Headlight restoration charge...

Clean Dean

Clean Dean

Keep it clean !!!
Tried the search function, but not enough info came back.



I pretty much have all the components of this 3M Headlight Restoration kit, and have done a few restorations with great results.



3M? Headlight Lens Restoration System US 3M Automotive head light lights headlight headlights tail taillight taillights plastic plastics cover covers fog fogs foggy fogged cloud clouds cloudy clouding clear clears clearing dull dulled yellow yellow



Was looking into offering the service, and was wondering what other pros are offering the service and charging on the retail end ? I was thinking that with a little practice a restoration should take between 45 minute to 2 hours, depending on the amount of oxidation and damage.



My guess would be between $79 to $99 retail for the service, and that anything over $100 would scare off most potential customers. You have to figure most of your target customers will have daily driver cars.



Any info would be greatly appreciated !!! Thanks.
 
Thanks. I just picked up a couple bottles of Plastix this afternoon. I had the airtools from the 3M kit, and figured that with the 3" sand pads and polishing pads it should help with saving time on these jobs.
 
I added this service last year and have sold this service several hundred times since.



i use a 3" DA sander going through the grits from 400g to 1500g. then I use rubbing compound and a 3" wool pad. After this is done I ix up a 2 part clear wipe and slicker. It gets applied with a paper towel.



i do 5-10 of these a week ranging from $50 (per pair)for a dealer to $69.95+tax for a retail customer. It takes me 20 minutes to do a pair of headlights.



I use the stuff from Dvelup.
 
i do 5-10 of these a week ranging from $50 for a dealer to $69.95+tax for a retail customer. It takes me 20 minutes to do a pair of headlights.
Click to expand...



I like that 20 minutes per pair !!!
 
automedix said:
......After this is done I ix up a 2 part clear wipe and slicker. It gets applied with a paper towel....
Click to expand...



What 2 part clear wipe and slicker do you use?
 
$50 a headlight, but we don't just wetsand/buff. We re-clear all headlights with an HVLP gun.



If you wetsand through the clear on a headlight and buff it to a shine without reclearing it, it will be hazed up again within months.
 
AppliedColors said:
$50 a headlight, but we don't just wetsand/buff. We re-clear all headlights with an HVLP gun.



If you wetsand through the clear on a headlight and buff it to a shine without reclearing it, it will be hazed up again within months.
Click to expand...





That's my biggest concern. Charging a customer $50+ just to have the haze/yellowing come back. I'm thinking about picking up a roll of 3M clear bra to cut to shape after I've restored the plastic.



I'm not sure how to approach this because I can't charge too much in this area but don't want to risk clear coat yellowing itself or flaking off down the road.



input?
 
$50 a headlight, but we don't just wetsand/buff. We re-clear all headlights with an HVLP gun.



If you wetsand through the clear on a headlight and buff it to a shine without reclearing it, it will be hazed up again within months.
Click to expand...



How long does that take?



That's my biggest concern. Charging a customer $50+ just to have the haze/yellowing come back. I'm thinking about picking up a roll of 3M clear bra to cut to shape after I've restored the plastic.
Click to expand...



That would increase the cost pretty dramatically. Do you install 3M PPF ? I am a 3M certified installer, but it can be a royal PITA if you do not do install regularly.
 
I've always thought that despite whether you apply a plastic clear coat or not, those headlights are going to haze regardless. The only difference is that the protected headlight will take longer to haze, otherwise, you wouldn't really need to do a headlight restoration if the original headlight protection had done its job.



I don't know, I'm looking to hear more insight on this. Perhaps reclearing the headlights should be an option? ... or should it be part of the service? It's an additional cost and not sure if we can still hit our target market with the extra cost of materials.
 
Denzil said:
those headlights are going to haze regardless. The only difference is that the protected headlight will take longer to haze, otherwise, you wouldn't really need to do a headlight restoration if the original headlight protection had done its job.
Click to expand...



well you can say the same thing about oxidized paint, swirling paint, and crappy interiors...overtime without care, of course its going to come back...the main thing to remember and to inform clients is that proper care is needed to ensure a good looking vehicle for a long period of time! Even though I perfected and completely polished out a black BMW, the swirling and oxidation I removed will come back because the owner doesn't take care of it, washes it every once in a while, never waxes and uses dawn to wash his car when he does wash it...
 
toyotaguy said:
well you can say the same thing about oxidized paint, swirling paint, and crappy interiors...overtime without care, of course its going to come back...the main thing to remember and to inform clients is that proper care is needed to ensure a good looking vehicle for a long period of time! Even though I perfected and completely polished out a black BMW, the swirling and oxidation I removed will come back because the owner doesn't take care of it, washes it every once in a while, never waxes and uses dawn to wash his car when he does wash it...
Click to expand...



So do you think something like a reclear is appropriate and should be included or left as an option? I usually just care for it like I do with paint and top it with a LSP. :nixweiss
 
The new optimum coating would be great for this. I tried clearing a set of lights with an OTC rattle can clear a while ago and it came out very, very bad (it was done outside on a cold day).



I've seen hazing return on some headlights after only about 3 months, but on my car (which never gets wax on it's headlights) the hazing hasn't returned even after 18 months or so :nixweiss.
 
wax has been said to increase the rate of hazing...something about the heat from the lights with the makeup of the plastics...IDK



I would think a polishing would do better than a waxing every month, and take just 10 min longer! would offer better visibility at night too!



I would leave it as an option they pay for IF you can prove it will help in the long run (making it worth while)
 
backwoods_lex said:
The new optimum coating would be great for this. I tried clearing a set of lights with an OTC rattle can clear a while ago and it came out very, very bad (it was done outside on a cold day).



I've seen hazing return on some headlights after only about 3 months, but on my car (which never gets wax on it's headlights) the hazing hasn't returned even after 18 months or so :nixweiss.
Click to expand...





try waxing just one of the headlights and nothing on the other...see which one looks better longer
 
That's a good idea, but I didn't do the best sanding or polishing job the last time I did it (who new you could install hologram like marks using 2000 grit and the pc?). When I do a better job this summer, I'll give it a shot.



Headlights are definitely not my forte:down.
 
gtpaul said:
That's my biggest concern. Charging a customer $50+ just to have the haze/yellowing come back. I'm thinking about picking up a roll of 3M clear bra to cut to shape after I've restored the plastic.
Click to expand...



Nissan/Infiniti headlights are notorious for the hazing coming back. Usually very easy to remove the haze though, maybe 2 minutes per headlight. I am looking into seeing if the Optimum Coating will prevent the haze from returning on my own headlights (I have a Maxima) so I'll polish them out as perfect as I can get them, and then go over the lights with the coating and see how well they resist hazing.



When I do headlights, I pretty much charge based on time but the minimum if just a quick polish won't do the trick is $50 for the pair.
 
Clean Dean said:
How long does that take?
Click to expand...





About 30 minutes total for two lights. Wetsand 600, wetsand 1000, spray PPG clear (clear, hardener, and reducer) in two wet coats. Cure with infrared lamp.



This is a permanent solution to hazed headlights.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top