How does one go about creating headlamps that look like this?



It almost looks like a black chrome...suggestions?

 

You would have to take the headlight apart, and get them electroplated.

 

Thanks Ravi...now how much would it cost to get them electroplated

 

Interesting, I never thought about electroplating that. I'd be willing to do this provided it didn't cost a fortune, and more importantly, that I didn't lose any light output.

 

i'm also interested in this.
hey BhashaZ, i'm in San Diego too. maybe we can find a place that can do this, and see if anyone else around here wants this done.

 

Cool. Any idea on how much it would cost? I'm hoping its not too much...

 

What do you guys think about the diminished light output?

I believe our HID's reflect off of a portion of the housings (and that is why people who have blacked out their headlights do not black out everything). I'm doubting that this will be as reflective, and will diminish the light put out. I'm hoping I'm wrong tho.

 

I think since they are plated it will still reflect, but perhaps at a reduced amount. The darker the setup the greater the reduction in output. It makes sense because the black will absorb the reflected light rather than project/reflect it out.

Given that our reflector housings are wack to begin with, I wouldn't even do it. Also, those look like stock lights in different lighting. Mine are cleared out, and they look way different than stock for some reason.

Good luck though guys..I'd expect anywhere between $150-200 for the electroplating alone, easy.

ravi

 

Yeah. I don't think it's "black chromed". I'd have to agree that it's just the lighting that's causing that look. It's a nice idea though to "black chrome" the housing but I agree that the light output will be reduced. Would look nice though.

 

I'm not sure if it is indeed black chrome or just the lighting...I just happened to see it on a site which listed it as "Black Painted Housing": http://www.350zonline.com/gallery/album199

And I don't think the entire thing is electroplated. I think it's only the portions that other people paint:


Here is the headlamp again. Notice part "A" is still chrome, but part "B" is darker. It's possible that it's the lighting, but the orange strip is still bright. But if I'm completely wrong, then I patent this idea!

 

Yeah. That could be possible & wouldn't be that hard to do so long as you know someone who knows how to take it apart & put back the housing together. The first pic is blacked out headlights made by ClearCorners.com. I'm actually planning on having them work on a "custom" set for me later this year . Just got to save some funds since they are not cheap at all.

 

I did mine in opaque black, but I would think you could spray them with a transparent black for the black chrome look. I used transparent black on my orange strips to darken them.

 

What type of transparent black do you recommend? This was my initially thought as well (and I will also be smoking the orange strips). Would I be able to spray them DIRECTLY onto the chrome portions, or do you have to sand/primer them first? If you have to sand/primer, then it wouldn't work...

 

That pic is from our resource gallery .
www.350zonline.com/gallery

Just to let you guys know that particular lamp is just tinted film.

There is a easier way to do this then painting the housing actually protects the lamp from cracking.

It can be done using a 3M Smoked Headlight Overlay Kit that
provides the same look without modifying anything.

We have kits in these colors: Smoked, Clear, Blue, and Yellow.

We sell the kits for $60 shipped .

We take paypal and we can send them out asap.

 

Clear corners does something like this....

http://www.clearcorners.com/products...50zx3/h_lamp1/

very expensive $$$$$$

 

I used testors model paint, black window tint, but wouldn't use it on the housings. I would use the paint they use to tint taillights, without sanding.

 

Would it still come out smooth? Or would I have to let it dry a bit, and then sand it? Also, would you need to apply a clearcoat?

 

That I couldn't tell you, as I've never done it. You should try the overlays first, and see how you like them since they are so inexpensive.

 

tried spray tint on chrome housing before (IS300), comes out blotchy and cannot resist fade from sunlight. Do it right and get it electroplated or just paint it black.