Detailers All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailers Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

Angus

Angus

AspiringProductSpecialist
For this review, I’m going to share my first experience using Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray to revive the headlights on my folks 98’ Subaru Outback:


Drivers side close up:


Passengers side close up:


They’ve had this car since new and as you can see the headlights are badly hazed and have never been corrected. As great as this car is in inclement weather in the dark the headlights have always left A LOT to be desired. So making sure they’re cleaned and at their best is important.

First up, Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish:


From AG's product page for DP’s AIO Headlight Restoring Polish:

Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish is a one-step cleaner, compound and polish for plastic headlight lenses. Formulated using an advanced blend of micro and diminishing abrasives, Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish makes multi-step headlight polishing systems obsolete. In one simple step you’ll be able to restore yellowed, dull, faded plastic headlight lenses to like-new condition, increasing nighttime visibility and reducing glare.

​
After thoroughly cleaning both headlights, I tape them off and go to work. Of the 2, the passengers side lens is by far the is the worst so I’ll start there. (Full disclosure, I also used this lens to test the bug spray myth.)

Directions:

  1. Ensure surface is clean and cool to the touch.
  2. Tape off paint surrounding lenses. Apply using a drill or polisher equipped with the proper backing plate and foam or wool cutting pad.
  3. Dispense a line of polish around outer edge of pad. Press pad to lens cover and turn on. If you are using a drill or rotary polisher, set speed between 1500 and 1800 RPM. If you are using a dual action polisher, set speed between 5000 and 6000 OPM.
  4. Work polish in until it turns clear.
  5. Wipe off residue with a microfiber towel. Repeat if necessary.
  6. Follow with Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray to retard UV-induced yellowing and fading.
Following the directions, I’m using my GG 6', w/ a 5' backing plate and thin wool pad.

Bead of product applied to outer edge of pad:


Time to work it into the headlight, GG DA set to speed setting 6:


After about a minute the polish starts turning clear, once it’s completely gone here’s what’s left on the pad:


I quickly reload the pad, and repeat the same process on the driver’s side.

Now it’s time to seal the headlights with Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray:


From AG's product page for DP’s Headlight Protectant Spray:

Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray is a polymer sealant that blankets your headlight lenses in a clear, durable film of protection. Advanced cross-linking polymers seal the pores of plastic headlight lenses to prevent degradation caused by UV rays, water, and environmental pollution. Use on clear plastic headlight lenses, vinyl windows, and motorcycle windscreens. Treated surfaces will resist yellowing, fading and discoloration.

Directions:

  1. Ensure surface is clean, cool to the touch and free of oxidation or yellowing. If necessary, polish lenses first using Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish.
  2. Spray product directly onto surface and evenly distribute using a microfiber towel.
  3. Flip towel over and lightly buff area.
  4. Apply a second coat to ensure even coverage.
I didn’t take any photos of this step since it was only 2-3 sprays and a quick buff.

Final Results
Here’s some before and after shots of both headlights after being fully corrected and sealed with Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray:
Passengers side BEFORE:
Passengers side AFTER
Drivers side BEFORE:
Drivers side AFTER:


Conclusion
DP’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish worked extremely well to correct the headlights. It only took a few minutes per lens to achieve crystal clear results with my DA. By immediately following up with Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray I’m optimistic the headlights will not return to their prior state anytime soon.

Recommendation
This was my first time using DP’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and I was very impressed by how well it works. I’ve used Meguiars PlastX Clear Plastic Polish for a few years after buying the Meguiars Headlight & Clear Plastic Restoration Kit from my local Pep Boys to fix my Honda Civic’s headlights. What’s missing however from Meg’s kit is a headlight sealant. If you want long lasting results you must re-seal your headlights with a product designed to prevent your headlights from hazing over again in a few months.

For any notices out there looking to replicate my results, I'd recommend buying The Detailer's Total Headlight Restoration Kit as it comes with everything you need to get the job done right the first time.

As always, your comments and questions are welcome! I hope this review was helpful.

Products used:
Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish
Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray
Griots Garage 6 Inch Polisher
5Inch DA Backing Plate
5.5 Inch Thin Foamed Wool Pad
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

Great review. Thank you.
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

Thanks! ;)
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

I’m optimistic the headlights will not return to their prior state anytime soon.


They will again but if your anything like me, I use a light polish on my lens once a month or so..they IMO require regular maintenance.
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

*6 Month Update*

I'm happy to report the Subaru's headlights are still nice and clear:







DP's AIO Headlight Kit is a winner :bigups
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

Very impressive for a 6 month update. Any touch ups with the sealant during that time?
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

Good stuff!
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

The Guz said:
Very impressive for a 6 month update. Any touch ups with the sealant during that time?
Click to expand...

Absolutly zero touch ups. I haven't done anything to the car since last November.
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

wow that's pretty amazing durability, thanks for updating
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

Angus said:
Absolutly zero touch ups. I haven't done anything to the car since last November.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update. That is indeed very impressive durability. I would be curious to see how it would behave in a climate that has a higher UV such as my area. One day I will give it a shot.
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

if anything, I might have to pick up some of that sealant. seems to work well and its a lot cheaper than optilens. I'm happy with 105 for lens correction, but this might be the UV protection ive been looking for.
 
*Bump*

Now that Daylight Saving has ended and I'm driving home in the dark after work I figured it was time to do a little headlight maintenance with DP's Headlight AIO on my DD.

My headlights weren't too bad, having been correct last year with with Meg's Plastix and wool cutting pad mounted on my drill. But they certainly could benefit from a quick correction:

Drivers side before:


DP's AIO applied to my GG6' w/ thin wool cutting pad:



Drivers side after:



The passengers side had clouded over a little worse:



But was easily corrected:



Close up of hazy, pitted, yellow headlight surface before and crystal clear lens after correction:





I love this stuff!

A new protective layer was added thanks to DP Protectant Spray:











Good to go for another year :)

 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

The Guz said:
Thanks for the update. That is indeed very impressive durability. I would be curious to see how it would behave in a climate that has a higher UV such as my area. One day I will give it a shot.
Click to expand...

My thought exactly. 3 months is when I usually start noticing yellow again no matter what I have used, AIO's, Waxes Sealants etc.. I have just recently started using Optimum Car Wax with UVA and UVB additives to see what happens.

Dave
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

Give the sunny climate you (AZ) and The Guz (SoCal) live in, seeing the headlight coating start yellowing after 3 months isn't too surprising. Have you tried using Opti-lens?
 
I have used this product before on my Acura MDX with similar results - I loved the stuff! Mine have been exposed to Colorado UV/sun for a year and they are as clear today as they were when I cleaned them up.
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

Angus said:
Give the sunny climate you (AZ) and The Guz (SoCal) live in, seeing the headlight coating start yellowing after 3 months isn't too surprising. Have you tried using Opti-lens?
Click to expand...

No, it is in my wish list tho. I have read good and bad on Opti-lens and I have checked the spraying of 2k clear just having a hard time with which way to go and to clean off the yellow I spend more time taping than running the rotary so it doesn't jump up on the list as a must do right away.

Dave
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

davidc said:
My thought exactly. 3 months is when I usually start noticing yellow again no matter what I have used, AIO's, Waxes Sealants etc.. I have just recently started using Optimum Car Wax with UVA and UVB additives to see what happens.

Dave
Click to expand...

Please let me know David. Exactly what I was thinking. I plan to buy the DP products next sale, and then use the OCW for the same reason you mention. But sounds like you are a bit ahead of me in the testing.
 
Re: Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish and Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray - Reviewed

glfnaz said:
Please let me know David. Exactly what I was thinking. I plan to buy the DP products next sale, and then use the OCW for the same reason you mention. But sounds like you are a bit ahead of me in the testing.
Click to expand...

Sure thing, been on there since you were kind enough to give me the sample, 3 weeks to a Month now. I also applied to that rear step on the van that has been a pain in my a** for quite a while. All going well to date.

Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top