Headlight Change, Suggestions

[marko72]

I want to give my headlights a different look than standard. I have received my orders that jdm or sti headlights are a no-no so thinking about some other options and wanting some input from the members.

So I think I have de-tangoing, or some sort of smoked laminate effect, or see the pic below which looks like the inside of a standard wrx headlight has been modified black.

I am aware of heating the lights up to detango, but is this really tricky or advisable?

Has anyone used these laminate type smoked thingys, are they crap, legal?

Or does anyone know how to get the effect in the pic below?

Failing that if you have a spare set of jdm/sti bug headlights you dont want fling them my way lol

Cheers Mark.

[jae]

With

I bought the film, flyeye I think and it's very easy to apply and it says it's legal as it doesn't interfere with the pattern but I would say it diffuses the light a bit and it's much more obvious in the flesh...

Without

[marko72]

Thanks Jae.

Maybe detango then film....

[mystery machine]

Jae's pics say it all... lose the fruit

[marko72]

  Mystery Machine said:

Jae's pics say it all... lose the fruit

Haha..cool. So detangoing is this something I should try myself or have someone who knows what they are doing do it? Never done it.

Any volunteers if I dont feel confident in trying this myself???

[jae]

oh one other thing, the film is cheap, it's only around £12 + p&p for enough to do a set of lights, I managed to get front and back done with 1 set however it looked rushed and messy, did it again a lot better.

[mystery machine]

  marko72 said:

So detangoing is this something I should try myself or have someone who knows what they are doing do it? Never done it.

Must admit I've never done it... well not to a Scoob - have replaced plenty of orange side repeaters on old Vauxhalls!

However, there are loads of threads on the topic here on SIDC, some with good step-by-step instructions IIRC

Always an improvement IMHO!

[marko72]

  Matty WRX said:

Looking at doing the same on my Bug mate, will watch this thread develop

Baking my lights seems a little scary

I agree. I did read up on this briefly long time ago but will need to refresh by reading up on it. IIRC its the putting it back together thats the hard part.

  Mystery Machine said:

Must admit I've never done it... well not to a Scoob - have replaced plenty of orange side repeaters on old Vauxhalls!

However, there are loads of threads on the topic here on SIDC, some with good step-by-step instructions IIRC

Always an improvement IMHO!

Yep, have changed the repeaters and reflectors myself ( with advice from Wulsey, cheers ) but thats it. Was chuffed doing that as I have 2 left hands.

[jamesm]

At least there are plenty standard bugeye headlights to be had if oven heated de-tangoing goes wrong.

Avoid cheap aftermarket sets from Ebay.

Morettes, UK300 style and STI headlights come up on Ebay now and gain but are normally in excess of £300 for a decent set.

I have a set of STI headlights in the garage (not for sale mind ). Remember they are not plug in and go as the wiring on the WRX and STI are different. Put the STI lights on mine last summer but the way they are wired up, the dipped beam goes off when the full beam goes on and ended up taking them back off again. Really need to take them to an electrician and get them wired up to work properly, get the alignment sorted, try a set of decent bulbs and give them another go. The offside light just doesn't quite want to fit either.

Wouldn't mind a set of UK300 style lights.

[marko72]

  JamesM said:

At least there are plenty standard bugeye headlights to be had if oven heated de-tangoing goes wrong.

Avoid cheap aftermarket sets from Ebay.

Morettes, UK300 style and STI headlights come up on Ebay now and gain but are normally in excess of £300 for a decent set.

I have a set of STI headlights in the garage (not for sale mind ). Remember they are not plug in and go as the wiring on the WRX and STI are different. Put the STI lights on mine last summer but the way they are wired up, the dipped beam goes off when the full beam goes on and ended up taking them back off again. Really need to take them to an electrician and get them wired up to work properly, get the alignment sorted, try a set of decent bulbs and give them another go. The offside light just doesn't quite want to fit either.

Wouldn't mind a set of UK300 style lights.

Cheers James. I have found a few threads searching here and s.net last nite. Seems not too difficult a job to do. May have an attempt this w/end. Was going to change the sidelights as they dont match the main lights, so I understand the lights need to come out anyway for that job, so may as well do it at the same time. Yeah 'er indoors says nope to spending £300+ on lights lol. Will post up the progress.

[geosub]

Done my bugeye about a month ago mate, didnt fancy putting mine in oven either. I just used 2 hairdryers to heat them up and it worked ok.

Geo

[marko72]

Yep lookin good Geo. Is that silver bulbs in then, where from?

thanks Mark.

[geosub]

  marko72 said:

Yep lookin good Geo. Is that silver bulbs in then, where from?

thanks Mark.

Ye mate, got them of fleabay £3-£4 am sure.

Geo