for $20 you can try the writeups in the wax on wax off forum and see what you get.
it may surprise you.

 

Here are the three ones I have found.

1, 2, or 3?
What does everyone think? I am leaning towards #1.

 

I like #1 too but just to warn you that is the same cast design as my one peice S5 style headlights you have to take the front bumper off the car to get them in, you also have to pull the two little bolts that are screwed into your stock headlights and install it on these lights. PM me if you don't know what I mean, I also have a set of stock headlights that are in great condition although with the shipping not sure if you would save or not.

 

never really been a fan of the one-piece headlights, especially the chrome ones, imo, there is way too much going on with them and they just look ridiculous, which is why I opted for the two piece depo angel eyes

 

Ewww. Just buy a new set of OEM lights. That's what I did.

 

I believe they're to far gone to be refurbished.

I'm with ScottPassat2.8 on this one. No such thing as too far gone. If you can sand, you can fix.
IMHO all the rest of those lights look they belong on a Nissan Altima, but that's just my opinion.

 

I have No. 3 on my '00 black B5 and I like them - not sure I would with a different paint color. As with most things, personal preference.

I did not have to take off the front bumper cover to install mine. There are the two screws on top, plus one you get to by removing the corner light. You'll have to splice some wires to power up the halos and LED's.

 

#3 looks the best.

 

OK, well if I tried to restore them. Can someone point me in the direction of a good procedure.... Also is sanding better than trying to polish them or should you sand and polish? Thanks

 

You have to sand first and get all the UV damaged surface off the lense. The process is really sand with heavier grits and progress to finer grits until you get to about 2000. After that you go to the polishing compounds and buffing.
I did one quickie on an old beater mini van:
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269571&highlight=headlight+polishing
Here's another on a B5:
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=263087
And here's a good one with the 3M kit you can buy at auto stores:
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285846&highlight=headlight+sanding

 

here is another otion for you but these are a the type of headlights that people either hate or the love! I Love them!!!!

alot of people say they belong on a honda civic, which I dont understand, cause we are keeping the S5 style headlights in the same family!!!:thumbup:

 

I liked them until I saw them on the car, the led strip should wrap around the enitr light instead of splitting them up.

 

I think those headlights look great on your car! :thumbup:

I'm going to try sanding first I think and see how they turn out.
Thanks everyone

 

I went out and bought the 3m headlight kit from Autozone. My only question is that I have a power drill that has max rpm of 850. I would prefer to use this since it has a handle on the side making it more stable and easier to control. But the directions online say to have a drill rated from 1200-1600rpm. Can I use this drill or find one with the recomended rpm?

 

Generally, the slower the better when sanding headlights. IMHO the 850 rpm is better than the 1200-1600rpm. For buffing, the higher speed is better but your 850 should still work fine.
I have never used this kit but the website calls for 2 different sander/polishers, the dual action for the sanding and single action for polishing.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t1RBw0IGXA

 

#4

 

I wet sanded mine and then used the tried and true three step (really two) Novus Polish system, followed by some Plastix, all with a mothers powerball at low RPM. They came out like new!

http://www.amazon.com/Novus-Polish-Plastic-Scratch-Remover/dp/B000J41VDM

 

I just got these but not blacked out and I cannot figure out for the life of me why the angel eyes aren't coming on with ANY setting I use from the switch or stalk. Sorry to revive this post just need some info if you have any... @toastermcfunk

 

Before I restored the headlight on my passat they were so yellow that you couldn't see into the headlight unit. I ended up buying them guiers headlight restoration kit for about $10 at pepboys. I was supprised by how much better my headlights looked just afer wetsanding them with the included sandpaper. The plastics paste made the headlights even clearer. After I finished restoring them I used 3m paste wax on them and they got even clearer! I would try a headlight restoration kit and wet sand the headlights before replacing them. You never know the wet sanding and polish may be all your headlight need to look new again.

 

I purchased the Simmoniz kit for about $12. No hand sanding. Took me 1/2 hour to tape and do 2 fronts and tail lights. Not perfect but pretty bloody good for $12. Removed all but a few deep scratches. Save the $ for something really important.

 

I used a $1 tube of cheap toothpaste and an old toothbrush... For now, they're about 90%, and visibility is greatly improved. I did them twice, then finished with a coat of wax.