DIY Blackout Headlights: Yes or No??? [Archive] - Autopia Forum - Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum

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JaCkaL829

05-27-2006, 03:49 PM

Hello:
I`d currently like everyone`s opinion on whether or not I should blackout my headlights. I have a couple small mods I want to do to my car since I`m going to be working on it soon for some small maintence things (oil change, manual transmission fluid change, etc.) I already have lined up to paint my brake calipers, been meaning to do this for a while. I`m also pretty sure I`m going to order a generic OEM fog light kit off eBay too. My next mod, the title, is up in the air though. Everyone on CRSX blacks out their headlights, and it usually looks really good. It would have been a no-brainer if my car was any color but black, but I kinda like the chrome and black contrast. I`m mainly considering doing mine just to be a little different from all the RSXs around here, they are extremely common in my area. Anyway I got mixed opinions from my friends, I`d like to know what you think. I wanna research how hard it is with the whole baking the headlights in the oven thing, that kinda has me worried:redface:

Heres my RSX now (bone stock baby ;) )
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/JaCkaL829/poorboysworld005Medium.jpg

Heres how the blackout headlights look on NBP (Autopia`s 03k20a2`s car). Keep in mind his car is dropped and has a lip kit, so it`s already hot looking :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/03k20a2/newest%20pics/mycar4.jpg

GearHead_1

05-27-2006, 04:26 PM

Leave it as is!

Maxima Lover

05-27-2006, 06:53 PM

When you were first talking about it, I was going to say no for sure, but after seeing the picture with it done, I don`t know. I have seen some tinted headlights that don`t even put any light on the ground. I don`t think with that light of a tint it would effect the lighting though.

If your going to keep light colored rims, I would leave the headlights alone. Unless you were going to black out the whole car (rims, tint, emblems), I think it would be best to leave the contrast.

audiboy

05-27-2006, 08:15 PM

I say leave it as is. I got tinted protective film for my A4 and it looked a bit off. Also, the loss of light that is emitted is very annoying and potentially dangerous. I regretted it very much.

kaos

05-27-2006, 08:38 PM

I say leave it as is. I got tinted protective film for my A4 and it looked a bit off. Also, the loss of light that is emitted is very annoying and potentially dangerous. I regretted it very much.

Actually that`s not done by film. You actually open the unit itself up and paint the chrome black, then reseal the unit. Much, much cleaner looking than film. And your point about light output is why I would never, never advocate any film or plastic overlay blackout kit.

That being said, I think the blackhoused lights do look good. However, I personally wouldn`t go cracking into my headlights just for that. If I was going to crack the headlights open, it would be to do a HID retro. Unfortunately, the ROI on that just doesn`t justify the cost for me. :)

-Kaos

RedLight_Si

05-28-2006, 12:20 AM

How about some Type R headlights?
http://www.jhpusa.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_70&products_id=347&osCsid=62dd0f1e4de7222d2060a68a2eabe3c3

SNike05

05-28-2006, 01:07 AM

Go ahead and do it. It looks really good. I will be doing mine soon as well. I`ve done it on a Acura EL opening them up is such a pain. Getting the right temp for the oven is key.

Maxima Lover

05-28-2006, 03:50 AM

Go ahead and do it. It looks really good. I will be doing mine soon as well. I`ve done it on a Acura EL opening them up is such a pain. Getting the right temp for the oven is key.

I`ve taken apart head and tail lights several times and I found the easiest way is with a heat gun. It puts the heat right where you want it and goes much faster IMO.

Djmigs

05-28-2006, 08:32 AM

yes, do it...
blk out the headlight..
get the yellow sidemarkers jdm
get front and rear red honda emblems
and lower your vehicle just a tad.....(coilovers-this way you can raise and lower whenever you want)
also paint your caliper red so it can go with your emblems......just a suggestion....jdm only

oh and lose the front license plate if you can in your state....
get some tint on it plus maybe an intake header and pipe....
also if you decide to get fog light get the yellow one .....

pogo123

05-28-2006, 09:45 AM

JaCkaL829

05-28-2006, 10:30 AM

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I`m still unsure If I want to do it or not. I have been gettin some strong opposition from friends; but the more I compare the two pics, the more my chrome headlights look cheap and cheesy to me. They also kinda remind me of a civic.

Maximalover: Doing this doesn`t affect the light ouput at all. I`m just painting the surrounding pieces or bezel. I originally had your mentality at first; leave them chrome since I`m not modding it, but I`ve been having second thoughs on that now.

RedlightSi: Ya I know I can buy a pair of headlights but $500 is crazy. I like the mod but not that much. As I said before I don`t want to spend to much money on this car.

Djmigs: Thanks for the suggestions, but those mods aren`t for me. The main reason I wanna do the mod is because its very cheap and will improve the look, without people comming up to me every red light revving their car. I also don`t want to draw attention to local LEOs. I`m into very subtle and cheap mods...lol. Most of the stuff you mentioned is way too expensive, and I`ve seen it done on tons of RSXs on CRSX and just don`t like it. Maybe if my car was a Type S and modded, I`d consider dressing it up more, but my car`s a base with a whopping 160hp..lol. I`m also getting older so car modding is getting old to me.
I`d rather spend the money elsewhere, and not kill the value of my car with all these mods.

Pogo: You speak the truth. :)