07-09-2014, 02:49 AM | #23 |
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I can guarantee you the law states the color of the reflector in the front and rear so if that's your concern you shouldn't change anything. There is a reason all cars in the US have orange in the front and red in the rear. If safety is the concern and not law then I am not sure how much reflection clear and smoke would actually provide since they are not colors that are easily visible at night.
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07-09-2014, 10:42 AM | #24 |
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Sure, I've seen that. I suppose my question was more if the separate front reflectors (not in the headlight assembly) were mandated by a recent law (either here in the US or in Europe or both). I feel like I notice them more on recent foreign cars. Could just be my imagination.
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07-09-2014, 05:49 PM | #25 |
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They have been on US cars for years. A lot of times they are included in the headlight assembly.
I put painted reflectors on my 2003 M3 when I bought it new. |
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07-11-2014, 09:32 PM | #26 |
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Just installed mine today - mineral white from IND and I have to say that the color match is less than perfect.. Pretty noticeable difference in color and I'm not very happy.
It's better than the hideous orange reflectors but not seamless as I would have hoped. The painted reflectors have too much dark speckles and overall are lighter shade of metallic white than the rest of the bumper. |
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07-11-2014, 09:33 PM | #27 | |
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07-11-2014, 09:36 PM | #28 | ||
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07-31-2014, 09:05 AM | #30 | |
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07-31-2014, 09:49 AM | #31 | ||
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1 - visually inspect before installing, getting these fuckers installed is a lot easier than removing them to ship back 2 - as much as it would be great to be able to photograph any issues, for what we're dealing with here a lot of the time it simply won't show up in a photo - I had that issue personally - so if they ask for photos and it won't work they're pretty reasonable to work with At the end of the day it took an extra week but mine are installed and I'm happy.
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08-02-2014, 11:46 PM | #32 | |
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Just like you can't use blue lights or strobes (restricted to emergency vehicles) but lots of folks do it anyway. Hideous? Unsightly? Really? Get a grip--this is definitely a first-world "problem"... |
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08-09-2014, 07:40 PM | #33 |
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This is actually really difficult. The top clip is a pain to get out and the second you just have to force out. Busted the clip on the stock reflector, going to town on the second.
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08-09-2014, 08:12 PM | #34 |
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08-12-2014, 04:51 PM | #35 |
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Another trick of the trade is to try a using a heat gun on its lowest setting or hair dryer and focus the heat around the reflector. This will make the adhesive more malleable.
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08-13-2014, 10:23 AM | #36 |
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08-13-2014, 10:51 AM | #37 | |
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08-13-2014, 10:54 AM | #38 |
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08-14-2014, 09:44 AM | #39 |
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No adhesive on mine either. The biggest problem I had was squeezing the top clip hard enough and then there is no access to the bottom clip if you have parking sensors. I used a screwdriver to push from inside the fender on the circle part for added leverage.
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08-14-2014, 09:56 AM | #40 | |
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08-14-2014, 09:57 AM | #41 |
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I do apologize, I was referring to another model.
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08-14-2014, 01:27 PM | #42 |
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10-05-2014, 11:30 AM | #43 | |
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10-12-2014, 04:54 PM | #44 |
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Removal of the OEM reflectors is definitely a pain.
I used plastic wedge tools that I had laying around (see below). Tried to pry out the OEM ones from the front because I couldn't apply enough force by just squeezing the tabs in the back. You have to be very careful so as not to leave a mark. I left a miniscule mark on one side. Even with the wedge tools, I still managed to break the tabs. Oh well, no big deal. Last edited by sunone23; 10-13-2014 at 08:33 AM.. |
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