I didn't like how the driving lights looked in front - the were too orange / halogen looking. None of my local part stores carried 194 bulbs that were blue tinted, so I thought I'd try and make some myself.

First the before pic:

 

I pulled the bulb out (careful about finger grease - always use a cloth) and got out my trusty blue overhead projector pen. These are water based, so no oils to cause breaking.

 

Then I started coloring the bulb. This is where you have some fun. After it is all colored in (do it fast) start wiping it off with a lint free towel. Depending on how wet the ink is, how thick you applyed the ink, and how much rubbing you do, you can get various levels of tint.

 

Here is the final result. Shown are three levels of tint.

 

Once the tint is set (completely dried) re-install the bulb. The blue matches my paint too.

 

And here is the result. Now I know what you are thinking, base model owners - I'll do that to my headlights. Nope - it won't work. The extreme heat will vaporize the ink right off the bulb. This process only works for low voltage bulbs like the driving lights and the interior lights. But its cheap and a fun do-it-yourself project.

 

ghetto?

 

yes, but who cares. nice easy fix. looks good.

 

GHETTO? Not at all. What do you think a lot of these companies sell when they are selling you "blue bulbs," do you think its magic? I have done many tests, the blue coating that they put on many of the bulbs they sell is very much that -- paint. It can be scrapped off, scratched, and it on hotter bulbs, it definately begins to smoke when you first install them (the paint gets burned-in).

I am not a fan of any coated bulb really, but I wouldnt knock someone who decides to take a 3 dollar marker to a set of parking lamps. Looks like he's ending up with the same results and at a fraction of the $10/pair pricetag that they sell those over-priced blue bulbs at. Again, its no wonder APC is rolling in the money.. they serve cow-dung on a plate and people readily buy it.

A little correction though, all of the halogen bulbs on the Z are the same voltage (12 volts), its the amount of current they consume which is different (watts). Those small lamps are parking lamps, they use no more than 5 watts usually.. and generate very little heat. You may be able to get away with coating the turn signal bulbs, but NOT the headlamp bulb. Headlamp bulbs create an excess of 300° F and can easily explode -- they should not be tampered with.

- Mike / ClearCorners.Com

 

blue tinted bulbs look so ghetto when they arent turned on....and most of the time when they are turned on as well.

 

you are right on, they are 5 watts.

 

They would look ghetto if my car wasn't blue. Unless you got your head right down in there, you wouldn't even see them. I just tinted them a little bit - to whiten the light a bit. I was changing the headlights anyways - so I was there . . .

 

My point of this whole exercise is just as old_s13 said: these companies are getting rich off this process, and I did it with an overhead projector pen (cost= free from work).

 

i dont like blue colored bulbs thats all...

 

nope, innovative

 

how can tiny 5 watt bulbs be ghetto??? If you think its ghetto than dont do it. Its not like he put a 10 foot aluminum wing on his trunk.

 

the color will burn off. i tried this before using both a permanent marker and a overhead projector pen. the color will fade and eventually burn off. its a good idea i thought at the time, but after going back to the bulbs to redo them, it was just too much of a hassle.

 

The 5watt bulb doesnt generate enough heat for the paint to "burn off." Maybe you used a different type of marker?

- Mike

 

just give it some time.... you'll see.

 

Interesting - maybe it will burn off. But if it takes 2 years - eh.