Black housing headlights, yes or no?

[philosophicaljt]

I have a set of healights apart for a retrofit I am doing. In the process, I want to create a black housing.

I cannot decide what I want painted black though.
Before Pic for reference:


Should I paint the Highbeam reflector or leave it chrome?



Should I paint the chrome housing? (the crappy pic below):


and what about the reflector? Should I remove it and paint the area black? Or maybe just paint over the reflector in black? This is what I am talking about:


Here it is off the housing:


I am thinking of just painting this black and not having the orange reflector at all. But see how it has holes and dips and stuff. Once painted, those will be noticable.

Also, should I paint the Corner bulb insert? or leave it chrome? It makes sense to me to paint it black like the rest of the housing.


and then the hardest choice of all. Should I paint the chrome ring around the projector? What about the piece in front of the high beam reflector?


whatcha think? Whats parts should be painted black?

[philosophicaljt]

I painted the housing black already. I am impatient. Should I paint the rest? I will check back with y'all tommorrow.

[woa_its_j3ff]

actually man, i think you should have it colored like a light gray, but not like primer gray. thats just me. with the color of your car im not so sure the blacked out theme would be that good unless if you tinted your tails and got some window tint or something. id remove that orange reflector though.

[philosophicaljt]

its actually a glossy black, as much as the photos don't show it. But I still am going to be adding a couple layers of clear finish, to really make it shine. I am hoping to get a look, similiar to the Camry SE model headlights:



make sense?

Yeah, these might not go on my car. But I have a couple sets of healights I am playing with. I will probably paint mine to match the paint.

[woa_its_j3ff]

its actually a glossy black, as much as the photos don't show it. But I still am going to be adding a couple layers of clear finish, to really make it shine. I am hoping to get a look, similiar to the Camry SE model headlights:




make sense? But it far from grey or primer colored.

actually thats the color i meant . not black or gray, my bad choice of words, more like a slate color, thatd be good.. like a gloss, yeah. hard to explain lol.

[kpxboi0619]

that lookz toooo black? didn't someone paint his, or hers dark gray or something before??

[PXLpainter]

I think they're hot! Go for it!

[philosophicaljt]

Here it is halfway assembled (Im not done painting yet) Whatcha think?

Just trying to get ideas on what should stay chromed.




Paint looks pretty good for no clear coat yet.



I am also considering removing the plastic lens that goes over the corner bulb. It isn't as clear as the lens cover, so I am not sure what to do with it. Here:







I think it would look really mean with the ring around the projector blacked out.

[kpxboi0619]

I think it would look better without the orange reflector.

[Ruski]

w/o orange reflector.. IMO you could have filled in the holes left by the reflector before painting it

[LatinUSMC]

w/o orange...
similar to my set up..but i have a gen 1...and tinted tails plus 15% tinted windows..looks HARCORE ..IMO

[Americanctm10]

yep orange reflector needs to go. IMO you need window tint and tinted tails to make it look good and flow with the car.

[PXLpainter]

Yeah - since you don't have a black car, then the reflector would look better gone I agree - I would leave the beam rings chrome though - looks good and won't affect the way they work either!

Also - not sure on the crystal turn signal cover - it probably has some functionality and doesn't look that bad IMO...

Man - makes me wanna do this now!

[---CAMRAZY---]

For some reason, Sione's paint
http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php? ... sc&start=0
Looks better than that glossy black you used, try using flat black next time or re-paint them.

I'll give you an A for effort...

What Projectors are you going to use for your retro?

[zoomzoomthis05]

For some reason, Sione's paint
http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php? ... sc&start=0
Looks better than that glossy black you used, try using flat black next time or re-paint them.

I'll give you an A for effort...

What Projectors are you going to use for your retro?

I have to agree with you Milty... and BTW thanx for the compliment...