[GrimJaw]

Trying to decide if I wanna tint my headlights. Anyone have pictures for reference?

[4seriesNL]

Originally Posted by GrimJaw

Trying to decide if I wanna tint my headlights. Anyone have pictures for reference?

Yellow

[Neophyte]

I'm stuck between tinted or not. I hate the chrome in the headlights, but the only way to remove it is opening up the headlight and permanently blacking it out, which is the only reason holding me back.

This is one I found on google images. *Not my picture*

[zentanker]

I really like the look of tinted headlights... no yellow though. I think I'd sooner drive around with a dog turd on my hood.

[ntj]

Originally Posted by Neophyte

I'm stuck between tinted or not. I hate the chrome in the headlights, but the only way to remove it is opening up the headlight and permanently blacking it out, which is the only reason holding me back.

If you're just trying to get rid of the chrome in the headlight, you could also consider installing a carbon fiber eyelid that installs over the chrome to hide it. I saw a black M2 in person that did this, and it looked surprisingly good. If you search "F22 carbon fiber eyelid" on Amazon you'll get some hits, to see the sort of thing I'm talking about.

[Neophyte]

Originally Posted by ntj

If you're just trying to get rid of the chrome in the headlight, you could also consider installing a carbon fiber eyelid that installs over the chrome to hide it. I saw a black M2 in person that did this, and it looked surprisingly good. If you search "F22 carbon fiber eyelid" on Amazon you'll get some hits, to see the sort of thing I'm talking about.

Yeah, I have seen this on ebay. The chrome that bothers me the most in that tin foil behind the amber light though :/

[GrimJaw]

Eh the chrome doesn't bother me much. I just want maybe a slightly darker look for the headlights. On the flip side also worried about how much light it will take away at night

[cxp213]

Personally, I'd rather not sacrifice function (lumens) for form. I've heard tints can cause stress cracks on the housing, also. Instead of tinting, get the housing painted if you want it to look right and not reduce the light output.

[zentanker]

Originally Posted by cxp213

Personally, I'd rather not sacrifice function (lumens) for form. I've heard tints can cause stress cracks on the housing, also. Instead of tinting, get the housing painted if you want it to look right and not reduce the light output.

Though their would be some loss of function as you say, there is also the greatly increased risk of being pulled over.

[Maynard]

Don't. There is no way to 'do it right'. It's a headlight you know. It may look cool (highly debatable, unless you're moving up from a slammed '06 Civic) but on the street there are nothing but negatives.

[cxp213]

Originally Posted by Maynard

Don't. There is no way to 'do it right'. It's a headlight you know. It may look cool (highly debatable, unless you're moving up from a slammed '06 Civic) but on the street there are nothing but negatives.

Wrong, there is a right way of doing things as mentioned above already. People don't tint their lights to dim their light output; They do it for a darker housing look. The reduction in light output is just the consequence of tinting. The right way of doing things would be to open the headlights up and painting it so the light output isn't affected, unless the intent was to change the color of the light (ex. yellow) to begin with.

[hwntime]

Why would anyone want to tint the headlights and have dimmer light output? For me, light output is important.

[Maynard]

....... The reduction in light output is just the consequence of tinting. The right way of doing things would be to open the headlights up and painting it so the light output isn't affected, unless the intent was to change the color of the light (ex. yellow) to begin with.[/QUOTE]

If it is possible to paint the housing or reflector but not reduce light output, I stand corrected - but I don't believe that would be realistic (that's why they call it a reflector, right?).

[hwntime]

Originally Posted by Maynard

....... The reduction in light output is just the consequence of tinting. The right way of doing things would be to open the headlights up and painting it so the light output isn't affected, unless the intent was to change the color of the light (ex. yellow) to begin with.

If it is possible to paint the housing or reflector but not reduce light output, I stand corrected - but I don't believe that would be realistic (that's why they call it a reflector, right?).[/QUOTE]

Doubt it. And to the one's tinting their lights, what percentage are you using? Any and all tint is designed to reduce light transmission so I honestly don't get why you would do it? Preference in looks but at the expense of performance? I honestly wish my HID's were brighter.

[Neophyte]

Originally Posted by hwntime

If it is possible to paint the housing or reflector but not reduce light output, I stand corrected - but I don't believe that would be realistic (that's why they call it a reflector, right?).

Doubt it. And to the one's tinting their lights, what percentage are you using? Any and all tint is designed to reduce light transmission so I honestly don't get why you would do it? Preference in looks but at the expense of performance? I honestly wish my HID's were brighter.

I think the reflector is mostly for the turn signal but idk

If you want to tint, try lamin x. They have pre cut tinted headlights. That way you won't risk a scratch when getting the tint on (even shops mess up sometimes).

Also, someone please chime in, but I think you can code the HIDs to be brighter.

[aerobod]

Originally Posted by Neophyte

Also, someone please chime in, but I think you can code the HIDs to be brighter.

Arc lights (which Xenon HIDs are a variant of) only produce one light intensity for a given bulb and ballast, they can’t be dimmed, the arc is either struck in a stable manner or is not.

[Neophyte]

Originally Posted by aerobod

Arc lights (which Xenon HIDs are a variant of) only produce one light intensity for a given bulb and ballast, they can’t be dimmed, the arc is either struck in a stable manner or is not.

I think I confused the angel eyes with the HIDs.

[hwntime]

Originally Posted by Neophyte

I think I confused the angel eyes with the HIDs.

Yeah, the halo's are adjustable but the HID's are not. I got my halo's turned up and with DRL I have it set at 50% whereas the OEM setting I believe was 5% or 10% (don't remember).

[zentanker]

Originally Posted by ntj

If you're just trying to get rid of the chrome in the headlight, you could also consider installing a carbon fiber eyelid that installs over the chrome to hide it. I saw a black M2 in person that did this, and it looked surprisingly good. If you search "F22 carbon fiber eyelid" on Amazon you'll get some hits, to see the sort of thing I'm talking about.

I have those and it's a good partial solution. When you have a black grille and black shadowline trim on a dark color it's kind of a downer to have all that plastic chrome in the headlight area.

[Viffermike]

You people ...

Tinting headlights on a vehicle operated on public roads is illegal in all 50 U.S. states for good reason. (The chap with the yellow ones in Canada: That's very France circa 1978 of you. )

Just say no and be happy with what you have. Think about who you may be affecting by making your car look slightly more 'cool' to you, but asenine to almost everyone else.

[arhoads335i]

Originally Posted by hwntime

Yeah, the halo's are adjustable but the HID's are not. I got my halo's turned up and with DRL I have it set at 50% whereas the OEM setting I believe was 5% or 10% (don't remember).

Did you use bimmercode to do this? or custom

[hwntime]

Originally Posted by arhoads335i

Did you use bimmercode to do this? or custom

Yup.