20 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHReview of SYLVANIA Headlight Restoration Kit
Leading reported evidence
Install these in november of 2015
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Leading evidence: 'Install these in november of 2015' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'annual application will keep the headlights looking new' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean /polishing of the lights, you make your money' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I used the 3M kit on mine and worked pretty darn well (didn't take pictures).
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
The guy I used clear coated them after sanding and polishing
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Not exactly the same application, but i use colgate toothpaste on my swim goggles when they get scratched and cloudy and it clears them up every time.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I also used the Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
20 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T190023Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Though I suspect this is not unusual for a 996 Porsche, my 2002 Carerra had discolored (yellowish) and somewhat cloudy headlights. After reading a bunch of online reviews I settled on the SYLVANIA Headlight Restoration Kit to address the problem. It's available for under $20 at Amazon and elsewhere.
Amazon
Amazon
Step one is prep (tape and a spray). Step two is sanding. A LOT OF SANDING. First 400 grit, then 1000 grit, and finally 2000 grit. The instructions say that each step should take just 5 minutes per headlight. Perhaps because a 996 headlight is so large, the first sanding (400 grit) took me a full 20 minutes per headlight. 1000 grit took 10 minutes each. By the time I got to 2000 grit, I was decidedly short on elbow grease and I only spent the recommended 5 minutes per side. Getting started with the 400 grit, it took a lot of time and a surprisingly very firm pressure to result in the universally cloudy appearance specified in the instructions. Wiping the headlight dry every so often helped to reveal the areas still in need of attention. The polish step following all the sanding is really just another abrasive. It took 5 minutes to apply to each headlight. But I had more polish in the packet and I wasn't really happy with coverage, so I ended up doing both sides twice.
I have to say, the sanding steps were very disconcerting. I went from a marginally bad headlight before the work to an extremely cloudy headlight then eventually a moderately cloudy headlight, The polish helped to the point where when done, the headlights looked just like what I had started with.
All in so far... about 3 hours and a LOT of effort. Maybe on of the kits that connect to a drill is the way to go.
But what a difference after the final step. Upon applying the last step's UV block (which took all of 30 seconds per headlight), I ended up with unbelievably clear headlights. Check out the pictures. What a difference! I note now too, that the spray and UV block is available for just $10. Probably an annual application will keep the headlights looking new.
I know it's hard to see, but both headlights where pretty cloudy to start.
Here's the other side. I thought it would be easier to see the BEFORE look here.
This is after 20 minutes of 400 grit sandpaper.
Following the 1000 grit sandpaper.
After the final sanding (2000 grit).
After two applications of polish.
And here is the final product. Wow!
I also used the Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit. My headlights were milky white and opaque when I bought the car. I could barely see through them. I spent about an hour and a half per headlight and ended up with headlights almost as clear as yours. I was very pleased. I bought my kit at Advance Auto Parts.
You have to be careful with power sanders. They can put too much heat into the plastic and ruin it. The surface will melt and become misshapen. It can crack too.
Next time, and there will be a next time, pop the headlights out. It's so easy in these cars and then there is zero risk of getting the paint by accident.
It was only a couple of months after I did mine that they yellowed again. A year later and they are as bad as they were before I did them.
In regards to "there will be a next time", not necessarily. I did mine with the 3M kit and then added Lamin-X clear covers and they are as good as the day I did them.
I used one of the recommended spray sealers/protectors. It obviously did nothing.
I've heard great things about Lamin-X and plan to do that the next time we have clear lenses.
Couple of pics. These covers came with the cutout for the headlight washers which is oversized. Note the area where it is 'unprotected' has yellowed some compared to the covered area. I installed these in November of 2015.
Focus on unprotected area:
Focus into headlight:
Link to the Lamin-X site and their covers:
http://www.lamin-x.com/SearchResults...Covers&Submit=
I tried 4 of the others and nothing was really close to as good as the Sylvania kit. Consumer Reports and Pop Mech agree. The extra effort required was worth the fine control and reduced risk of damaging bits with a drill. I was stunned with the results on the 996 and 955. Nothing like fresh lenses on our expensive 'peepers'!
Not exactly the same application, but i use colgate toothpaste on my swim goggles when they get scratched and cloudy and it clears them up every time. Maybe I'll try them on my headlights when they turn yellow and cloudy.
When I bought my '02 5 years ago, my lights were pretty cloudy. I've polished headlights in previous cars, so I knew the routine, and was not intimidated. They came out great, but as others have noted, you'll end up doing them again periodically, although if you stay on top of it you only need to touch them up.
But I got tired of this, so a couple of weeks ago I did them again, and then applied Expel to them. Bought the stuff for $50 from a local installer, laser cut to fit. In fact, there is so much excess left after I removed the part for my car that I can do the lights on wife's SUV.
I'm only a couple weeks in, but loving how good my lights look, and hopefully will continue to do so.
I used the 3M kit on mine and worked pretty darn well (didn't take pictures). As one other viewer said, you have to be very careful when using the drill for this effort. The plastic will heat up quick and almost make this melted "smear" on your lenses. I put my drill on the slowest speed and worked great.
The restoration on your car looks great! Well done.
I will toss out that once the factory applied UV coating comes off, there isn't really an aftermarket replacement. So you will always have an issue with yellowing. I am a bit fan of a product called Plastx by Meguiars. While you need to use it every 6 months or so, it takes about 2 minutes per side to apply. Ha ha and it only takes 2 minutes if you are being ultra careful when applying it... It will not damage the paint, and then just follow up with some wax you would use on your paint.
+1 on taking them out of the car. I also applied Lamin-X clears on mine a few days ago. Be patient with the cleaning/polishing of the lights, you make your money with the wet sanding before you polish. Be patient with the Lamin-X also. It will seem like you will never get them sorted out but a heat gun, a glass of single malt, and about 30 minutes will produce amazing results.
D.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
