitting on the lamps (and the front bumper). Would polishing them make any difference for that? I am going to get the bumper repainted at some point.

Should have had it done when I had the rear bumper repainted after it got scratched by a very light rear-ending years ago. Along with the plastic top of the hatch - my idiot housemate *dragged a box across it* and scratched the hell out of it. Thankfully NOT the metal of the roof, just the plastic part. He paid for it, but he's lucky I didn't kill him.