Think I just had an idea on how to de ginger very cheaply

[85genius]

OK so I have just about got my car how I want it but the thing still bugging me is the stupid amber hockey sticks in the headlights, now I have seen a few different work arounds without replacing or doing a cut and shut, namely spray tinting the bottom, or vinyl covering the bottom of the lights.

Problem is my z is silver and the only tints that fully cover the amber are black so it still leaves me with a black stripe..... Or are they..... So here is the idea want to know if anyone else has tried it.....

Mirror tint film, same stuff they use on one way mirrors or some car windows, I think it will blend into the headlight, reflect the silver of the car bodywork, completely cover the amber so will hopefully be perfect. Now I know some of you will be thinking it won't let the indicator light through it's one way right? Well I'm hoping wrong as it's not actually truly one way it's more like the fly eye stuff just with the holes on a molecular level instead of visible perforations. Well hopefully that's the case, the physics is there in theory but has anyone actually tried it in real life?

Answers on a postcard please

 

[85genius]

Just to put some perspective on it letting light from the indicator back through you can get phone screen covers that are a perfect mirror until the phone screen is turned on then the mirror effect totally disappears and you see the light from the screen perfectly, this is the effect I am hoping for for this to work

 

[Stuartt]

Great idea and in theory it should work.

Been looking at the fly eye stuff myself but can't bring myself to make the jump, not that it's expensive, just don't mind the ginger bits.

Keep us posted as to how you get on.

Stuart

 

[85genius]

I have actually ordered some fly eye for the rears but don't like how it stands out on the clear of the headlight so I'm hoping this stuff will blend in

 

[phil.a]

use smoke tint on all the head light, but concentrate on the orange and fade to the head light you would not loose all the orange but would tone it down

 

[85genius]

use smoke tint on all the head light, but concentrate on the orange and fade to the head light you would not loose all the orange but would tone it down

I thought of that but as the car is silver I think the smoked line at the bottom would stand out too much. What I really want is this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-Automotive-260860-10-Ounce-Silver/dp/B0070S81SI

Silver tinting spray! But its not available in the UK, I can only find red or smoke over here and there's no way I'm paying £55 for shipping from the US which got me on to the idea of the mirror film

 

[Scooba_Steve]

I got some window tinting film that was pretty mirrored to keep the sun out on conservatory type windows. It was about £5 a square meter from ebay. Try that, it should work well, if it's a bit too effective as a mirror you could tone it down.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw=JOOPE%2C+SILVER%2C+ONE+WAY+MIRROR%2C+SOLAR+REFLECTIVE+WINDOW+FILM.+Various+Sizes+Here%21&_id=281107664587&&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2658

 

[85genius]

I got some window tinting film that was pretty mirrored to keep the sun out on conservatory type windows. It was about £5 a square meter from ebay. Try that, it should work well, if it's a bit too effective as a mirror you could tone it down.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw=JOOPE%2C+SILVER%2C+ONE+WAY+MIRROR%2C+SOLAR+REFLECTIVE+WINDOW+FILM.+Various+Sizes+Here%21&_id=281107664587&&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2658

Yeah that's the kind of stuff I'm going to go for, my car is in the bodyshop having a few bits tidied up and the holes from the numberplate filled but once I get it back I'm going to measure up and see how much of the film I'll need.

Still undecided what level of transparency I will be able to get away with, and how much I'll need to hide the orange from I'm thinking 35% transparency will still let enough light through whilst I'm indicating but not sure if it will totally cover all the orange up, I know that the 20% will cover the orange but a bit worried it will be too dim whilst indicating

 

[Scooba_Steve]

It's pretty cheap, I would get a selection of strips to try. For both sides you're not going to need much more than A4 size I wouldn't have thought. An application tip from me is to get the surface meticulously clean (maybe polish kit first?) then spray with water/soap solution. Apply the same solution to the film as you peel off the backing then you can put the film on the light but will still be able to adjust its position. Use something like a credit card to squeeze out the fluid and leave to dry. Gives a good finish.

 

[85genius]

It's pretty cheap, I would get a selection of strips to try. For both sides you're not going to need much more than A4 size I wouldn't have thought. An application tip from me is to get the surface meticulously clean (maybe polish kit first?) then spray with water/soap solution. Apply the same solution to the film as you peel off the backing then you can put the film on the light but will still be able to adjust its position. Use something like a credit card to squeeze out the fluid and leave to dry. Gives a good finish.

Thanks for the tips, the headlights are a bit hazy so I am going to polish them out and hopefully get them looking new before I even try to apply the film, seen someone on ebay who does the film at 30% transparency for just over a fiver so will get some of that to try first

 

[Scooba_Steve]

If it works out you can make sets to sell on here

 

[85genius]

I'm going to have to make a template to cut out the hockey stick shapes and with the size of the film roll I would probably get 3 or 4 sets so I may have a few available if it goes well

 

[jarhead]

This has always bugged me as well so look forward to your results

 

[Skinhead201]

Just fitted some black fly eye to me rear lights clusters, high level brake light and and reflectors. Didn't order enough to to do the headlights a s well :roll: so ordered more. Looks good imo. Got a few little creases but you only see them if you look closely. Might re do them later after a bit more practice.

 

[Stuartt]

Just fitted some black fly eye to me rear lights clusters, high level brake light and and reflectors. Didn't order enough to to do the headlights a s well :roll: so ordered more. Looks good imo. Got a few little creases but you only see them if you look closely. Might re do them later after a bit more practice.

Be nice to see some pictures

Stuart

 

[T2FFN]

Just FYI I tried silver reflective tint and it looked like crap. I'll see if I can find the picture.

 

[T2FFN]

This was a white tint, can't find a pic of silver one. All were experiments as I didn't want to go dark due to silver inners.

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[T2FFN]

My final solution and look here: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=77238&p=1136210#p1136210

 

[85genius]

This was a white tint, can't find a pic of silver one. All were experiments as I didn't want to go dark due to silver inners.

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Whilst it looks a little rough around the edges I think I still massively prefer that to the orange

 

[Skinhead201]

Just fitted some black fly eye to me rear lights clusters, high level brake light and and reflectors. Didn't order enough to to do the headlights a s well :roll: so ordered more. Looks good imo. Got a few little creases but you only see them if you look closely. Might re do them later after a bit more practice.

Be nice to see some pictures

Stuart

Yeh, I'll get onto that :wink: