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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Wash, Wax, Detailing and Cosmetic protection/repairs > Foglight Help. 3M Headlight Restoration Kit



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      10-12-2011, 05:16 PM   #1
setofvs
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Foglight Help. 3M Headlight Restoration Kit

Hi all,

My passenger side fog is noticeably cloudier than my driver's side. I was wondering if the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit would help even it out a bit. I know it's basically a pad that you attach to your own drill, but the fact that the area is pretty recessed worries me. I plan on using painter's tape on the sides of the unit, but should I try to remove the fog anyways?

If anyone has prior experience DIY cleaning a E90 foglight, please share your experiences. Thanks!
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      10-12-2011, 05:21 PM   #2
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Are you sure that the cloudiness of the foglight isn't actually due to condensation from inside the lens? Seems to be quite common, especially if you've tampered with aftermarket bulbs (which can sometimes have faulty seals). Because if so, the 3M headlight restoration kit is useless.

If it's not condensation and you absolutely need to use the kit, I would maybe try working by hand. I would imagine that the pad is too large to properly sit on the foglight. If you want to remove the foglight, you'd have to take off your bumper to unclip the area.
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      10-12-2011, 05:25 PM   #3
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Hmm. I can't be sure, but it does seem like the outside is fairly gritty, which leads me to believe that the 3M kit may help. Just purchased the kit off Amazon, but then realized that wetsanding it maybe a bit risky being that the fog is pretty recessed into the bumper.

I actually never noticed it till today, after I put in HID fogs. One side was noticeably hazy and the other wasn't.

In the event that it is indeed condensation, is there a solution besides replacing the entire housing?

Thanks again all.
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      10-12-2011, 05:41 PM   #4
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Try DI's guides of Headlight Restoration Using a Porter Cable 7424xp and Menzerna or Clearing Hazy Head Lamp Housings on a Budget.
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      10-12-2011, 06:05 PM   #5
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Hmmm those guides seem to pertain to hand sanding headlights. My issue right now is whether or not I will need to remove the actual foglight housing from my bumper, as I'm not sure if the pad included in the 3M kit will fit in that area. I don't want to damage the paint with the wetsanding.
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      10-13-2011, 12:12 AM   #6
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I haven't tried it on the E92, but I have used it on my sister's Tiburon. If you decide to use it, put a few layers of tape on anything painted since the edges of the disks are relatively sharp
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      10-13-2011, 12:14 AM   #7
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I just checked
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      10-13-2011, 12:17 AM   #8
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Sorry. I'm using the app on my phone. I just checked and the fog light is a little wider than the adapter so it should work.
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      10-13-2011, 11:49 AM   #9
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Dont waste your time. I tried the kit on the fogs 2 weeks ago.. no go. Ended up purchasing a new set of fogs off a member here for $50.
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      10-13-2011, 11:51 AM   #10
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try tooth paste to see if it helps, if it does, the kit may help, but i use mothers metal polish and a rag
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      10-13-2011, 12:10 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin@AKMotorwerk View Post
try tooth paste to see if it helps, if it does, the kit may help, but i use mothers metal polish and a rag
This ^. Although again from experience the kit wont help
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      10-13-2011, 01:57 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin@AKMotorwerk View Post
try tooth paste to see if it helps, if it does, the kit may help, but i use mothers metal polish and a rag
haha toothpaste? really? actually it makes sense, i remember cleaning a watch of mine back in the day that got scuffed up with paint using toothpaste and it worked perfectly.

toothbrush and toothpaste?
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      10-13-2011, 02:01 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by setofvs View Post
haha toothpaste? really? actually it makes sense, i remember cleaning a watch of mine back in the day that got scuffed up with paint using toothpaste and it worked perfectly.

toothbrush and toothpaste?
just toothpaste and a towel or paper towel, its gotta be paste tho, don't get fancy with the gels lmao!!! rub like compound, and wipe off, then wipe with a moist rag.
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      10-13-2011, 03:59 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin@AKMotorwerk View Post
just toothpaste and a towel or paper towel, its gotta be paste tho, don't get fancy with the gels lmao!!! rub like compound, and wipe off, then wipe with a moist rag.
Haha alright. Gonna try the regular white Colgate paste...WITH FLUORIDE!
Let you guys know how it goes. Thanks Kevin.
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      10-14-2011, 12:46 AM   #15
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My foglights were pitted and I wetsanded them with great results:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...34#post9899934
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      10-16-2011, 12:22 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by setofvs View Post
Haha alright. Gonna try the regular white Colgate paste...WITH FLUORIDE!
Let you guys know how it goes. Thanks Kevin.
Hmmm. Definitely made the lens more 'clear' when looking at it without the light on, but still has this sort of yellowish haze to it when the HIDs come on.

I actually couldn't really tell the haze with stock oem halogens, but with 6000k HIDs its very obvious. I suppose the higher the kelvin, the more noticeable the difference is. I'm swapping my 6000ks out for 4300ks and see how that goes.
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