paint the outside of the head light assy

pokeyl · 07-18-2015, 01:31 PM

Anyone done this. I hate all the clear plastic and my 5 year old is starting to look like crap. DD Florida 58K miles

Zbrah · 07-18-2015, 01:35 PM

No. But you can be the first! Let us know how it works out for you

AntiVenom · 07-18-2015, 04:45 PM

have you considered a headlight restore/buff with a vinyl layover? this way you could see how you liked the look of it, or whether you wanna get bold and pop the lights open and paint the insides.

lookup bluebatmobile for vinyl layovers.

pokeyl · 07-18-2015, 06:05 PM

Open the light is out of the question in Florida

Zbrah · 07-18-2015, 06:07 PM

Reason?

pokeyl · 07-18-2015, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zbrah

Reason?

95% humidity

AdamRacer · 07-19-2015, 02:19 PM

That's why you must do it all indoors as far as opening and sealing goes. The rest you can sand and spray on a nice sunny day.

need4speed255 · 07-19-2015, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokeyl

Open the light is out of the question in Florida

I don't think it matters. Most headlight housings are vented to the atmosphere anyway. Humidity doesn't matter if that is the case.

James10694 · 07-23-2015, 01:39 AM

I had the inside of the headlights painted black and one of the headlights wasn't sealed all the way. On top of that the lenses themselves were hazy and scratched. The vinyl shop I went to tried refinishing them but couldn't get it to stay clear, until they put a vinyl overlay on top. They look brand new now, you can see how the light bounces off the clean surface of the lens

Nick M · 07-23-2015, 10:34 AM

You have to be careful about putting anything over top of the clear upper lense to the headlights.

Any tint to vinyl significantly dims the light output, and if its too thick, or you spray some type of smoke paint or other product over them, you can actually heat up the headlight instead, causing the headlight lense itself to oxidize faster than normal, or in some cases in some cars, they actually melt or warp if they get hot enough.

Do the housings a color, or a shade of black, but IMO leave the lenses themselves alone and restore them if they need attention.

DIGItonium · 07-23-2015, 10:47 AM

One thing I learned from vinyl overlays on headlights is over time the lens start to develop minor cracks. It happened on my 350Z when I tinted the edges. Here's an example:
Headlight Spider Cracks b/c Vinyl Overlay? - G35Driver

James10694 · 07-23-2015, 11:12 AM

I'll have to see if they get really hot the next time they're on or even during the day time in 110 degree weather

DIGItonium · 07-23-2015, 01:27 PM

I think it's more like material expansion and contraction over time. I have issues with the inside of the lens, and I'm too lazy to take it apart lol.

07-18-2015, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
pokeyl Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: DFS Posts: 891 Drives: ??? Rep Power: 54	paint the outside of the head light assy Anyone done this. I hate all the clear plastic and my 5 year old is starting to look like crap. DD Florida 58K miles __________________ It's not my fault I'm old, I was born a very long time ago!

07-18-2015, 01:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zbrah A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2013 Location: The370Z.com Posts: 4,956 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 5451	No. But you can be the first! Let us know how it works out for you __________________

07-18-2015, 04:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
AntiVenom Track Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 695 Drives: 2011 KAD 6MT Rep Power: 11	have you considered a headlight restore/buff with a vinyl layover? this way you could see how you liked the look of it, or whether you wanna get bold and pop the lights open and paint the insides. lookup bluebatmobile for vinyl layovers. __________________ The GREY GHOST Chronicle instagram: jdmunilla

07-18-2015, 06:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
pokeyl Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: DFS Posts: 891 Drives: ??? Rep Power: 54	Open the light is out of the question in Florida __________________ It's not my fault I'm old, I was born a very long time ago!

07-18-2015, 06:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Zbrah A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2013 Location: The370Z.com Posts: 4,956 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 5451	Reason? __________________

07-19-2015, 02:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
AdamRacer Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: North Florida Posts: 316 Drives: '12 MBlue 370z 6sp Rep Power: 13	That's why you must do it all indoors as far as opening and sealing goes. The rest you can sand and spray on a nice sunny day.

07-23-2015, 01:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
James10694 Track Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 913 Drives: 2010 370z Nismo Rep Power: 12	I had the inside of the headlights painted black and one of the headlights wasn't sealed all the way. On top of that the lenses themselves were hazy and scratched. The vinyl shop I went to tried refinishing them but couldn't get it to stay clear, until they put a vinyl overlay on top. They look brand new now, you can see how the light bounces off the clean surface of the lens

07-23-2015, 10:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
Nick M Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 281 Drives: 2009 370z Rep Power: 11	You have to be careful about putting anything over top of the clear upper lense to the headlights. Any tint to vinyl significantly dims the light output, and if its too thick, or you spray some type of smoke paint or other product over them, you can actually heat up the headlight instead, causing the headlight lense itself to oxidize faster than normal, or in some cases in some cars, they actually melt or warp if they get hot enough. Do the housings a color, or a shade of black, but IMO leave the lenses themselves alone and restore them if they need attention. __________________ \| 2015 Nismo headlights\| 275/305 \| Z1 spacers \| Eibach Pro-kit \|k&n typhoons \| AAM S-Line catback + FI test pipes \| Stillen splitter \|

07-23-2015, 10:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	One thing I learned from vinyl overlays on headlights is over time the lens start to develop minor cracks. It happened on my 350Z when I tinted the edges. Here's an example: Headlight Spider Cracks b/c Vinyl Overlay? - G35Driver __________________

07-23-2015, 11:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
James10694 Track Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 913 Drives: 2010 370z Nismo Rep Power: 12	I'll have to see if they get really hot the next time they're on or even during the day time in 110 degree weather

07-23-2015, 01:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	I think it's more like material expansion and contraction over time. I have issues with the inside of the lens, and I'm too lazy to take it apart lol. __________________

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