Painting JDM headlights

[audioprophets]

Hi, this is my first post, somewhat of a newbie. I just bought some JDM projector headlights off of ebay and I am kind of disappointed with one of them, all of the chrome finish is coming off the headlight assembly.

I am just wondering how I would go about talking apart the headlight and re-finishing the assembly, or even paint them black. If anyone could help me out with how to go about this I would appreciate it. Thanks

[cfl428]

i took mine apart by baking them in the oven at 200 for 15 mins. just be careful when pulling them apart the plastic will bend and might cool out of form. sorry i dont have any pics of taking them apart. hope this helps

[anothernord]

This thread has a part about disassembling the housing.

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=6311 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=6311)

[Benfolio]

I just did this.

Bought one that was already blacked out, and painted the other one I got off eBay to match it.

Took pics of the process but can't find them. Might be on my computer at work.

Take the screws out of the back that hold the lens on, and all the clips. Heat it in an oven at ~200 for a few minutes or use a heat gun to soften the glue. CAREFULLY pry it apart. Pry on the black housing, not the lens. You might warp it a little, but you can use heat to get it back to where it should be.

Once you separate the lens (all that nasty black stuff! ACK! But you'll need it to seal it back together) the chrome bezel is held into the lens by a bunch of screws. Take them out and out comes the bezel. Mask off what you want to keep chrome (I left just the sidemarker area, and had to match the other light that was already black), and sand down ALL THE CHOME so you get a good suface for the paint to stick to. I used a generec Krylon matte black that matches the other lamp perfect. Got lucky I guess.

When it's dry put it back together (or take this opportunity to swap the projector cut off plates so your light pattern is correct for a LHD car), heating the black goo up to stick everything back together.

This is how mine turned out.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/0313091726-1.jpg

The right side is the one I painted.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/0313091727a-1.jpg

This one came blacked out.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/04/0313091727-1.jpg

[audioprophets]

Thanks for the info. I just got mine apart yesterday and I plan on putting another coat on today and possible TRY putting them back together. THX

[anothernord]

Thanks for the info. I just got mine apart yesterday and I plan on putting another coat on today and possible TRY putting them back together. THX

When you put them back together, its helpful to use the metal clips to hold it together after you take both halves out of the oven.

[1-3-2-4]

When it's dry put it back together (or take this opportunity to swap the projector cut off plates so your light pattern is correct for a LHD car), heating the black goo up to stick everything back together.




I hope you are not saying swapping the projectors to the other side... i.e left side to the right and so on...

that won't work.

I had to mark and file down with my dremel and I made a new cutoff freehand and mounted it in the new housing with aluminum flashing.

I had to use JB wield.. that was the only thing that could keep it without melting the glue with the bulb.

I still have pictures of the process.

[eekay]

When it's dry put it back together (or take this opportunity to swap the projector cut off plates so your light pattern is correct for a LHD car), heating the black goo up to stick everything back together.




I hope you are not saying swapping the projectors to the other side... i.e left side to the right and so on...

that won't work.

I had to mark and file down with my dremel and I made a new cutoff freehand and mounted it in the new housing with aluminum flashing.

I had to use JB wield.. that was the only thing that could keep it without melting the glue with the bulb.

I still have pictures of the process.

Mind posting the pictures of this process? I've been trying to come up with a decent way of doing this for a while but haven't decided on anything solid. This sounds to be the most reasonable as long as the new cut-off I make matches somewhat decently. :)

[1-3-2-4]

I'd have to find the pictures.

is there something highly unappealing about blacking out the blinker housing too? i think im going to do that

[eekay]

I'd have to find the pictures.

No hurry. You have time. I still have to wait for my RH JDM projector anyhow. Fried it last night. :(

[eekay]

is there something highly unappealing about blacking out the blinker housing too? i think im going to do that

You can do that. It won't reflect at all though unless you use some high-gloss black or something which won't match the flat. Choice is yours though.

[99SUS SFD]

is there something highly unappealing about blacking out the blinker housing too? i think im going to do that

Legal issues?

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/CIMG0150-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/CIMG0151-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/CIMG0154-1.jpg


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/CIMG0152-1.jpg

these are the ones that impreza_GC8 just bought from liz...the blinker housing looks blacked out yeah?

[eekay]

Absolutely does.

[Huffer]

As long as it flashes amber you are still legal.