Documented Projects

Fog Lights
This is a step by step of how to sand your headlights or foglights. There are many ways to do this, this is just the way I did it. My SiX's fogs' were very pitted and looked crappy so I decided that I would try to refinish them as well as put some new bulbs in. The results are quite impressive considering you can do the whole process in about 3-5 hours.

First off you have to remove your fogs, to do this jack up your car and get to the back of the lights. There are two nuts that you have to get off (size 10), one on each side. Once they are off simply pull back slightly and then tilt them forward through the front, simple as that. Now there is the wire going from the back of the fog, follow it up until you find a clip, on the top of this clip there is a small button, click it down and wiggle the plug out...there you go. Now repeat for the other side.

As you can see the lights are very pitted, probably becasue they are only a few inches off the ground, and fairly cloudy when I took them out.

Alright, now that you have your lights out, get all materials needed for the project. I used;
- 320 grit wet/dry sandpaper
- 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper
- 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper
- Novus Fine Scratch Remover

So now all you have to do is start sanding...progess through the various grits of sandpaper until you are happy with the pits you get out. For me, I sanded with the 320 grit paper for about 30 minutes, trying to get most of the pits out (some deeper ones wouldn't come out). Do not worry about the fact that you can't see into your lights, they should be white. Next is the 1000 grit, make sure you have lots of water and keep sanding. Once your happy, get your scratch remover of your choice and rub it in. The difference is just amazing, like a new set of lights...I didn't think that it would be as effective as it was.

These are the pictures comparing the light I did and the one I hadn't started yet...there was such a huge difference, I was so happy that I just took the time to do this instead of paying a couple hundred for a new set.

So now that thats all done, you can change your bulbs if you desire. The stock lights are 35W H3 bulbs and to change them, just remove the three screws on the back on the foglight (mine were rusted to crap, so it took a bit of convincing). The part just pops off and then the light clicks out. Carefully put you new bulbs in, I put in 55W H3's, be sure not to touch the bulb! There are two wires to connect, the ground goes down under where the back of your bulb is and the other connects to the piece you unscrewed. Connect them and screw the top piece back on nice and tight.

Once you are all finished getting everything together, get under the car and insert the fog light. You have to put it in from the front. Screw on the nuts and connect the electrical wire up to the plug. Repeat for the other side. (The nut on the right side of the fog light on the passenger side of the car was tricky to get on becasue theres not much room to fit your hand.)

Here is a few shots of the lights after everything was finished as well as a comparison before and after the lights were refinished. The process eliminated the yellow in the fog lights and makes a big difference while driving!

Headlights
The process of sanding and such is the exact same as the foglights, other than it takes longer becasue the light is larger. The take everything apart, sand and refinish and put everything back took approximately 5 hours. Here is how to get your lights out.

First of all you have to take out your blinker, to do so simply remove the one phillips screw holding the plastc bracket. This screw is located just behind the light, you will see at as soon as you open your hood. Once it's out, pull the light towards you gently, it will unclip and then you just have to take the bulb out, I just wrapped some paper towel around the bulbs so I didn't break them or anything.

So now that you blinker is out, it's time for the headlight. When you take out the blinker it reveals to 10mm bolts that you must remove, then the large aiming screw on the light towards the middle of the car. Last of all there is one more 10mm nut you have to get off the back of the light. Once you have removed the 4 bolts the light just slides out.

Repeat for the other light and then begin your sanding and polishing (see fog light tutorial above.)

My headlights were not too bad originally, but I thought since I had them out that I might as well just refinish them and make them look a little bit better. For changing your bulbs, just pop the stock ones out and replace them, when I took mine out I found that they were Silverstars, I popped in some new Silverstar Untras.

Assembly is the exact opposite. I was fairly happy with the results I got, not as good as the fogs though. It was still well worth the time. Will have to pictures of the final product in the car at night soon.

Page 1: Car Over View (You Are Here)
Page 2: Engine and Engine Work
Page 3: Interior and Stereo
Page 4: Exterior
Page 5 You Are Here