Why the kits are temporary
Every restoration kit sands off the hazed layer and the factory UV coating with it. The wipe-on clear in the kit is not a UV coating that lasts. In Florida sun the lens hazes again, often faster than the first time.
The permanent version
- Wet sand and polish the lens until it is optically clear.
- Apply a durable clear to seal the plastic.
- Install clear paint protection film over the lens. It blocks UV, takes the sand, and self-heals light scratches.
On a new car
Skip steps one and two. Film the lenses while they are new. Headlights are part of every PPF package from Partial Front at $899, with the front bumper that takes the same hits.
What is not fixable
Cracks, moisture inside the housing, and pitting deep enough to distort the beam. Those are a new assembly, and then film on the new one.