Over time, the composite headlamp lenses found on today’s vehicles degrade due to exposure to the sun’s UV rays, road grime, adverse weather conditions, temperature extremes and more. When the composite headlamp lenses degrade, they begin to have a dull, hazy or yellowed appearance to them. This diminishes headlamp performance and creates a potential safety concern due to reduced down-road illumination. Motorists in Metro Detroit are no less susceptible to this phenomenon due to our cold winters with heavy use of road salt and our hot, sunny summers.
A number of companies have come out with headlamp restoration products which claim to help restore the headlamp lens to its original clarity and performance. While all of these products aim for this common goal, not all kits are created equal. Some kits require either an electric drill or other similar tools. Some kits cost as little as $14, others in excess of $40. The Sylvania kit can be found for ~$20 from most reputable auto parts stores and it requires no expensive tools for its successful use.
What the kit includes:
- 1 oz. Surface Activator
- 1 oz. UV Block Clear Coat
- ½ oz. Clarifying Compound
- Waterproof Premium Sandpaper (400, 1000 & 2000 grit)
- Applicator and Polish Towels
- Protective Tape
- Vinyl Glove
Additional items the motorist must provide to use the kit:
- A small bucket
- Clean, fresh water
- An extra towel for use with the bucket & water
While the instructions included with the kit are relatively straightforward, they are also the biggest fault of the kit. The instructions are in written format only (lacking any illustrations), utilizing a somewhat small font printed on a flimsy piece of glossy paper. The use of a larger font on a standard 8.5 x 11” piece of paper would be of great benefit as would the inclusion of some photos or graphical depictions of each step. Sylvania does provide a very well-done instructional video. For motorists who feel uncomfortable with the written instructions, the video is a worthwhile use of six minutes. A link to the video has been provided to the left of this article .
The vehicle used for this review was a 1997 Honda CR-V with close to 140,000 miles on the odometer. The driver’s side headlamp had already been replaced due to physical damage but the passenger headlamp was sufficiently weathered and in need of restoration. The process was very simple and the results were nothing short of extraordinary. When finished, the restored headlamp lens was nearly as clear as the new one and improved down-road illumination at night was immediately noticeable.
Having had an opportunity to use two competitive products in the past, the Sylvania kit was by far the easiest to use and also provided the best results.
There are two key points which set the Sylvania kit apart from other comparably priced products available on the market today.
- No special tools (e.g. electric drill) are required
- The kit utilizes a special UV Block Clear Coat
It is the special UV Block Clear Coat that allows Sylvania to offer motorists a limited lifetime warranty for as long as they own their car. The Sylvania Headlamp Restoration Kit is an excellent choice for any motorist who needs to restore like-new clarity and performance to their vehicle’s weathered headlamps.
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