DIY smoked front lights?? help

[mrLEE30]

I read a thread (i think from simon) that it is the internals of the lights that give a smoked effect, at the moment i am fitting angel eyes so my lights are completely disassembled, so what could i do to give it a smoked effect before i put the lenses back on?
mr lee

[Simon]

Hiya Lee, I was going to reply to your PM...

Basically for the headlight, the front reflector with the smiley part cutout is black, and with the spotlight, there is an insert in the lamp that is cutout to the shape of the reflector and it's a sort of + shape, you should be able to make it out in my sig. Bit hard to explain...

[Demlotcrew]

The glass has a tint in it also?

[Simon]

The glass has a tint in it also?

No, the smoked effect comes from the the modifications inside the headlamp.

[Simon13]

I'm not sure the glass is tinted i think the dark inserts in the lights trick you into thinking everything in the light is tinted

[Richy325iTouring]

The glass is clear.
Had smoked lights a cpl years ago and the one got craked.
was going to swap teh glass in the cracked one but never got round to it.
Now i think the ex has thrown them out.

[E30Adam]

Thats a bit of a con. I didn't realise it was just the inserts that made them look smoked. Very cleverly done!!

[cros]

Clever allright. With untinted glass & reflector you get 100% transmission when on and the tinted effect when off.

Seen the black plastic +'s for DIY jobs on ebay.de before.

Can't find them now though.

[E30Adam]

Probably wouldn't be too hard to get some inserts made up.

[mrLEE30]

Cheers guys (and sorry for the double post E30 zone people!!) i will have a go and let you know,planned to send in a full step by step to insert angel eyes with pictures, getting the lens off is tricky but once you do one it becomes easy, just with a hot air gun. will explain next week when i am finished, will try to make a cross thingy and stick black paper over the reflector and do a mock up.
does any one know if i can seperate the rear light glass (well plastic) from the holder, its a face lift??
mr lee

[Simon13]

you could spray the smiley insert? but in the main beam light it's a black cross, which the normal lights don't have

[cros]

Here! It would've annoyed me until I found it...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 07118&rd=1



Like Simon said, seems the +'s are for the main beams, but the dips are a tinted projector surround. No loss of light transmission that way.

[E30Adam]

Hmmm, they don't look too dark on that picture they're showing.

[Simon]

Cheers Cros, that E30 in the e-bay ad looks good!!

I just bought them, will let you know how I get on....

[cros]

Depends on the picture angle I suppose. If the flash travels in parallel to the beam axis then the smoke effect will probably be invisible.

Further reading:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 06092&rd=1

Can of paint for the dips and inserts for the main beams!

[cros]

[double post]

[E30Adam]

Cheers Cros, that E30 in the e-bay ad looks good!!

I just bought them, will let you know how I get on....

You git, I was just about to buy them LOL

Let me know how you get on mate! If they look as good as the Hellas I'll see about getting them mass produced for zoners.

[E30Adam]

Depends on the picture angle I suppose. If the flash travels in parallel to the beam axis then the smoke effect will probably be invisible.

Further reading:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 06092&rd=1

Can of paint for the dips and inserts for the main beams!

Are they the same thing?

[cros]

Cheers Cros, that E30 in the e-bay ad looks good!!

I just bought them, will let you know how I get on....

You git, I was just about to buy them LOL

Let me know how you get on mate! If they look as good as the Hellas I'll see about getting them mass produced for zoners.

You two don't hang about!

[Simon]

Adam, here's a quick translation of that advert..

Hello. Offer here a conversion kit on black headlights for a BMW e30. All the same whether with or without shining width adjustment. The conversion kit became the originals of Bosch and Hella 100%ig more nachempfunden.Er consists of a bottle lacquer spray, the two hair crosses (100% properly matching), a ABE (original Hella), the stickers for the headlights (original Hella) and a detailed fitting instruction. The change is very easy and takes only one hour. If someone thinks the mirror in the headlights now becomes black sounded, or the streuglaeser - which errs. The luminosity of the headlights is not lowered!!! The gelaserten hair crosses are only sounded black. As evenly with the original black illusory throwing also. If their asking have, writes me or calls - > 01742470906. Oh, have it so registered gotten with my e30. No problem with the TUEV

I'm going to give those others a try, wouldn't be too hard to make some up though anyway, I'm just being lazy!!

[E30Adam]

I'm watching those now, see how they go. I've got about 8 sets of spare lights so it won't matter if I break a few testing things out.

[cros]

Simon, you could stick it on a flatbed scanner (along with a measured scale) and make an emailable pattern.

(Assuming no (c) markings on the thing )

Shouldn't be too hard to think of something cheap, black & plasticy to cut up to make a copy.

[Simon]

Simon, you could stick it on a flatbed scanner (along with a measured scale) and make an emailable pattern.

(Assuming no (c) markings on the thing )

Shouldn't be too hard to think of something cheap, black & plasticy to cut up to make a copy.

Will do mate....smoked hellas will be the next alpina replica..
everyone will have them!

[Demlotcrew]

Yeah ill be interested in some of those if you can make them up!
(Adam)

Andrew

[mrLEE30]

My god i have started a monster, soon all of u.k. will be driving with smoked Hellas, at least i will be the only one in Bahrain, sorry u.k. soon it will be cool to drive with un-smoked hellas and we will be doing a thread on how to get the paint off of the smiley insert, but heres a different twist, how about not spraying the reflector black but red or yellow etc to match your paint colour??!! may look different anyway, not sure on legality but then it is liiegal to drive over 70 on the motorway and i am sure one or two E30 zoners have done that???

any one thought about getting the plastic lens off of the rear light surrounds??? is it possible or no

mr lee

[6potWil6pot]

My god i have started a monster

, yeah im watching this thread quite intently for obvious reasons hehe

[Kedge]

Oh yes, i can see theres going to be a sudden demand for spare headlights soon, everyones going to be doing this.

[mrLEE30]

So when i have finished do i post a thread giving instructions on how to get the glass out and back in so all can enjoy smoked lights, or keep it to myself and a select few???!!!!
Let me know!!!
mr lee

[Guest]

any one thought about getting the plastic lens off of the rear light surrounds??? is it possible or no

mr lee

You talkin about getting the lens apart from the reflective backing ? Or just from the bulb holder ?