Headlight Painting Question.

Pelican170 · 11-09-2010, 01:55 PM

Hey guys,

Sorry if it seems like I ask a ton of questions. I was curious for those of you who have gotten your housing painted... You can get the reflector painted over, but I am curious is this is "illegal" to do? Any input helps, thanks.

ClemsonWill · 11-09-2010, 01:56 PM

I just had mine smoked. It still reflects kind of. lol I have no idea whether it is illegal or not.

shadoquad · 11-09-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelican170

Sorry if it seems like I ask a ton of questions.

Nonsense. Nothing to be sorry about. That's what this forum is for!

VaGntlmn · 11-09-2010, 02:31 PM

I want to black out most of the chrome reflectors in the headlight.
I've got a Black Cherry Z and I think the "darker" headlights would look better.

I asked one of the body shop guys I've been talking to about the legality of this and his response was that it was okay in Virginia.
We would be modifying the housing that the lights are in and not the actual lights or lenses.
But double check that where you are.
HTH

toxik · 11-09-2010, 02:35 PM

The housing does not need to be reflective, we don't have halogen headlights... Projectors don't require reflective material.

Look at Corvette's, their headlights are color matched to the car's body color.

ZCarMan · 11-09-2010, 02:46 PM

It really depends on your state. Just because a shop says it is or is not legal doesn't absolve you of responsibility if they are wrong. Be safe and check your state law to be sure. If it isn't legal then you run the chance of being sighted if ever stopped for some other reason. I know of at least one person in VA that was stopped just because of lights but I think that was for the rear license plate light being blue instead of white.

Jamaica · 11-09-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZCarMan

It really depends on your state. Just because a shop says it is or is not legal doesn't absolve you of responsibility if they are wrong. Be safe and check your state law to be sure. If it isn't legal then you run the chance of being sighted if ever stopped for some other reason. I know of at least one person in VA that was stopped just because of lights but I think that was for the rear license plate light being blue instead of white.

in cali its not a big deal with big. We can have it but we just have to be conservative.

ThoriumHotdog · 11-09-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxik

The housing does not need to be reflective, we don't have halogen headlights... Projectors don't require reflective material.

Look at Corvette's, their headlights are color matched to the car's body color.

Thats the look I'm going to go for. I want to color match the housing to my car. I think it'll look pretty good in Red but I haven't seen anyone who has it and I haven't had much luck in the Photoshopping department.

TypeOne · 11-09-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClemsonWill

I just had mine smoked. It still reflects kind of. lol I have no idea whether it is illegal or not.

Pictures?

I've been thinking about smoking my housings... kinda like this...

Not tint the covers or paint the projector cap or anything.. just a nice smoke.

Pelican170 · 11-11-2010, 09:46 AM

Hey guys,

Just to clarify, I do know that painting the housing is not an issue itself. I am wondering if you paint the orange reflector piece, if thats illegal...

toxik · 11-11-2010, 10:03 AM

^ shouldn't really be an issue. From personal experience, on my last car I had eyelids which were fiberglass pieces that covered the amber reflectors on my headlights. I also drove in CT (I have family in Stamford) plenty of times and never had a problem with cops. Orange reflector is a safety feature, not required afaik.

TypeOne · 11-11-2010, 03:02 PM

^^

To my knowledge, the only thing that is REQUIRED is the proper color light bulbs. In other words, as long as the blulbs in your lights are the right color (red in brake lights, orange in turning signals, and white for headlights and reverse lights) you shouldn't have any problems.

I took the reflectors our of my STi lamps, as well as changed over to many sets of JDM headlights in the past that never came with reflectors period.

I have also been thinking about taking the amber piece out.. but I'm not sure if it would separate from the housing.

11-09-2010, 01:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pelican170 Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 972 Drives: Nissan 370z Nismo Rep Power: 15	Headlight Painting Question. Hey guys, Sorry if it seems like I ask a ton of questions. I was curious for those of you who have gotten your housing painted... You can get the reflector painted over, but I am curious is this is "illegal" to do? Any input helps, thanks.

11-09-2010, 01:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
ClemsonWill A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 12,045 Drives: a Civic VP! Rep Power: 444	I just had mine smoked. It still reflects kind of. lol I have no idea whether it is illegal or not. __________________ Slightly modded

11-09-2010, 02:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
VaGntlmn Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Centreville, Va Age: 63 Posts: 377 Drives: '10 Tour/Sport, 6MT Rep Power: 15	I want to black out most of the chrome reflectors in the headlight. I've got a Black Cherry Z and I think the "darker" headlights would look better. I asked one of the body shop guys I've been talking to about the legality of this and his response was that it was okay in Virginia. We would be modifying the housing that the lights are in and not the actual lights or lenses. But double check that where you are. HTH __________________ Bill 2010 370z; Tour/Sport; 6mt; BlackCherry/Grey; 318 rwhp; 265 lbs rwtq. To view a list of my mods, click here; To view a photo journal of the mods, click here.

11-09-2010, 02:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
ZCarMan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: MD Posts: 4,488 Drives: 09 Z34, 13 F-150 Rep Power: 26	It really depends on your state. Just because a shop says it is or is not legal doesn't absolve you of responsibility if they are wrong. Be safe and check your state law to be sure. If it isn't legal then you run the chance of being sighted if ever stopped for some other reason. I know of at least one person in VA that was stopped just because of lights but I think that was for the rear license plate light being blue instead of white. __________________ Jon Swift \| SPC \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| AAM \| Cobb \| Hawk \| Volk Racing \| Bridgestone Green Demon Eyes

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11-11-2010, 09:46 AM	#10 (permalink)
Pelican170 Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 972 Drives: Nissan 370z Nismo Rep Power: 15	Hey guys, Just to clarify, I do know that painting the housing is not an issue itself. I am wondering if you paint the orange reflector piece, if thats illegal...

11-11-2010, 03:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
TypeOne A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 2,682 Drives: BSM 370 Rep Power: 1850	^^ To my knowledge, the only thing that is REQUIRED is the proper color light bulbs. In other words, as long as the blulbs in your lights are the right color (red in brake lights, orange in turning signals, and white for headlights and reverse lights) you shouldn't have any problems. I took the reflectors our of my STi lamps, as well as changed over to many sets of JDM headlights in the past that never came with reflectors period. I have also been thinking about taking the amber piece out.. but I'm not sure if it would separate from the housing.