Black headlight housing
Black headlight housing
So my car is in the shop getting body work and paint. I've got some extra headlights here, and I just baked and opened up a passenger side headlight.
I'm going to polish up the lense, and do some fiberglass reenforcement on the housing (cracked it in a couple of places) and then paint the exterior housing black.
What I'm thinking about doing is painting the inside of the housing black as well. Like, scuff up the chrome with some sandpaper, and paint it black inside. Like those MS Miata headlights:
Has anyone done this before? How did it turn out? Will the brightness of the light be dampened without the reflective material? Is there a reflective black paint I can get?
I'd just like some opinions/info before I do this.
-Tim
I'm going to polish up the lense, and do some fiberglass reenforcement on the housing (cracked it in a couple of places) and then paint the exterior housing black.
What I'm thinking about doing is painting the inside of the housing black as well. Like, scuff up the chrome with some sandpaper, and paint it black inside. Like those MS Miata headlights:
Has anyone done this before? How did it turn out? Will the brightness of the light be dampened without the reflective material? Is there a reflective black paint I can get?
I'd just like some opinions/info before I do this.
-Tim
Don't park drunk, accidents cause people.
92 Blaze Red MX-3 GS, KL-ZE, ACT Clutch, KL 36 ECU, SS Clutch Line
92 Blaze Red MX-3 GS, KL-ZE, ACT Clutch, KL 36 ECU, SS Clutch Line
- mxstockade
- Junior Member
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- Location: Southern California
ohhhh I know what happends, the black absorbs all the white light and all u get is a dim light, not to mention a look of a mx3 w/ a black eye. I did this before after trying a blue housing wich made it look sad. funny to see really, but don't do it, unless u can make parts of it crome or reflective. Just a thought.
-John
-John
92' mx3 GS
2.5 exaust from cat back w/ xl performance muffler, sony explodes amped, 10" audiobahn sub.
http://mail.roadfly.com/mitfox/45789.jpg
2.5 exaust from cat back w/ xl performance muffler, sony explodes amped, 10" audiobahn sub.
http://mail.roadfly.com/mitfox/45789.jpg
- MX3-Freak
- Regular Member
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Huh? how do you expect to get light out of a headlight that works by reflection when you make the reflector unreflective? We don't have projectors like the miata . . .until you add them yourself. That is your only option unless all you do is drive during the day.
Stock 1995 RS - Creek Blue
Car Meanins:
Honda: Hang On, Not Done Accelerating
FORD: Frequently Overhauled, Rarely Driven
Mazda: Must Always Zoom Down Asphalt
Car Meanins:
Honda: Hang On, Not Done Accelerating
FORD: Frequently Overhauled, Rarely Driven
Mazda: Must Always Zoom Down Asphalt
- jschrauwen
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Like MX3 Freak said, trying to copy the Miata's black-out area will not work. You have reflective not projector lenses. What's the obsession with making it black....LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE. Unless some of that reflective material is defective or is in need of repair...repair with a reasonably high heat highly reflective silver/chrome paint. Don't even think about black.....it's bling anyway and serves no usefull purpose....IMO
If you really want serious lighting and want black surrounding than start carving up your shells and sourcing some very small projector halogen and/or Xenon light units and install them in your housings. There's more info regarding this specific topic via search funtion.
If you really want serious lighting and want black surrounding than start carving up your shells and sourcing some very small projector halogen and/or Xenon light units and install them in your housings. There's more info regarding this specific topic via search funtion.
'92 GS-ZE - sold, '95 GS - sold, '02 Protege LX - Daughter, '00 Audi A4 2.8 QTip, Ducati TT2
90 JDM RHD 300ZX TT - 572.1 RWHP | 590.0 RWTQ | 21 PSI | Pump gas
90 JDM RHD 300ZX TT - 572.1 RWHP | 590.0 RWTQ | 21 PSI | Pump gas
Yeah I was trying to avoid any major fabrication.
And it's not bling, it's called a theme. My entire car is silver and black. I have black altezzas, and black headlight housings would tie it all together.
On top of that, the reflective coating inside the headlight is all dulled and cracked, so it has to be redone anyway, so I was looking for alternatives.
I know that our lights are reflection base. I was thinking there might be a black paint with a topcoat or other element that might reflect the light enough to function for the interior headlight housing.
Don't act like it's entirely out of the realm of sanity to ask if something like that exists, when we have paints that change colors, fight fire and have textures.
And it's not bling, it's called a theme. My entire car is silver and black. I have black altezzas, and black headlight housings would tie it all together.
On top of that, the reflective coating inside the headlight is all dulled and cracked, so it has to be redone anyway, so I was looking for alternatives.
I know that our lights are reflection base. I was thinking there might be a black paint with a topcoat or other element that might reflect the light enough to function for the interior headlight housing.
Don't act like it's entirely out of the realm of sanity to ask if something like that exists, when we have paints that change colors, fight fire and have textures.
Don't park drunk, accidents cause people.
92 Blaze Red MX-3 GS, KL-ZE, ACT Clutch, KL 36 ECU, SS Clutch Line
92 Blaze Red MX-3 GS, KL-ZE, ACT Clutch, KL 36 ECU, SS Clutch Line
Yeah, I broke down and ordered some civic projectors. We're going to do the swap.
Better to do it now while the fenders and front bumper are off the car, so we can get it fitted and everything before we paint.
Better to do it now while the fenders and front bumper are off the car, so we can get it fitted and everything before we paint.
Don't park drunk, accidents cause people.
92 Blaze Red MX-3 GS, KL-ZE, ACT Clutch, KL 36 ECU, SS Clutch Line
92 Blaze Red MX-3 GS, KL-ZE, ACT Clutch, KL 36 ECU, SS Clutch Line
- solo_ryder
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6289
- Joined: October 16th, 2004, 2:01 am
- Location: British Columbia
sounds rad man, u should take pics of the progress. Here is a link to a pic that I tought was a really kool black headlight. Near the bottom
http://community.webshots.com/album/110138062awpPIr/1
http://community.webshots.com/album/110138062awpPIr/1
- MX3-Freak
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Actually, finding any black surface that is reflective is not just hard, its practically an oxymoron. Black surfaces like to absorb the visible light spectrum; not reflect. Whether or not we can make things change color doesn't change the laws of the electromagnetic spectrum . So I wish you luck in finding anything that is both black and reflective enough to serve as a reflector.
After saying that; smart choice with the projector upgrades. Will be both more functional and match the look you wanted better then any magical paint.
After saying that; smart choice with the projector upgrades. Will be both more functional and match the look you wanted better then any magical paint.
Stock 1995 RS - Creek Blue
Car Meanins:
Honda: Hang On, Not Done Accelerating
FORD: Frequently Overhauled, Rarely Driven
Mazda: Must Always Zoom Down Asphalt
Car Meanins:
Honda: Hang On, Not Done Accelerating
FORD: Frequently Overhauled, Rarely Driven
Mazda: Must Always Zoom Down Asphalt
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actually it isn't impossible... i've seen it done on a 2nd gen protege hatch back in europe somewhere... they used a translucent black paint on top of a chrome paint to give an amazing looking black chrome headlight... i'll see if i can find the pic again
ProjectMx
My BP and AWD build thread
Cardomain
93 Mx-3 GS with bp and GTR AWD system
93 Escort GT daily driving
My BP and AWD build thread
Cardomain
93 Mx-3 GS with bp and GTR AWD system
93 Escort GT daily driving
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