[Update] Head & Fog Lamp Restoration, SLE to SE Fender Conv.
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:25 pm
So, 1 out of 20 or so scheduled repairs/maintenance on 2000 Bonneville SE completed. Here are the results:
I used the guide linked in the "Common Problems" thread to buff my headlamps. On taking them out, the passenger side headlamp casing (side facing the engine) broke off as I tried to wiggle it out of the ball joint. I fixed this with silicone sealant, but this probably unnerved me and reduced my performance for the rest of the job. I'll probably be adding a layer of sealant and/or duct tape to those seams when I do my permanent polish & seal later on.
I wet-sanded with 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 papers and then polished with Meguiar's PlastX. The results on this first day were very disappointing despite polishing for like 30 minutes. I thought I may have irrevocably damaged them so I eventually gave up and reinstalled them. On reflection, I think I had too little light and used too much polish. I took out the plastic ball socket on the fender/body so that it wouldn't rip the headlamp apart if I had to take it out again.
Yesterday afternoon I decided to try again, and instead of messing with sandpaper, I just polished them more. They turned out great! Today I polished each one 2 more times and used Turtle brand carnauba wax as a temporary sealant (I'll do a really good polish & polyurethane-mineral spirit seal when I have the money). Polished my '98 Lumina and wife's '94 Camry too.
Headlamp (now the cloudiness is only a reflection - the other side has less scuffs/dings):
In context:
I have no idea what I did wrong the first time. But I do think that the tutorial should emphasize that you should pull the headlamps forward in order to keep from breaking the casing. It took very little pressure to break the thing.
I used the guide linked in the "Common Problems" thread to buff my headlamps. On taking them out, the passenger side headlamp casing (side facing the engine) broke off as I tried to wiggle it out of the ball joint. I fixed this with silicone sealant, but this probably unnerved me and reduced my performance for the rest of the job. I'll probably be adding a layer of sealant and/or duct tape to those seams when I do my permanent polish & seal later on.
I wet-sanded with 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 papers and then polished with Meguiar's PlastX. The results on this first day were very disappointing despite polishing for like 30 minutes. I thought I may have irrevocably damaged them so I eventually gave up and reinstalled them. On reflection, I think I had too little light and used too much polish. I took out the plastic ball socket on the fender/body so that it wouldn't rip the headlamp apart if I had to take it out again.
Yesterday afternoon I decided to try again, and instead of messing with sandpaper, I just polished them more. They turned out great! Today I polished each one 2 more times and used Turtle brand carnauba wax as a temporary sealant (I'll do a really good polish & polyurethane-mineral spirit seal when I have the money). Polished my '98 Lumina and wife's '94 Camry too.
Headlamp (now the cloudiness is only a reflection - the other side has less scuffs/dings):
In context:
I have no idea what I did wrong the first time. But I do think that the tutorial should emphasize that you should pull the headlamps forward in order to keep from breaking the casing. It took very little pressure to break the thing.
