A lot of people look up headlight restoration without ever understanding what they're actually…read morelooking up, and I hope my review will lead some of those people into the light. To begin, headlight restoration is literally one of the most time consuming things (if done right) you can do, and it's a skill that few people can just pick up and do well enough to earn a living. I've been an automotive 'expert' in all facets for nearly thirty years, doing everything from car stereos to rebuilding engines, and I've tried restoring headlights twice, I gave up both times. A proper job requires a LOT of sanding over the range of grits, followed by a LOT of polishing/buffing with varying compounds just to make the headlights look even decent, then you still have to finish the process, seal them, and apply a protectant. To get them looking 'new' takes way more than a $30 kit you buy at the store or some guy with a can of WD40 and shoe polish. You absolutely get what you pay for and if you're paying less than $200, you're getting a half wet sanded lens that will fog up and yellow within weeks, if not sooner.
Diamond Brite is the only company from my research anywhere in the greater Metro area who does every required step, from wet sanding with numerous stages from coarse to fine, to very fine, then on to polishing, then buffing, then sealing. There absolutely is no one else locally who does this process properly, completely, and thoroughly. Yes, you can pay less, and you can also return to that person and pay them again, and again, and again, and still never get the job done right. You can buy new headlights, but even if you have a car that has cheaper lamp assemblies, you're still paying way more than you would for the right restoration job. Most cars though you're looking at $400-1600 each for new units unless you buy some Chinese knockoff lamps that are not OEM regulated and use inferior materials, leading you to need to restore them even sooner than the original equipment light.
It's your car, and therefore your choice. But if you've decided you want to have your headlights restored to their original condition, why cut corners? Why pay half as much for half the job? Why let someone who's inexperienced do a job that you'll approve of until they drive away, then need to have it redone again and again? Diamond Brite does the job right, the first time, and stands behind it. For that peace of mind, not to mention the enhanced value, safety, and visibility you'll get out of your car, is it really worth it to pay any less?
