What Headlight Coating is Better?

The answer isn’t so easy. Every so often we get asked this question regarding our coatings for headlight restoration, and with them both being on sale this month, we wanted to address the question: What is the difference between Infinity 4.1 and the Coat2Protect and is one better than the other?

It’s a hard question to answer – both are excellent products with unique benefits – so we put everything into a pro and con list to help sort out our thoughts and yours, too, hopefully!

Infinity 4.1

Pros:

• Easy-to-apply, self-leveling formula that makes headlights look like new.
• Very forgiving – If you miss a spot, you can wipe it off with a damp rag (while coating is still wet) and re-apply.
• Dries very quickly creating a hard durable finish. Drive away time is within minutes rather than hours required for most other headlight coatings, and full cure is achieved within 24 hours
• Water-based, meaning it’s non-hazardous, non-toxic, can be shipped by air, environmentally friendly, etc.
• Longer shelf life – Guaranteed 12 months unopened or 6 months after opening.
• Longer applied life – Typically protects headlights for an average of 6 months longer than Coat2Protect and 12+ months longer than competitive products before showing signs of deterioration.
• Longer mixed life than Coat2Protect – As long as it is stored in an air tight container, Infinity 4.1 can be used anytime within 12 hours after mixing.
• Fills the pores of the freshly sanded headlight lens to seal and protect against the elements.
• Excellent bonding strength to resist peeling.
• Extremely cost effective – Complete 80 headlights per kit.

Cons:

• 4/1 mixture is a little more tedious than 2/1 or no mix products – It takes about 5 seconds longer per mix than a 2/1 product and 30 seconds longer than a no mix product.
• Does not fill scratches and sanding marks as well as a thick petroleum-based product coating like Coat2Protect, so you have to spend a little more time to make sure the lens is properly sanded and polished prior to application.

Bottom Line:

There’s no better all-around headlight restoration coating than Infinity 4.1. It dries fast, provides excellent protection at a very competitive price, and no other headlight coating holds up as well to the elements.

Coat2Protect

Pros:

• Easy-to-apply, self-leveling formula that makes headlights look like new.
• Goes on thick to cover light scratches and sanding marks far better than any other headlight restoration coating. Provides that “new” look.
• Applied life is not as good as Infinity 4.1, but still considered excellent for industry standards.
• Excellent bonding strength to resist peeling.
• Provides a thick, tough barrier to protect headlights from the elements.
• Very cost effective – Complete 60+ headlights per kit.

Cons:

• Safe drive away time is about 60 minutes, and it takes several days to achieve a full cure, which is still better than many headlight restoration products, but not as good as Infinity 4.1.
• Considered a hazardous material for shipping purposes, so it is very expensive to ship by air.
• There is a big push to do away with all petroleum-based products for environmental reasons.
• Shelf life is 6 months unopened and 3 months after opening.
• Applied life is slightly shorter than Infinity 4.1.
• Mixed life is limited. We suggest mixing right before each pair of headlights are to be restored or it should be used within 30-60 minutes if stored in an air tight container.

Bottom Line:

There simply is no better headlight restoration coating for ease of use (reduces sanding and polishing time) or for the “wow” factor. Coat2Protect is the number one choice for impressing customers.

By now, you can see why we love both of these products and have a hard time explaining which one is “better”. They both have great qualities – it’s purely what sounds better to YOU for YOUR restorations. We stand behind both!

If you’re having a difficult time narrowing down what’s best for you, chat with one of our experts for more help!