What to do while headlights are opened ? :)

[Simon99]

So I opened my headlights to install (again) Umnitza Angel eye. First time I had. Painted everything black (silly me, including high beam reflectors) but this time I haven't donethe same mistake. What I'm asking now is, what should I do while I have them opened ? Heres what I heard/might do, tell me if you have other suggestions or mods to do !


Clear lenses (done :))
Paint the projector housing (to get a color in the lenses while the lights are not on)
Lens spacer (done :))
Paint chrome rings (might do)
Dremel/sand inside the reflector to get a sharper cutoff from the hid
Seal properly this time ;)
Black out reflectors (thanks guys :))
City light, like JDM Axela (http://www.mazda3forums.com/showthread.php?t=360491)


If you are aware of any other cool things I can do, let me know, I'm open ! :)

[JrCanuck]

I think I saw somewhere to pop the orange plastic pieces off.

Don't take my word and FORCE them off, but maybe someone else will chime in!

[The Wolf]

Definitely remove the side reflectors,

[Hyperion]

pictures?
What do you mean paint the motor?

[mazdaskit]

I think I saw somewhere to pop the orange plastic pieces off.

Don't take my word and FORCE them off, but maybe someone else will chime in!

They just pop off, I removed mine

[ds08tf]

I currently have my headlights open... what do you mean paint the motor?
On a seperate note I'm painting the housing white... The Chrome Rings Blue... where are the high beam reflectors? (Sorry don't mean to jack thread)

While I have mine open I'm refinishing the outside of the headlights and adding in a custom led strip along with orion v2 angel eyes for DRLs.
Besides that I dunno....

[The Wolf]

Don't know why he used the word motor, but if you paint the inside of the projector housing you get what he's talking about.

[ds08tf]

Don't know why he used the word motor, but if you paint the inside of the projector housing you get what he's talking about.

Thanks. Makes sense now.

[Simon99]

Don't know why he used the word motor, but if you paint the inside of the projector housing you get what he's talking about.

Sorry, thats definately what i meant !

Found another mod, adding to OP

[ace_master]

I'd realllly like to get rid of the orange reflectors in my headlight if I ever do decide to do angel eyes. Anyone ever try any white/clear reflectors that fit nicely in it's place (keeping safety on my car in mind, while drastically improving looks)?

[Rob23]

They just pop off, I removed mine

+1 I took them off as well.

Much cleaner without them.

[Rob23]

I'd realllly like to get rid of the orange reflectors in my headlight if I ever do decide to do angel eyes. Anyone ever try any white/clear reflectors that fit nicely in it's place (keeping safety on my car in mind, while drastically improving looks)?

well really, you don't need the reflectors they basically do almost nothing. The bulb alone is bright enough.

[Simon99]

I was told that you're better off darking the reflector, or else it leaves an empty space.

[Simon99]

So here are some updates !

How she's been looking for months :(

http://i.imgur.com/modwbL6.jpg

Angel eye glued with PL glue

http://i.imgur.com/fmQx2fa.jpg

Blacked out reflectors

http://i.imgur.com/3SildmX.jpg

Dremel'ed away the squirrel finders

http://i.imgur.com/qTKwGul.jpg

Painted housing

http://i.imgur.com/v933UdL.jpg

Clear lenses and home made spacers

http://i.imgur.com/iME1b9d.jpg

[Rob23]

Nice job man! really like the blacked out reflectors, definitely a better option than removing them. I dunno about using PL Premium on the angel eyes though, that stuff tends to "grow" with heat. Mine are held in place with silicone if I remember correctly.

[Simon99]

Nice job man! really like the blacked out reflectors, definitely a better option than removing them. I dunno about using PL Premium on the angel eyes though, that stuff tends to "grow" with heat. Mine are held in place with silicone if I remember correctly.

Didnt knew about PL premium growing with heat .. I know that first time I used silicone and they eventually fell, after that used urethane, but that thing was black and really messy

[Rob23]

Didnt knew about PL premium growing with heat .. I know that first time I used silicone and they eventually fell, after that used urethane, but that thing was black and really messy

I can't remember for sure if its heat, or moisture that makes it grow a bit. Im sure it will be fine. Your right about the silicone, Dan did the angel eyes for me and I forget what it was he tole me he used to glue them in place. I do remember him teling me silicone didn't work and he used some clear type of glue (looked like silicone)

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Good start.. just make sure they are wired well and such... nothing worse than 2 months later an angel eye goes wonky.


IMHO, you should have painted the interior to match the car..

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Jafarthebiz/DSC00025-1.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Jafarthebiz/DSC00047.jpg

[omalak]

hmm subbed, i will be doing much of the same mods this summer to my headlights. Likely will take my headlights to a bodyshop to be painted in mica black as Jeff mentioned.

Progress looks good keep the pics coming!

[Simon99]

Good start.. just make sure they are wired well and such... nothing worse than 2 months later an angel eye goes wonky.


IMHO, you should have painted the interior to match the car..

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Jafarthebiz/DSC00025-1.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Jafarthebiz/DSC00047.jpg

Really thought about doing it, but I wasn't sure about the chrome with white 34K since I blacked out my emblems, dunno, we'll seehow it goes and if I hate it, I'll open again !

[Jeff-TheBiz]

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1181/dsc6723.jpg


and?

[Simon99]

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1181/dsc6723.jpg


and?

Not a fan, especially since there's a black border aroundthe light :S But kudos to everyone doing that, must be a time consuming job to get a trully different look !

[peterm15]

Anyone got a picture of a black car with that done?

I googled but I don't really know the best phrase to type in.

[omalak]

Anyone got a picture of a black car with that done?

I googled but I don't really know the best phrase to type in.

http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/2010-13-mazdaspeed-3-how-guides/1709-2010-mazdaspeed3-headlight-bake-paint-photos-video-3.html#post26891

Not the best pics, but you get the idea.

[Simon99]

Put everything back together, used clear silicone to make sure it won't leak, will post car pics tomorrow !

[Rob23]

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1181/dsc6723.jpg


and?

Forgot about this car. Truly gorgeous.

[Rob23]

Put everything back together, used clear silicone to make sure it won't leak, will post car pics tomorrow !

cant wait!

[JBale]

I think I saw somewhere to pop the orange plastic pieces off.

Don't take my word and FORCE them off, but maybe someone else will chime in!

It's better to paint the orange peices. If you take them off there are a couple unsightly gaps.


As far as the city lights, I found them a lot of work for a little difference



Edit- only saw first page that showed no progress. Fml

[Simon99]

Just finished refinishing my headlights, used 220, 400, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and Plastx. They look like ****ing diamonds :)

[r4mi5awi]

http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/2010-13-mazdaspeed-3-how-guides/1709-2010-mazdaspeed3-headlight-bake-paint-photos-video-3.html#post26891

Not the best pics, but you get the idea.

Just noticed that's the same user who made the vid on the other thread. Maybe one of the mods can merge it to here?

[-RJ3-]

I misread your post... I would have suggest to play video games.. That passes the time while the headlights are opened...

Thinking you were painting the housing and wasnt sure what to do while it drys lol

[Simon99]

(Sorry for the iphone pics :()

So here's where I am right now, placed everything back together, tried my lights and voila !

http://s22.postimg.org/4kfachxa9/mz3.jpg

Notice that we can see the red from the painted housing in the lens, but it doesn't show at all in the light.


http://s22.postimg.org/wx66p7tmp/mz31.jpg

Here's the cutoff, shown on a rough surface (not smooth, it was the only thing I had close to me atm). The light output is greatly increased and it's much sharper ! I was expecting a little more blue, but overall I'm really satisfied ! Gotta install the bumper back on, then I'll take it out and post some outside pics, probably this weekend !

If you have questions, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer !

[r4mi5awi]

looks nice! Can't wait to see the daytime shots!

[Rob23]

they turned out really good!

[europaradise]

looks great guys

[Simon99]

Here's a couple of day shots. Iphone pics

Gosh I love her without the bumper, looks mean

http://s24.postimg.org/pblirdp05/IMG_2083.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/9emqunwlx/IMG_2084.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/dp1eq91p1/IMG_2086.jpg

[silverstarmazda]

laser pointers?

[Simon99]

laser pointers?

Sorry, what ? :P

[FD22]

They look great! :thumbsup

[silverstarmazda]

Sorry, what ? :P

where are the james bond gadgets?? LOL

[Simon99]

where are the james bond gadgets?? LOL

Ohhh yeah, well high beams are now ground to air missiles and tail lights shoot laser. Couldn't fit the gun in front though :(

[r4mi5awi]

Ms. Vickies Salt & Vinegar mod?

[r4mi5awi]

They look great btw! Maybe eyelids to complete the look?

[FD22]

Ms. Vickies Salt & Vinegar mod?

+5 hp! On sale; + 10 hp! lol

Some of those thinner eyelids might make it look a bit meaner once the front bumper is back on. But they look just fine without eyelids IMO.

[Simon99]

Ms. Vickies Salt & Vinegar mod?

Nah that's just me being fat and not working on the car weight reduction ;)


They look great btw! Maybe eyelids to complete the look?

Thinking about it .. But i'm not sure yet :S I'm also wondering which design ...


+5 hp! On sale; + 10 hp! lol

Some of those thinner eyelids might make it look a bit meaner once the front bumper is back on. But they look just fine without eyelids IMO.

Buy it on sale, more on car :D
And yeah, if you have a link, that'd be great, because the only ones I find make the car look tired :(

[Rob23]

looks awesome. It will look even better once the front bumper is back on.

[Simon99]

looks awesome. It will look even better once the front bumper is back on.

It will be, soon ! :)

[europaradise]

i just did the inside of my lights

http://s1017.photobucket.com/user/europaradise/media/62298_10151599705978689_1862651997_n.jpg.html?sort =3&o=1

[omalak]

Just bringing this thread back, what is it that you are supposed to dremel in the reflector? Is this in the halogen projector? If I am correct i believe it refers to the little notch that is in the projector housing.

[Simon99]

Hopefully that can help you, I got that picture from Tee over at M3F and will take it down if requested (here the thread (http://www.mazda3forums.com/showthread.php?t=343013))

You need to dremel the pieces sticking out to get rid of the glare over the headlights.

http://i.imgur.com/tcxi1Dx.jpg

[omalak]

Thanks that helps, so dremel out that whole piece that is sticking out?

i think i've already made a mistake. i removed the projector housing but did not take not of how many times I turned each screw :(

does anyone have a general rule of thumb in terms of how many turns each screw many need?

good thing is that this was an extra headlight lol

[WhiterThanChalk]

Hey, overall how much do you think the whole process cost? It looks sweet, wanna do it to my 3.