Clear Headlight Project - CJ & Dreamer

[peddy]

iv been toying with the idea of blacking them out with spray and refitting to the already black inners. i think done properly and with a little care it could work out quite well, what you guys think?

id just like to be able to spray a set of indicators off the car so i have the option to go ahead, and if it looks crap i have a backup

Could look good. What does Photoshop say?

Personally, I think if you're going through the trouble of cutting them open then why not purchase some facelift lights and take the indicator lens from them? I got both of mine for about £150 IIRC.

 

[Rudd]

im looking about for some now and if i find some i will just do it.

do facelift lights just fit straight in anyways?

 

[peddy]

Thanks for that... I've still not bought it. The weather is not ideal, so though to just wait.

So is that price include all the bits shown in the link or just for the rotary tool itself?

It includes the accessories... found it on the Halfords site - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_157303_langId_-1_categoryId_165572#dtab
You can put in your post code and check local stock.

Ironically mine didn't work and I had to take it back... they didn't have another To add insult to injury a chap saw what I had and proceeded to tell me how brilliant it was and that it has been a lifesaver with jobs on his motorbike! Going to another store after work

Cool thanks - had a look and some of the customer reviews seem to suggest that it's a little under powered.

I found this one on ebay. although it's more than double the price it comes with more accessories and also the flexi shaft. What do you think?

 

[peddy]

im looking about for some now and if i find some i will just do it.

do facelift lights just fit straight in anyways?

No, the wiring is different.

 

[sk93]

Thanks for that... I've still not bought it. The weather is not ideal, so though to just wait.

So is that price include all the bits shown in the link or just for the rotary tool itself?

It includes the accessories... found it on the Halfords site - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_157303_langId_-1_categoryId_165572#dtab
You can put in your post code and check local stock.

Ironically mine didn't work and I had to take it back... they didn't have another To add insult to injury a chap saw what I had and proceeded to tell me how brilliant it was and that it has been a lifesaver with jobs on his motorbike! Going to another store after work

be interested in what you think to it.
I had that EXACT one and it's ended up back in its box at the bottom of the tool cupboard as a total waste of money.
I found that the motor was a pile of crap if you had to use it on anything stronger than warm butter.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

be interested in what you think to it.
I had that EXACT one and it's ended up back in its box at the bottom of the tool cupboard as a total waste of money.
I found that the motor was a pile of crap if you had to use it on anything stronger than warm butter.

Ah crap... had a nice piece of Stilton I was going to go to town on! Will see - nothing to use it on just yet, although may get some bits out to play with.

Peddy... haven't done a lot or research, but IIRC B&Q were selling the flexi-shaft for at least £15 and then the bigger Dremel was nearer to £40, so on that basis it sounds like a good deal

 

[Rudd]

hey guys, has anyone who has been thinking of this project recently taken the plunge yet?

peddy any progress?

im still looking for a driverside headlight but starting to think i might just black them out internally instead? kind of like on this http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13234&p=239128&hilit=matte+black+Z4#p225015

 

[a11y]

hey guys, has anyone who has been thinking of this project recently taken the plunge yet?

I attempted to buy a pair of damaged Z4 clear headlights recently on ebay but was Hammersniped right at the end and lost out :x

 

[Rudd]

i think i was watching them. with broken brackets?

 

[cj10jeeper]

To clarify guys you can buy facelift lights as sacificial units as the inner clear lenses are identical. Of course the wiring, bulbs and ohter internals are different, but some components are transferrable. Sounds vague, but a set of damaged facelift would be a good source for indicator lenses

As an aside does anyone know of someone who could cast sets of clears, perhaps doing a 100 unit run? Make a nice little project.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Once again... I'm really confused :?

I bought some clear lens headlights that needed some work doing, halogens. They were a straight swap. Well, they fitted, the connector fitted and they seem to work! I'm going to get the alignment checked (they're level, just not sure about legal)... although driving mostly at night no-one has flashed yet. That's with the brighter Philips lamps, which are a little brighter.

Question is... have I done something really stupid?! Or are halogens the same?

 

[a11y]

i think i was watching them. with broken brackets?

Yeah that was the ones. Someone was prepared to pay a lot more than me for them - perhaps I was too ambitious at not wanting to pay more than £150 for them, given they were damaged!

 

[Rudd]

yeah i know what you mean. im having real trouble finding a drver side. all the ones i find have amber indicators, thats why im thinking of spraying my ambers black.

a little different and could look good on a black car

 

[PawnSacrifice]

If you're going down the tinting route this stuff is great...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110363461015&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1124wt_799
(I know it's the wrong colour for you, but they do black also - good seller too)

 

[peddy]

Once again... I'm really confused :?

I bought some clear lens headlights that needed some work doing, halogens. They were a straight swap. Well, they fitted, the connector fitted and they seem to work! I'm going to get the alignment checked (they're level, just not sure about legal)... although driving mostly at night no-one has flashed yet. That's with the brighter Philips lamps, which are a little brighter.

Question is... have I done something really stupid?! Or are halogens the same?

YOU FOUND PRE-FACELIFT CLEAR HEADLIGHTS???

Soooo lucky!

Pics??

 

[PawnSacrifice]

I think so... oddly they were in two separate auctions within a couple weeks. Could not believe my luck to be honest. I'm working on a post which I'll try and sort this weekend - need to sort and upload the pics.

 

[peddy]

Really?? Do you have the part numbers? I mean, everybody says facelift lights wont work on pre-facelift, but has anyone actually tried??

 

[PawnSacrifice]

No part number, the stickers on the lights we whited out and crumpled up. I know the internals of the xenons definitely changed - high beam flash. Halogens seemed to work - although slightly worried that somethings not right!

Will aim to gather some more info tomorrow / Sunday and post (a lot of mods in the line, doing a vanity thread!). Think I took some pictures of the clear indicator one with the back off.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Once again... I'm really confused :?

I bought some clear lens headlights that needed some work doing, halogens. They were a straight swap. Well, they fitted, the connector fitted and they seem to work! I'm going to get the alignment checked (they're level, just not sure about legal)... although driving mostly at night no-one has flashed yet. That's with the brighter Philips lamps, which are a little brighter.

Question is... have I done something really stupid?! Or are halogens the same?

Why confused. If you did a straight swap of pre facelift amber to clear, halogen there would and will be no problems. If you tried facelift they would not have lit up.

The only potential problem would be if you had purchased imported lights and they did not have UK beam alignment, however as your not getting flashed then they are either OK or set stupidly low. I'd say you'll be just fine once the alignment is checked

 

[no fit state]

I think so... oddly they were in two separate auctions within a couple weeks. Could not believe my luck to be honest. I'm working on a post which I'll try and sort this weekend - need to sort and upload the pics.

That's a bit of luck finding 2 pre-facelift clear headlights in seperate auctions. Were they from the same seller?