Polished and sealed E90 headlamps today

spencers · 04-19-2014, 05:19 PM

My 2006 330i was in dire need of some headlamp restoration. This could have easily been skipped if BMW didn't GLUE the stupid lenses on! Anywho, I ordered up some Optimum Opti-Lens Permanent Headlight Coating and today I got to work.

Tools:
Blue painters tape
1000 grit sandpaper
Porter Cable 7424XP
Poorboys SSR 2.5
Poorboys SSR 1
Orange buffing pad
White buffing pad
15% Isopropanol in a spray bottle
Optimum Opti-Lens Permanent Headlight Coating

Procedure:
Mask off the area with blue painters tape
First I cleaned the headlamps off with 15% IPA.
Then I went to town with the 1000 grit sandpaper (wet, of course)
Followed by Poorboys SSR 2.5 on Orange pad
Repeat above as necessary until abrasions are gone.

Final polish with Poorboys SSR 1 on White pad to finish it off.

One last clean with 15% IPA.
Then I applied the Opti-Lens coating somewhat-liberally.
Waited 3-5 minutes to "cure," then wiped off excess with included microfiber towel.

Before:

During

After!

Before/after combo comparison

If you really look, you can still see some imperfections. I didn't feel the need to wet-sand the lenses all day so I stopped when I felt like it. Now we shall wait and see how "permanent" this coating is!

chatoyer · 04-19-2014, 06:47 PM

Kudos! That's fantastic work!

Detailers Domain · 04-19-2014, 08:21 PM

great job!

Clammy · 05-24-2014, 11:47 PM

Wow, that's an amazing transformation!

Cheers!

MUrhino · 06-03-2014, 09:49 PM

Is the permanent headlight coating a UV protectant? I did this to my '06 e90 about 4 yrs ago but didn't seal them...I need to do it again : (

Jed · 06-03-2014, 11:09 PM

Wow! Very nice! Great job!!!

silver07335i · 06-03-2014, 11:15 PM

Good job!

SHEEDI · 06-04-2014, 08:15 AM

I see some swirls marks and some part of light is not cleaned well

Jed · 06-04-2014, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

I see some swirls marks and some part of light is not cleaned well

Well, it is a marked improvement upon it's prior state...

spencers · 06-04-2014, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUrhino

Is the permanent headlight coating a UV protectant? I did this to my '06 e90 about 4 yrs ago but didn't seal them...I need to do it again : (

It claims to have UV inhibitors in the coating. http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-opti...t-coating.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

I see some swirls marks and some part of light is not cleaned well

You have a sharp eye!

As I said at the end of my original post: If you really look, you can still see some imperfections. I didn't feel the need to wet-sand the lenses all day so I stopped when I felt like it.

SHEEDI · 06-04-2014, 09:39 PM

OP, headlights look better than before...but You still have to workout more on these areas; I use wolfgang polishing compound to remove swirls in plastic and I always have good results even by hand with terry towel. I know those are tight areas and the pads you are using are bigm, so you might have to try small pads if you have if not then try using terry towel with swirls remover

http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-tot...olish-3-0.html

one last thing. please don't forget to polish this inner area under hood .

spencers · 06-04-2014, 11:30 PM

Appreciate the tips!

SHEEDI · 06-05-2014, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spencers

Appreciate the tips!

I'm happy with my results.

I'm sorry you aren't.

its ok, you don't have to be sorry; I was trying help you to make it look perfect

AdamN52 · 06-05-2014, 08:34 AM

Awesome job!

I took to mine with just some abrasive headlight polish and a rag (I forget what kind. Meguiar's or something) and I was pretty happy with that... But yours turned out fantastic, what a difference!

marketmaster · 06-05-2014, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

OP, headlights look better than before...but You still have to workout more on these areas; I use wolfgang polishing compound to remove swirls in plastic and I always have good results even by hand with terry towel. I know those are tight areas and the pads you are using are bigm, so you might have to try small pads if you have if not then try using terry towel with swirls remover

http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-tot...olish-3-0.html

one last thing. please don't forget to polish this inner area under hood .

This is what I am going to remove my bumper and headlights to do my restore.

spencers · 06-05-2014, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

its ok, you don't have to be sorry; I was trying help you to make it look perfect

It certainly would have helped to get those tight spots if I had smaller pads for my buffer. I just didn't want to spend $$$ on pads that I'd likely only use once.

All of the stuff (minus the Opti Lens coating) I had laying around my house. For this project, I aimed to make do with what I already had.

spencers · 07-15-2014, 11:47 AM

Sorry all the pics disappeared. Fixed them. Still looking shiny and clear!

ammar23 · 07-16-2014, 11:23 AM

Looks good, nice work.

tmdals0213 · 09-14-2014, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

its ok, you don't have to be sorry; I was trying help you to make it look perfect

you da man sheedi

WilliamS · 09-14-2014, 12:43 PM

Looks great, and you did it the right way. Very good job.

NiVeDh · 09-15-2014, 12:58 AM

Nice transformation!

04-19-2014, 05:19 PM	#1
spencers Captain 199 Rep 649 Posts Drives: Sthrizzle Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: A iTrader: (6)	Polished and sealed E90 headlamps today My 2006 330i was in dire need of some headlamp restoration. This could have easily been skipped if BMW didn't GLUE the stupid lenses on! Anywho, I ordered up some Optimum Opti-Lens Permanent Headlight Coating and today I got to work. Tools: Blue painters tape 1000 grit sandpaper Porter Cable 7424XP Poorboys SSR 2.5 Poorboys SSR 1 Orange buffing pad White buffing pad 15% Isopropanol in a spray bottle Optimum Opti-Lens Permanent Headlight Coating Procedure: Mask off the area with blue painters tape First I cleaned the headlamps off with 15% IPA. Then I went to town with the 1000 grit sandpaper (wet, of course) Followed by Poorboys SSR 2.5 on Orange pad Repeat above as necessary until abrasions are gone. Final polish with Poorboys SSR 1 on White pad to finish it off. One last clean with 15% IPA. Then I applied the Opti-Lens coating somewhat-liberally. Waited 3-5 minutes to "cure," then wiped off excess with included microfiber towel. Before: During After! Before/after combo comparison If you really look, you can still see some imperfections. I didn't feel the need to wet-sand the lenses all day so I stopped when I felt like it. Now we shall wait and see how "permanent" this coating is! Last edited by spencers; 07-15-2014 at 11:46 AM..
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04-19-2014, 06:47 PM	#2
chatoyer First Lieutenant 81 Rep 341 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 m40i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Kudos! That's fantastic work!
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04-19-2014, 08:21 PM	#3
Detailers Domain BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2491 Rep 7,050 Posts Drives: 20 M2C, 22 X3M, 25 M2, 01 740 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (24)	great job!
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05-24-2014, 11:47 PM	#4
Clammy Captain 343 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 2006 330i 6MT Join Date: May 2012 Location: Canada iTrader: (2)	Wow, that's an amazing transformation! Cheers!
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06-03-2014, 09:49 PM	#5
MUrhino New Member 0 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 2006 325i w/ SP, 6 Sp. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	Is the permanent headlight coating a UV protectant? I did this to my '06 e90 about 4 yrs ago but didn't seal them...I need to do it again : (
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06-03-2014, 11:09 PM	#6
Jed IN THE KNOW!!!!!!! 12 Rep 431 Posts Drives: 1994 E36 325is; 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MD iTrader: (1)	Wow! Very nice! Great job!!! __________________ 2007 Jet Black 335i Coupe: Saddle Brown interior \| ZSP \| ZCP \| ZPP \| iPod integration. 1994 Hellrot 325is: Sport Package \| PSS9 Coilover \| AutoThority chip \| AutoThority CF Intake \| UUC pullies \| Dinan HiFlo Throttle Body \| UUC StrutBarbarian \| UUC Evo II SSK \| BMW Motorsports X Brace \| Rogue Engineering DMS exhaust \| Kumho Ecsta V700 R Comps \|
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06-03-2014, 11:15 PM	#7
silver07335i Captain 25 Rep 755 Posts Drives: 335i titanium silver metallic Join Date: May 2013 Location: CA iTrader: (5)	Good job!
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06-04-2014, 08:15 AM	#8
SHEEDI Banned 619 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	I see some swirls marks and some part of light is not cleaned well
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06-04-2014, 09:39 PM	#11
SHEEDI Banned 619 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	OP, headlights look better than before...but You still have to workout more on these areas; I use wolfgang polishing compound to remove swirls in plastic and I always have good results even by hand with terry towel. I know those are tight areas and the pads you are using are bigm, so you might have to try small pads if you have if not then try using terry towel with swirls remover http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-tot...olish-3-0.html one last thing. please don't forget to polish this inner area under hood . Attached Images Last edited by SHEEDI; 06-04-2014 at 09:44 PM..
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06-04-2014, 11:30 PM	#12
spencers Captain 199 Rep 649 Posts Drives: Sthrizzle Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: A iTrader: (6)	Appreciate the tips! Last edited by spencers; 06-14-2017 at 01:35 PM..
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06-05-2014, 08:34 AM	#14
AdamN52 First Lieutenant 18 Rep 301 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi (E90) Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Awesome job! I took to mine with just some abrasive headlight polish and a rag (I forget what kind. Meguiar's or something) and I was pretty happy with that... But yours turned out fantastic, what a difference!
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07-15-2014, 11:47 AM	#17
spencers Captain 199 Rep 649 Posts Drives: Sthrizzle Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: A iTrader: (6)	Sorry all the pics disappeared. Fixed them. Still looking shiny and clear!
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07-16-2014, 11:23 AM	#18
ammar23 Second Lieutenant 17 Rep 238 Posts Drives: 2009 e90 328i (LCI) Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Arizona, USA iTrader: (0)	Looks good, nice work.
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09-14-2014, 12:43 PM	#20
WilliamS GoofBall 55 Rep 1,055 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 N54 Xdrive Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (2)	Looks great, and you did it the right way. Very good job.
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09-15-2014, 12:58 AM	#21
NiVeDh Major General 430 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	Nice transformation!
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