DIY smoked lights are they worth 300 quid or a fiver

[mrLEE30]

I started a thread but screwed up the message title so will try again.

I am asking if the DIY smoked lights i have made look much different then the real thing, yes i agree the lens is different as the lenses in the picture are Bosch and not Hella. My interior reflector also doesnt have the smiley bit. The picture may aslo be deceiving as it is only a mock up not stuck together and without the black metal surrounds, (you will aslo note that one lens is upside down!)

So who wants em for a fiver or for loads of money?

i will send a picture later once the surounds are on and the lenses are glued in (the right way round)

mr lee

[Demlotcrew]

that looks really good, Ԛ£5 i would pay.

[cros]

Very nice.

If you use black glue for the glass and put on the black surrounding rings (painted both sides) then the glass should pick up some more blackness.

How many lenses did you break with the heat gun? I made a mess of 2 Bosch main beams last weekend...

[mrLEE30]

cheers cros

yes that picture is just a mock up. i have written a tech article and will submit it once i have attached the photos. rings are black but dont think black glue will make too much difference. I am toying with painting the shield on the projector light which should make the projector black too! i will let all know in the tech article.

i broke two lenses, one i dropped as it was hot so my own stupid fault, one cracked because i was rushing it and didn't heat long enough. cycles of heat and prise, heat and prise works. my lights were bosch but could onle find hella replacements. both came off fairly easy once the technique was sorted.
mr lee

[SwirlyE30]

Posted on the other thread mate, but ill put it here.-They look great for DIY jobs, im really looking forward to your article!

[GabberBaby]

Get them on your car and take a pic so we can see the finnished result in full, they look great! I would love to see what the look like when fitted.

Dave.

[Simon13]

i'll put a pic of mine to compare to the real ones?!

[E30Adam]

i'll put a pic of mine to compare to the real ones?!

Here's one



Today I received my DIY hella kit, I'm going to get it reproduced so that kits will be available to zoners.

[Richy325iTouring]

mint
cant wait for that adam

[Simon13]

I think the black rings help the effect too! Spray those chrome jobbies

[mrLEE30]

I think cros has got it in the suggestion of black glue. I attempted to re-create the picture so kindly provided by E30 adam but was doing it from memory and got the angles wrong. will do again tonight and inside with flash, but i reckon that the real difference between the two is not the driving light as apart form the glass they look very similar, but the high beam. my cross thingie has cut outs for the angel eyes take a bit of the blackness out (and are home made!) as the real cross thingies are completely flush with both the reflector and the lens, but i reckon if i paint the inside lip of the glass black, and use as cros suggetsed black glue then it will be pretty close. have a look at before below and will do after picture tomorrow or so on a spare light. let me know what you 5 pound smokers think. Tech article has to be perfect!!!

mr lee

[Simon]

They look much better!

[Demlotcrew]

I would say that looks really good. I also found out that the older Sevens used the same hella lights so the design is ancient. If you want the colour of the lenses you now know where to find it.

Andrew

[SwirlyE30]

Looks good, hurry up and do the tech article mate ;)

[mrLEE30]

Well done demelotcrew and extra points for the observant who will note that the rear set of lights on the picture actually are sporting an ancient lens from an old 7 series and its a Hella where as the other three lenses are Bosch (as i said i dropped two and scrap yards in Bahrain dont have much to be choosy from!!) By the way for anyone who may try this the Bosch and Hella (main beam only?) lenses are a slightly different diameter and dont quite fit. I will however use some mild persuasion and make them work!!! for anyone interested check out what the projector lights look like when you smoke them too!!! not a good picture but noticable in real life, this is only a test with PVC tape over the half metal shield facing toward the magnifying glass. The unit on the right is smoked the other aint!!! and trusy me it is nothing to do with the camera angle for those sinics!!!!

mr lee

[Demlotcrew]

Yuo will need to use a High temp paint so ensure that it doesnt crack off.

But what a good idea it looks like it has made a difference, IN the smoked hella lights they were coated with dark/silver grey paint.

Andrew

[mrLEE30]

Everything needs to be high temp paint. I am also experimenting with different colours such as red, yellow, green to see if the lights can take on the colour of the car body if your car is green for example!

[mrLEE30]

Everything needs to be high temp paint. I am also experimenting with different colours such as red, yellow, green to see if the lights can take on the colour of the car body if your car is green for example!

[SwirlyE30]

Btw mate, just out in curiousity.Im sure the guide will explain,but is it quite an easy mod to do,or do you require lots of tools and whatnot.

[mrLEE30]

Its a piece of p155. Just takes time and patience. I really had no idea but tried it and it worked. I am looking at spraying the rims of the lens black today then i have the glue gun borrowed tonight so i will stick them the car tomorrow as i have a day off work. Them once the picture is made i will send the article (its written already) But all will be explained ion the article!

mr lee

out of respect to the new stylin section i have decided on my new sig pic.