Headlight film or clearcoat spray?

bought a 2014 a few months back. Started doing detailing things to the truck. Got a coat of rejex on the body and wheels, rain-x'd the windshield. Next I'm turning my attention to the headlights/foglights.
Was going to get lamin-x headlight film for the headlights and fog lights, but also considered the meguiars headlight clear coating.
I had the lamin-x film on my 2005. It was a pain to install near the top, but I managed. The headlights looked awesome the entire time I had it on.
I am starting to get some light hazing on the tops of my headlights.
Should I just bite the bullet and buy the lamin-x film again, or try the meguiars spray?

 

bump

 

Depends on your maintenance habits.
I am a bit lax on mine. And I’ve had to polish and seal mine 2x since new.
I probably should have went film. As to do the polish and seal takes about 2 hours to get them back close to new.

I vote film. That way you don’t have to reseal.

 

film is going to last longer and require less effort.

 

I just got my truck back from the body shop on a rear-ending I had back in May. While in the shop I asked them about refurbishing my lenses. Mine is a 2010 and so getting old. The lens are not yellow but only cloudy. The shop told me that they come clear coated from the factory. I don't have the time in my life for much right now and so I paid them $100 to fix it. They removed the lens from the truck so they could sand them down with damaging the paint. Afterwards they re-clear coated them and put them in an oven to cure. They look like new and I absolutely notice more light being thrown at night.

 

Film, all day long. Xpel sells custom DIY kits, but I have a local PPF guy that does headlights for $80. Lasts a long time, have never had to redo.

 

Had my paint guy, clear coat mine with automotive clear. Just wax like paint.

 

I used the Meguiar's clear coat on my Corolla. It worked well and has been good for about six months now. I'd spray them.

 

I just purchased some headlight vinyl for my headlights. I plan on wetsanding and polishing them first.

Does anyone know if I can apply a wax/sealant to the lenses before applying the vinyl film? Will it stick? Just trying to apply as much UV protection as possible.

 

I would apply the vinyl to bare headlight to make sure it doesn’t peel off.

 

It's best not to apply wax prior to applying the film, as it MAY not stick as well. Wax the film after it is applied (and dried). I have several vehicles with several years of film applied, with no lifting, no hazing, no yellowing. Works great. I applied the clear PPF film to my Taco's headlights preemptively, before any hazing set in.

 

Thanks!

Perfect! You haven't had any issues with waxing the film itself? I have a meguiars liquid wax/sealant. Hopefully it doesn't affect the film when applying it overtop?

 

The way I restore headlights when retrofitting or just restoring goes as such....

-Remove your headlights
-Dry sand 320 grit, ensure that ALL of the factory coating is removed before moving on.
-Wet sand 320 grit
-Wet sand 400 grit
-Wet sand 600 grit
-Wet sand 800 grit, at this point ensure there are NO deep sanding marks from the previous passes.
-Clean lens thoroughly with denatured alcohol.
-Go outside or in an EXTREMELY well ventilated area.
-Spray the headlights with Spraymax 2k Clear Glamour (they may not look crystal clear on the first coat, thats ok), wait 15-20 min depending on temp and humidity and spray again do this till the can is pretty much empty. Usually 3-4 coats.
-Wait overnight, don't touch them.
-IF there are any runs or texture, go ahead and take 1500 or 2000 grit and wet sand till you are happy.
-If you needed to wet sand then now you need to polish the surface to a nice finish.
-Reinstall your lights.

For wet sanding use water and ONE or TWO drops of Dawn dish soap, no more than that is needed. Just an added lubricant and helps clean while doing it.

SprayMax 2k Clear is a 2 part clear coat, as professional as you can get without a spray gun. Once the bottom is pushed in you have 24hrs to use said product.

$25 Spray max USC 2k High Gloss Clearcoat Aerosol

https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Chemical...words=sprakmax+2x&qid=1570822366&sr=8-3-spell

This is the best overall way I have found. I haven't personally used a wrap, but I am more partial to this method. Also, those polishing kits require some bit of maintenance. It is not a do it once and done thing. Depending on your climate you may have to redo it in 4 months or in 12 months. But the fact is you WILL have to redo it. Waxes, sealants and coatings are sacrificial layers, fact. So they WILL wear off, some will last longer than others but they will wear off. Leaving you in the same position you're in right now. Also the more "durable" a sealant or coating generally the more prep work that is required to get the manufactures claimed longevity. I did the above restoration to my sister in-laws car that is a gravel travel beater and for about 2 years its still clean and clear!

 

^
If you want to go the DiY way follow that advice to the 'T'.

If you already have experience with applying the LaminX film, then go that route.

I want to go LaminX but have been eyeing headlight coatings, only because I too know how much fun the film is to apply.

 

Not if you use clear PPF film. Once and done.

The kit from LaminX or Xpel is actually pretty easy for a DIYer; as easy as window film without the need for as much "perfection"

 

I would say for the life of how long most people keep their car yes. But if your truck/car is not garaged it will turn yellow eventually, probably not in 3 years but it will. I have seen a handful of cars done in PPF and others that are not garaged cars and after about 3-5 years on a white vehicle it starts to discolor. There are probably other factors as well. But it is factors that your headlights are likely going to see from being in the front and collecting all the grim and gunk from other cars in-front of you.

 

6.5 years so far on a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, stored outdoors. The PPF film on the headlights looks as good as the day I applied it. YMMV.