I bought the QIFOR Automotive Headlight Restoration Kit because my headlights were starting to look cloudy, and I wanted something that could improve their appearance without turning the job into a whole weekend project. What appealed to me was that the kit looked relatively straightforward to use, especially compared with some of the more involved headlight restoration methods.
After using it on both my front headlights and a much more badly yellowed rear brake light, I’d say I’m mixed on it. It definitely helped, but the results weren’t nearly as impressive as I expected.
Key Takeaways
- The kit was relatively easy to apply.
- It worked noticeably better on my front headlights, although they weren’t particularly bad to begin with.
- It improved my heavily yellowed rear brake light but didn’t completely clear it.
- The coating agent was very sticky, which I didn’t particularly enjoy working with.
- The results were noticeable, but modest.
- I’d describe it as a product that works, just not exceptionally well.
- My headlights went from roughly a 3/10 to a 5/10 in appearance.
- I don’t think the results were quite good enough to justify the time and money for me.
What Is the QIFOR Automotive Headlight Restoration Kit?
QIFOR’s Automotive Headlight Restoration Kit is designed to improve the appearance of cloudy, yellowed, or oxidized vehicle lights. The idea is to restore some of the clarity to the plastic lens and then apply a coating intended to protect the surface.
The appeal for me was mainly convenience. I didn’t want something overly complicated, and this seemed like a relatively easy way to tackle the problem myself.
Why I Tried It
My front headlights had started looking a little dull, and I wanted to see whether I could bring some of that clarity back. I also had a rear brake light that was much more yellow and foggy, so I figured that would be a good test of whether the product could actually handle a more serious case rather than only making an already-decent headlight look slightly better.
That ended up giving me a pretty good idea of what this kit can and can’t do.
My Experience Using the QIFOR Headlight Restoration Kit
The application itself was one of the better things about the kit. It was fairly straightforward and definitely easier than I expected. I didn’t feel like I needed to spend ages figuring out what I was supposed to do, and the overall process was manageable.
The problem was the coating agent… It was really sticky. That made working with it less pleasant than I had appreciated, and it was probably my least favourite part of the application. The kit was easier to use overall than some restoration methods, but that doesn’t mean every part of the process was particularly enjoyable.
As for the actual results, this is where I’m torn.
My Front Headlights
The QIFOR did a good job on my front headlights. They looked clearer afterward, and I could definitely tell there had been an improvement.
However, there’s an important caveat: they weren’t all that bad to begin with. So while I was happy with how they turned out, I don’t think that’s necessarily the best demonstration of what this product can do on severely oxidised headlights.
My Rear Brake Light
The rear brake light was the real test. It was considerably more yellow and foggy than the front headlights, and the QIFOR did improve it. It cleared up a big portion of the yellowing and cloudiness, so there was definitely a visible difference.
But it didn’t completely restore it. There was still noticeable discoloration and fogginess afterwards, which was disappointing because this was exactly the kind of situation where I wanted to see a more dramatic transformation.
So yes, it worked, but just not nearly as much as I expected it to. If I had to put the improvement on a simple scale, I’d say the headlight started around a 3/10 and the QIFOR brought it up to roughly a 5/10.
That’s an improvement. I just wouldn’t call it an impressive restoration.
What I Liked
- Relatively easy to apply.
- The process was more convenient than some headlight restoration methods.
- It noticeably improved my front headlights.
- It removed a significant amount of the yellowing from my rear brake light.
- There was a visible difference rather than absolutely nothing happening.
What I Didn’t Like
- The coating agent was extremely sticky.
- The improvement wasn’t as dramatic as I expected.
- It didn’t completely clear my heavily yellowed rear brake light.
- The results were better on headlights that weren’t severely damaged to begin with.
- Considering the time and money involved, I wanted a more substantial improvement.
Did QIFOR Actually Work?
Yes, but only moderately well. I wouldn’t say this product was useless because it definitely made a difference. My front headlights looked better, and my heavily yellowed rear brake light became noticeably clearer.
The problem is that the improvement stopped well short of what I was hoping for. If you’re dealing with mild cloudiness, you may be pretty happy with the result. If you’re expecting a severely yellowed or foggy light to come out looking almost new, I’d lower those expectations considerably.
For me, it was essentially a move from 3/10 to 5/10. Better, but not amazing.
Is It Worth the Money?
This is where I’m genuinely undecided. The convenience is a definite advantage. The QIFOR was easier to apply than some of the alternatives, and I appreciate that.
But ultimately, I’m buying a restoration kit because I want the results, not just an easy application. And for me, the results weren’t strong enough to make me feel like the time and money were completely justified.
So while I wouldn’t say it’s a bad product, I don’t think it delivered enough improvement for me to call it great value.
Alternatives
- 3M Ultra Headlight Restoration Kit
- Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit
- Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit
- Meguiar’s Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration Kit
Conclusion
The QIFOR Automotive Headlight Restoration Kit is one of those products where I can see why people would like it, but I also understand why someone could finish the job and think, “That’s it?”
It definitely worked on my headlights. My front headlights looked better afterwards, and it cleared a substantial amount of the yellowing from my rear brake light. But the results weren’t very obvious.
The front headlights benefited more, although they weren’t in particularly bad shape. The rear brake light was a much tougher test, and while QIFOR cleared a good portion of the fogginess, it didn’t completely restore it.
The coating agent was also far too sticky for my liking.
Overall, I’d call this a decent but not exceptional product. It works, and the application is relatively easy, but I’d keep your expectations realistic. If your lights are only mildly cloudy, you may be satisfied. If they’re badly yellowed and you’re hoping for a near-new appearance, I wouldn’t expect this kit to get you there.
Would I buy it again?
Probably not. It was easier to use than some alternatives, but I don’t think the results were strong enough to justify spending the money on it again.
Would I recommend it?
With reservations. It does improve cloudy headlights, but based on my experience, it works… just not particularly well. If you decide to try it, go in expecting an improvement rather than a complete restoration.
Also read my similar review on the Nanomax Coating Spray