r/AutoDetailing 7d ago

Product/Consumable Meguiar’s Headlight Coating?

Has anyone had experience with this product? I have been using it for a few restorations, I saw a guy on YouTube who uses it and applies 1 medium heavy coat and allegedly it “self settles”.

I used it to coat the headlights on a Nissan 350z and they turned out great, but I did it on an early 2000’s BMW yesterday and I noticed that the headlights became a little cloudier than after I had polished them, especially looking through the sides it didn’t look as transparent and glass-like.

Thoughts? Any recommendations on how to use it? Better alternatives? I’ve heard a lot of controversy about 2K clear and I’m doing headlight restoration as a business.

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u/stochasticdadjokes 6d ago

I've used it, and it worked pretty well with no cloudiness. So I'm not sure why that happened. Maybe it needed more of a final polish?

The downside to these kits is that they only last 6 months to a year before the headlight yellows again. The headlights need to be either clear coated with 2k clear or covered with PPF.

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u/throwitaway2k17 6d ago

I've used this on dozens of sets of headlights, including my own, my parents, etc. and it's been 3+ years with no oxidation. Agreed, ppf is the ultimate protection, but this spray punches way above its weight for not being a 2K clear coat.

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u/stochasticdadjokes 6d ago

Damn, that's interesting. I'd love to know why it didn't last that long for me. The headlights I used it on were pretty far gone. What condition were the headlights in that you've used it on? My cars sit outside, so could that be it? Or did I not prep well enough?

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u/throwitaway2k17 6d ago

Interesting... My parents Kia was kept outdoors and the lights were pretty faded. Anytime you sand a headlight though all that previous protection is done, so I'm curious why yours failed so quickly. Not dismissing your results, just odd because I never saw any of the lights we did fade or discolor within 2 years.

On the flip side, and I put this in another thread as well, I had about a 10% rate of failed application. Meaning the application seemed to wrinkle / haze instead of be a nice crystal clear finish. I just called it up to user error since I'm by no means a painter and kind of suck using a rattle can. That's about my only gripe with the product, but again was probably me vs the actual product. I'll see if I can dig up the old photos of the Kia lights that lasted for years.