Let's try again, Headlight Restoration: Optimum Opti-lens Coating

[Dking078]

In update to my old thread based on the Sylvania kit (which failed). I am now going on my last leg for these "Kits."

I now have applied the Optimum Opti-lens Coating, which is supposed to be the best UV protectant my money can buy and for the price, I hope it is, or else Autogeek will get a mouthful from me. -End mini rant

Now for the fun.

Like before, I'll update the thread with pics (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, then a year with verdict)

What was used:
Opti-lens Kit from Autogeek
400-600-1000-1500-2000 grit sand paper
Meguires M105 Fine Compound
Mothers headlight Lens Polish
6 inch buffer pads.
IPA Solution
TIME!




Only had my Iphone to document this
First was getting the old light out and inspecting the failure of the Sylvania kit. Not cool, i want my $$ back.


Begin sanding! (wet sanding with horizontal / vertical interchanging)
400 grit and 1000 grit (I think) shown




Lens after Compound/Polish


Coating applied (For this this application, i did 1 headlight 1 coating and the other light got 2 coats)
Recommendation from AG was to wait 1hr between coats.
I cleaned the lens with IPA solution prior putting on the coating, as per AG recommendation.



My 540i (no Before's)


Noticeable after effects:
Lens is pretty smooth, some visible sanding marks, but i blame my own sanding prep for that, the M105 did a very good job of getting the marks out.
Cost was in the 1XX, that's everything except a buffer.

[Dking078]

3 Month update

Nothing wrong. Both headlights are holding up very well at this point. The 6 month marker is looking very promising.

Here are brand new pics.

[Aryana]

Thanks for the follow up. I will be waiting for the 6 month update to see how this fares before I do my headlights.

[16valex]

Looking good! I may have to try the kit.

[logle]

looks very nice! I will also be doing this soon. Question: All sanding was done by hand and the buffing with an electric buffer or a drill with a buffer pad? Curious about the technique and buffer used. Thanks!

[Dking078]

looks very nice! I will also be doing this soon. Question: All sanding was done by hand and the buffing with an electric buffer or a drill with a buffer pad? Curious about the technique and buffer used. Thanks!

Wet sanding by hand

Buffing with power drill (Cord powered, not battery powered) with 2 separate buffing pads.... buffers cost too much and this did the job fine for me.

[AquilaBMW]

All I use is the 3M Restoration kit and I wet sand it by hand. Takes me about 1 hour per side, but the results have been well worth it IMO.

[Vytas]

you must have a polishing machine... how expensive is that?

[eMpower3d]

you must have a polishing machine... how expensive is that?

Read the thread, just a drill with buffing pads.^^^

[BimmerBreaker]

Thanks for the follow up. I will be waiting for the 6 month update to see how this fares before I do my headlights.

Not sure why people wait 6 months to prove the legitimacy of a repair thats been commonplace for years now.

[ChrisMelnyk]

Theres another option that is most likely more durable and definitely easier:


600/1000/1500 grit sand paper + Spraymax 2k Clearcoat (http://www.spraymax.com/index.php?id=361&L=1)

The clear coat is in a spray can, but is actually 2 part (you push a pin that punctures the can in the bottom). The pot life is 2 days.


I did it on my headlights and the results are really impressive. Plus you don't have to polish anything, just sand and paint.


The total cost is probably around $40, and takes maybe 4 hours the first time, but I could do it within an hour now.


Regards,

[logle]

Theres another option that is most likely more durable and definitely easier:


600/1000/1500 grit sand paper + Spraymax 2k Clearcoat (http://www.spraymax.com/index.php?id=361&L=1)

The clear coat is in a spray can, but is actually 2 part (you push a pin that punctures the can in the bottom). The pot life is 2 days.


I did it on my headlights and the results are really impressive. Plus you don't have to polish anything, just sand and paint.


The total cost is probably around $40, and takes maybe 4 hours the first time, but I could do it within an hour now.


Regards,

Looks promising. do you have pictures or would you compare the results to the headlights above? Also, where did you get yours? Thanks, Bob

[Dking078]

Well I'm a bit late.. but only by a month XD.. Here's the 7 month update!

Still looking great!

The X5 has been driven daily to LA and back and sat in the sun all year and has yet to show ANY sign of failure.

I still conservatively drove my 540i, but I drove through a dust storm coming back from MFest, and pitted the lens a bit. So I will be watching to see how the coating responds.

So all in all (At least for now) Optilens coating is looking like a stable product. Keep in mind i never polished the lenses once after application.

Here are pics!

[BimmerBreaker]

You should unscrew the rubber stopper under the hood on that side to get it flush with the fender

[Crusher47]

Lookin' good