paint black headlights

[Henry Hayes]

Greetings,

Inspired by Emanuel who has a nice Fabia, I have decided to buy some used HELLAs, open them and paint black as he did.

Unfortunately I have also painted the ring eye which I wanted to leave aluminium paint by mistake. So I brought some others.

 

Now the question: how can I paint the interior of the headlights without painting the eye ring also? Is there a special technique, a template to apply over it of some sort; anything?

 

Tank you in advance,

Albert

[Lyminton]

Masking tape? 

[Henry Hayes]

26 minutes ago, Lyminton said:

Masking tape? 

tried that; paint goes somehow under. :(

maybe i'm not doing it properly.

[Kobayashi]

 

Tint the outside then use black silicone round the edges to stop it from peeling back

 

 

[UrbanPanzer]

8 hours ago, Henry Hayes said:

tried that; paint goes somehow under. :(

maybe i'm not doing it properly.

 

What we know as standard masking tape is not ideal for detailed fine lining as the paint "bleeds" underneath, its more for painting skirting boards in the house, you need a fine lining tape at the edge followed by masking tape behind it to cover the area....

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/3M-06405-Masking-Flexible-Adhesive/dp/B00Q8V8JKI/ref=pd_sim_60_1/257-8290573-1440440?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00Q8V8JKI&pd_rd_r=b64922cc-1f58-11e9-846f-6dde6419884f&pd_rd_w=IL7Mt&pd_rd_wg=XZZN6&pf_rd_p=1e3b4162-429b-4ea8-80b8-75d978d3d89e&pf_rd_r=DBJPNB381HJSNB5JBWNG&psc=1&refRID=DBJPNB381HJSNB5JBWNG

 

[mrgf]

..Also, don't expect quite so much reflected light... I remember hearing from some people that painting the inners decreases the reflective properties of the lights at least to a small degree. Not an issue so much, if you upgrade the bulbs too but if you live in dark areas and have crap bulbs...

[Henry Hayes]

On 24/01/2019 at 20:15, mrgf said:

..Also, don't expect quite so much reflected light... I remember hearing from some people that painting the inners decreases the reflective properties of the lights at least to a small degree. Not an issue so much, if you upgrade the bulbs too but if you live in dark areas and have crap bulbs...

The plan is to insert Philips Extreme Ultinon 6500K

[Henry Hayes]

[Henry Hayes]

Thank you, UrbanPanzer for the tip!

[Matmacka]

What exactly have you painted? I cant see a difference. I have a feeling your doing what i want to do. But just not had time to do it yet. 

[UrbanPanzer]

hes painted the reflector..........compare image 3 on post with last image....

[Henry Hayes]

[Henry Hayes]

[UrbanPanzer]

unforutnately illegal in this country........hence what it says on the box.

[Kobayashi]

swap them in after MOT, if you have dimmed the headlights surface and they are not stupidly bright, no one will notice.

[UrbanPanzer]

I would

[Henry Hayes]

UPDATE: The LEDs work like a charm. No need for CANBUS for our headlights, no flickering. Long range beam/ flap also works well.
Though, I will insert a voltage and current regulator to dim the brightness. Pictures soon.

[DriverTom]

Can anybody confirm if the projectors inside these headlights are Hella e55's. I'm considering replacing the units with some Morimoto HID projectors...

[Henry Hayes]

22 hours ago, DriverTom said:

Can anybody confirm if the projectors inside these headlights are Hella e55's. I'm considering replacing the units with some Morimoto HID projectors...

They are.

[DriverTom]

2 hours ago, Henry Hayes said:

They are.

Do you have any tips for splitting the headlights? Did you put yours in the oven?

[Henry Hayes]

7 hours ago, DriverTom said:

Do you have any tips for splitting the headlights? Did you put yours in the oven?

You don't need an oven for OEM Hella. The OEM mastic is soft, like a chewing-gum. I used... my hair drier.

The mastic I used[1] for the new enclosure had the same softness. After mastic insertion I just pressed the parts, tied them together with auto-straps[2]. Next day... I used my hair drier again, just to be sure, LOL.

 

I'll try to make a macro picture... you can't tell that it was opened, OEM like finish. I also put back the metal fuses through the mastic and the plastic enclosure.

I wanted (a must) the headlights to be as OEM as possbile, but rather black with LED.

 

[1]: https://www.emag.ro/adeziv-lipire-etansare-faruri-auto-xtremevisionr-455879/pd/DTL389BBM/
[2]: https://www.emag.ro/chinga-pentru-fixare-marfa-cu-clichet-carmax-25mm-x-5m-340kg-1-bucata-20753/pd/DKL85MBBM/

Edited 18 July, 2019 by Henry Hayes

[Henry Hayes]

[DriverTom]

Have you got a shot of the beam pattern on a wall?

[DriverTom]

Did you have any staples in your headlight as mine looks sealed and pinned?

[Henry Hayes]

16 hours ago, DriverTom said:

Did you have any staples in your headlight as mine looks sealed and pinned?

I did, and I've put them back afterwards.