Smoked Headlights/Tailights

mattyice92 · 03-03-2016, 11:10 AM

I'm looking to smoke the lights on my Z. Did everyone mostly get actual smoked lights or is there an overlay? Which is preferred? I also noticed that the housing of the headlights can be painted. Anyone familiar with that? My Z is stock, bought it in 2014. I have a steady job and now I'm looking to put a little work into it. Starting with exterior, moving to audio, then performance. All the help is appreciated.

FairladyZ40th · 03-03-2016, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyice92

I'm looking to smoke the lights on my Z. Did everyone mostly get actual smoked lights or is there an overlay? Which is preferred? I also noticed that the housing of the headlights can be painted. Anyone familiar with that? My Z is stock, bought it in 2014. I have a steady job and now I'm looking to put a little work into it. Starting with exterior, moving to audio, then performance. All the help is appreciated.

Performance first is my suggestion.

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kenchan · 03-03-2016, 11:52 AM

i havent bothered messing with my lamps on my 09 for 7yrs. probably never will.

i suggest getting an exhaust first. make ur car sound like a real sports car.

Dirk McGurck · 03-03-2016, 12:09 PM

Ask yourself, do you drive your car at night? If the answer is yes, black out the housings of the headlights and leave it at that.

Also, go faster first, then look better.

BC416 · 03-03-2016, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyice92

I'm looking to smoke the lights on my Z. Did everyone mostly get actual smoked lights or is there an overlay? Which is preferred? I also noticed that the housing of the headlights can be painted. Anyone familiar with that? My Z is stock, bought it in 2014. I have a steady job and now I'm looking to put a little work into it. Starting with exterior, moving to audio, then performance. All the help is appreciated.

I see you are in NJ. I'm in the process of trying to get my headlights customized. Looking into Lightwerkz which is in Oakland, NJ. 180* Customs is another option as well. They are in Brooklyn, NY.

OEM HID Projector Retrofit Product & Service Specialists

ONEighty NYC

victort · 03-04-2016, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyice92

I'm looking to smoke the lights on my Z. Did everyone mostly get actual smoked lights or is there an overlay? Which is preferred? I also noticed that the housing of the headlights can be painted. Anyone familiar with that? My Z is stock, bought it in 2014. I have a steady job and now I'm looking to put a little work into it. Starting with exterior, moving to audio, then performance. All the help is appreciated.

don't do it. it looks ugly as sh!t

Silly Rabbit · 03-05-2016, 09:07 AM

I used VHT nightshade to tint my tails. Only 2 coats and then wet sanded and polished.

There is a very good DIY on painting the headlights and installing Halos. Check the DIY section, I believe it was NutNMuch that put it together, even has videos. It simple, but can be frustrating and nerve racking.

mattyice92 · 03-05-2016, 02:58 PM

Thanks everyone, I actually live fairly close to Oakland NJ. I'll check them out. I'm also going to check out the DIY and see what's going on there.

I didn't mention it but I am also looking at exhausts too. I heard ARK and Fast intentions are popular.

Nick M · 03-07-2016, 08:09 AM

Please don't put an overlay over your headlights. Its not 1997.

An overlay or spray or smoke or whatever significantly dims the light output.

Leave the lense clear, have a pro give you a blackhousing for your headlights and you'll love the look. Looks so perfect on these cars, that beginning with the 2015 NISMO black housing headlights became standard.

Darth_Hazer · 04-03-2016, 04:35 AM

Agree with Nick M, don't put full overlays on the headlights. It looks cheap compared to getting the housing painted.

The taillights are a different story. I went the vinyl route myself and I couldn't be happier. I was planning to use VHT Nightshade but didn't want anything too permanent. Overlays are the way to go if you ever want to revert back to stock.

Contact Bluebatmobile. He offers several styles and tint %'s. Good pricing and fast shipping. This is a pic of my car:

Blue Batmobile Overlay Picture Thread. Post your pics here!

Also if you don't decide to get the headlight housing painted, as it can be a bit expensive if getting it done professionally, he offers a black out "boomerang" vinyl for them. It only covers the inside edge and orange reflector of the headlight, so it won't interfere with light output. I have an extra set if your interested. Here's a pic, scroll to post #261:

Blue Batmobile Overlay Picture Thread. Post your pics here!

FairladyZ40th · 04-03-2016, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyice92

Thanks everyone, I actually live fairly close to Oakland NJ. I'll check them out. I'm also going to check out the DIY and see what's going on there.

I didn't mention it but I am also looking at exhausts too. I heard ARK and Fast intentions are popular.

ARK is sexiest I think. Ha S that cool NOZ tank looking thing haha and yeah first performance then looks man.

It's far more impressive when you have a car that looks stock but hauls a$$ than a car that looks fast but sucks d!ick. Hahaha

axmea? · 04-03-2016, 08:20 AM

The Facebook effect. I never got the idea of smoking out what HLs and TLs.

03-03-2016, 11:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
mattyice92 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 3 Drives: 2014 Nissan 370Z SP Rep Power: 10	Smoked Headlights/Tailights I'm looking to smoke the lights on my Z. Did everyone mostly get actual smoked lights or is there an overlay? Which is preferred? I also noticed that the housing of the headlights can be painted. Anyone familiar with that? My Z is stock, bought it in 2014. I have a steady job and now I'm looking to put a little work into it. Starting with exterior, moving to audio, then performance. All the help is appreciated. Last edited by mattyice92; 03-03-2016 at 11:29 AM.

03-03-2016, 12:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dirk McGurck Track Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 715 Drives: 09 MB 370Z Touring Rep Power: 20	Ask yourself, do you drive your car at night? If the answer is yes, black out the housings of the headlights and leave it at that. Also, go faster first, then look better. __________________ 2009 370Z Touring with Sport

03-05-2016, 09:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
Silly Rabbit Track Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Brookston, IN Age: 54 Posts: 683 Drives: '12 PW Touring Sport Rep Power: 618	I used VHT nightshade to tint my tails. Only 2 coats and then wet sanded and polished. There is a very good DIY on painting the headlights and installing Halos. Check the DIY section, I believe it was NutNMuch that put it together, even has videos. It simple, but can be frustrating and nerve racking. Memphis370Z and iJDMTOY like this. __________________ NISMO R Tune Intakes \ Fast Intentions RHFC \ Borla CBE \ EcuTek Tuned\ SPL Camber Arms \ Powertrix Coilovers \ Swift Springs \ Avant Garde \ Wicked CAS \ Morimoto XB Halos \ Custom Fenders \ Hotchkis Sways \ NLP Splitter

03-07-2016, 08:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
Nick M Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 281 Drives: 2009 370z Rep Power: 11	Please don't put an overlay over your headlights. Its not 1997. An overlay or spray or smoke or whatever significantly dims the light output. Leave the lense clear, have a pro give you a blackhousing for your headlights and you'll love the look. Looks so perfect on these cars, that beginning with the 2015 NISMO black housing headlights became standard. __________________ \| 2015 Nismo headlights\| 275/305 \| Z1 spacers \| Eibach Pro-kit \|k&n typhoons \| AAM S-Line catback + FI test pipes \| Stillen splitter \|

04-03-2016, 08:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
axmea? A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,234 Drives: WELL ZED PW 6MT Rep Power: 53241	The Facebook effect. I never got the idea of smoking out what HLs and TLs. __________________ >MyZ's Album< NISMO Convert/ECUTEK/Takeda CAI/F.I. HFC NR CB Carbon/F.I. 34 Row Oil Cooler/4.08 Final Drive /Powertrix+Swifts/Hotchkis/SPL/Whiteline/TWM/Zoom Engineering/EVO-R/AeroJacket Vented CF Fenders + CF Spoiler/Avant Garde-WORK/NST/Morimoto Halo/STi Clear Lenses/Carbon Signal Automotive/RJM Performance/ZSpeed Clutch Flywheel CSC delete

03-03-2016, 11:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	i havent bothered messing with my lamps on my 09 for 7yrs. probably never will. i suggest getting an exhaust first. make ur car sound like a real sports car.

03-05-2016, 02:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
mattyice92 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: NJ Posts: 3 Drives: 2014 Nissan 370Z SP Rep Power: 10	Thanks everyone, I actually live fairly close to Oakland NJ. I'll check them out. I'm also going to check out the DIY and see what's going on there. I didn't mention it but I am also looking at exhausts too. I heard ARK and Fast intentions are popular.

04-03-2016, 04:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Darth_Hazer Base Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: TX Posts: 26 Drives: 2012 370z 7AT Rep Power: 10	Agree with Nick M, don't put full overlays on the headlights. It looks cheap compared to getting the housing painted. The taillights are a different story. I went the vinyl route myself and I couldn't be happier. I was planning to use VHT Nightshade but didn't want anything too permanent. Overlays are the way to go if you ever want to revert back to stock. Contact Bluebatmobile. He offers several styles and tint %'s. Good pricing and fast shipping. This is a pic of my car: Blue Batmobile Overlay Picture Thread. Post your pics here! Also if you don't decide to get the headlight housing painted, as it can be a bit expensive if getting it done professionally, he offers a black out "boomerang" vinyl for them. It only covers the inside edge and orange reflector of the headlight, so it won't interfere with light output. I have an extra set if your interested. Here's a pic, scroll to post #261: Blue Batmobile Overlay Picture Thread. Post your pics here!

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