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When I got my GXP my headlights were really fogged over very badly. I bought the Turtle Wax kit, used it as instructed on the box, and they turned out great!! But it didn't last. I used the same kit a few months later, they looked great, but about a month and 1/2- 2 months later, they started getting dull looking again. This past August I used the Meguiar's kit with a cordless drill. Again, same results. Here it is December, and they're ugly looking again. I'd like some input as to how to keep my headlights looking good, for a long time.
Would polishing them out, then using the Dupli Color HLR1000 spray help? I know the factory UV costing is gone, and from what I've read, this is a really good product to help keep the UV coating on the lenses for a long time.

I have used the mineral spirits / spar urethane method for a few years now that I found on the autogeek forums. It works great but after 10 - 12 months they will fade again. I just polished mine again to perfection hoping it will get me through the winter without UV protection at which point I plan to sand down again and apply clear coat, likely SprayMax 2k clear aerosol which I feel should be much better then any standard aerosol clear. I have never seen the DupliColor HLR100 kit before, looks like it would be worth a try.

I personally (and for customers) use the Detailers Pro Series Headlight polish and headlight protection. The polish gives great results and with the coating on them they seem to last over 6 months so far.

I just used my FLEX with some rubbing compound.

crash93ssei wrote:I have used the mineral spirits / spar urethane method for a few years now that I found on the autogeek forums. It works great but after 10 - 12 months they will fade again.

I did this. It lasted almost 2 years before needing attention. - BC

On a related note, is it possible the inside needs work as well? Reason I ask, after doing the outside with one of these kits, it appeared some of what needed to be polished was on the inside of the lenses.

The insides fog up too, but that is a more involved process and usually involves an oven to loosen the glue bonds of the lens to the housing.

The insides usually are just foggy from blown bulbs over the years or slight condensation that gets in over time, all of the oxidation is on the outside. You may see some microcracking too, that's how mine are. Flex and polishing alone will not last as there is no added UV protection.

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm 99% sure the inside of the lenses are ok. When I polish them, they look brand new, except for some tiny pixilation in the outside lens. Which is to be expected.

As Ryan said, you can polish them with the best polish/compound on earth but the protection is the most important part. You need to get some kind of sealant or coating on them... unless you want to wax them every month or so.