Wet sanded and buffed girlfriends BG's lights.

[PBfrEAk]

Hey guys, I've only posted on here once before with some trouble with my gf's BG legacy in case anyone remembers and we pretty much got that figured out.

But last weekend I decided to do some much needed maintenance on her car and thought I'd share.

Her headlights were horrific and after I (luckily) picked up a fog light from the junk yard to replace her broken one which has been broken since before she got the car, I figured I would get her headlights up to snuff too.

I searched on here for a while and after reading Warrior's wonderful headlight repair write-up I decided to go for it.

Warrior did his on the car but being there are only three bolts holding them in and the ones on her car are once piece with the signals (is that just the outbacks?), I opted into unbolting the headlights and doing them on the porch so I could maneuver them better.

Here is a list of my materials:

Bought:
- 3M 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper
- 3M 1000
- 3M 2000
- Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish

Had laying around:
- Clean plastic Folgers coffee can full of clean water
- 2 clean terry cloths
- 2 clean dry towels

Total I had like 20 bucks in it all.

I should have taken pictures of the stuff I used but I started by washing them with Dawn dish soap just to get all the bugs and such off. Then I started wet sanding with the 600 grit sand paper. I went back and forth up and down the headlight and then back over it in small deliberate circles making sure I didn't miss any spots. I kept the headlight very wet at all times rinsing off the sediment every so often.

I then did this with the 1000 and the 2000 grit in the same fashion. Again, I kept the headlight very very wet at all times.

After this I rinsed it off and then dried it with a clean towel. Once the headlight was completely dry I could tell that there were a few spots in the corners that were worse than others, so I did the 1000 and 2000 process again. Once it looked evenly hazed when it was dry with no spots that were worse than the others I started polishing.

I took my clean terry cloth and used a dab of the Mag Polish and did small deliberate circles from once side to the other. I did it twice over the whole headlight. After it was done there were a few spots I wasn't happy with so I redid it with 1000 and 2000 grit once more and then repeated with the polish. In hind sight it would have been less taxing on my arms if I had a buffing wheel, but I didn't at the time but it still turned out great.

Here is a picture of a side by side comparison and you can see the difference.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/DSC04462-1.jpg

And here is both of them in along with the new fog light.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/06/DSC04465-1.jpg

I took the mesh covers off of the fogs because the light from the yard had different clip points than the old lights.

Anyway, I'm VERY VERY happy with how it turned out. Hell if it would have only been half as bad I would have been happy. These look BRAND NEW!!!!

I also upgraded her bulbs as well so now she drives at night like a champ!!

Thanks again Warrior and Soul Shinobi as well. Your write ups rocked!! Sorry for the long post I just wanted to share with people that this really works and is VERY easy to do. I did this in about 2 hours total. I'm currently not driving a legacy, and as of the last time I posted I was looking and still am. I'll own one soon.

Thanks again guys. This website is great!!!

[chuckthefuk]

All 95-97 use 1-piece head lights
All 98-99 use 2-piece head lights

Insurance made subaru change the design becuase of fender benders and the cost of the lights..

[PBfrEAk]

Cool. Good to know, thanks for that!!

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

cleared a set on an Audi the other day. They were so bad they were yellow. lol Looked brand new after it was all done. Great way to make some money on the side. Charge $20-40 to clear a set of headlights.

[Huffer]

Nice writeup, great results!

[ouch1011]

I'm a huge fan on this service. Yellow, hazy headlights are a serious safety issue. With some of the cars I've seen in the shop, I'm not sure how they can drive at night at all. I've done this on both my Legacies...well worth it

[Baddog]

I did this today. I used VHT Nightshade on mine a year or so ago. This process REMOVED that. Thankfully.

That VHT Nightshade on my headlights was a mistake.

[geckoboy86]

Whats the best method to keep them clear the longest?

[98legwag]

Whats the best method to keep them clear the longest?

I used rubbing compound last time and it seems to be lasting longer than when I use plastic polish. I just use Powerball for headlights. I've also heard spraying them with clear coat after cleaning them helps.

[csweston]

Whats the best method to keep them clear the longest?

Sanding all the way... assuming its done right. The rubbing compounds and such just cover the problem. Whereas the sanding actually fixes it.

[geckoboy86]

I will sand.
Don't they need a compound, wax, etc to truly be clear in the end. I want to know what works the best (with what care,and how long it lasts).

[Okin DaVanh]

I've also heard spraying them with clear coat after cleaning them helps.


Do NOT do this.

[xoSubieLegacyxo]

I've also heard spraying them with clear coat after cleaning them helps.


Do NOT do this.

agreed! Best way is to sand and buff. Clear is just covering the issue. Anyone know if they make glass headlights for the 2nd gen? I know the GCs have them. That would solve the problem.

[geckoboy86]

Ok. Having the RS fogs (glass) makes me really want to clean up my headlights. They are god awful. Did any other market (JDM,EDM) have glass headlights?

[Yamazaki]

Ok. Having the RS fogs (glass) makes me really want to clean up my headlights. They are god awful. Did any other market (JDM,EDM) have glass headlights?
Japan did not. But I thought I saw something once about Europe having them available.

[r3v_v3ng3]

I've also heard spraying them with clear coat after cleaning them helps.


Do NOT do this.

agreed! Best way is to sand and buff. Clear is just covering the issue. Anyone know if they make glass headlights for the 2nd gen? I know the GCs have them. That would solve the problem.

I've also heard spraying them with clear coat after cleaning them helps.


Do NOT do this.

Why not? I've done 5 sets of headlight that i clear coated and never had a problem. Maybe if you use a spray can clear but I spray clear on a paint gun. I just sand it with 800-1000 (till satisfied) grit and shoot clear

IMO shooting clear on it is the cheapest and saves you time and you don't have to worry about hazing or whatever again.

[98legwag]

The headlight restoration kit I bought came with wet/dry sandpaper, Powerball for headlights, and plastic polish. First I sanded then used the powerball and it looked great for about a year. I just have to touch it up every 6 months or so with polish. I probably could've done a better job sanding in the beginning.

[chuckthefuk]

Buffed & Polished FTW!!..

Clear is a no go for the freezing cold winter states/provinces.

I tried this one year and sure enough after 10 snow banks the clear cracked off :-D

[Okin DaVanh]

Why not? I've done 5 sets of headlight that i clear coated and never had a problem. Maybe if you use a spray can clear but I spray clear on a paint gun. I just sand it with 800-1000 (till satisfied) grit and shoot clear. IMO shooting clear on it is the cheapest and saves you time and you don't have to worry about hazing or whatever again.



Clear is a no go for the freezing cold winter states/provinces. I tried this one year and sure enough after 10 snow banks the clear cracked off :-D

:smt023

[geckoboy86]

I tried this one year and sure enough after 10 snow banks the clear cracked off :-D

Ya, I'm in PA. And snow banks are fun. Any brand of polish stand out to be better then the others?

[chuckthefuk]

--:> http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=4596
--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... fhAy_x_O4# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RufhAy_x_O4#)!

[r3v_v3ng3]

Buffed & Polished FTW!!..

Clear is a no go for the freezing cold winter states/provinces.

I tried this one year and sure enough after 10 snow banks the clear cracked off :-D


Guess that explains it, never really thought of that. I'm spoiled with California weather :grin:

[Okin DaVanh]

I'm spoiled with California weather :grin:
:smt023