Different Aproach to "French" high beams...

[nickflic3]

I know this lol But I imagine any kind of film/spray would lessen the light output as well. At the end of the day they are just high beams and if the lighting turns out to be that terrible, I can always get some HIDs. I don't leave them on at all hours of the day like other ass holes on the road so on coming glare is also not an issue either.

As I stated earlier, I'd love a set of French lights but I can't justify such an expense just yet ;)

[Matt-B]

its dumb to paint the reflective part, is lessens your light output.

The real french lights are yellow glass, not some film , etc.

[nickflic3]

how did this hold up with heat? Have you used them for an extended period of time?

Heat on my set up hasn't been tested as I only turned them on once =/ Car is down; in the middle of a motor swap. I'll update longevity when its back up and running.

[E30Kaiser]

The way I did it, by spraying the outside of the glass has held up very well, as the picture with the plane was after it being on for about 2 years. I want to acetone it and do it again though since the drivers side is a tad lighter and I would like for them to be even.

No effect from heat as far as I can tell, and neither my car nor my brother's is garaged most of the year so I would say it holds up remarkably well.

[mamzak]

how did this hold up with heat? Have you used them for an extended period of time?

[nickflic3]

Fosho, I'll experiment a bit then.

[E30Kaiser]

Those are obviously multiple coats, so I can't remember if a single coat came out a little too yellow/green, or maybe the product is slightly different now since those were done 3 years ago almost.

[nickflic3]

Either my car is the wrong color or I sprayed it wrong... Mine turned out so yellow it almost looked green!

[E30Kaiser]

Here is how it looks if you do just the glass, the first is my brothers car, and the other two are old pics of mine, I think they turned out fine, and like I said you can just get rid of it with Acetone.

[nickflic3]

All true, one thng I'm realizing is that this method is a bit permanent lol Only way to go back to stock would be either new highbeams or chrome paint.

[E30Kaiser]

It is pretty easy to get rid of if you did it like I did and sprayed the glass itself, as you just wipe some Acetone on it and it comes right off.

[Mo Brighta]

Frenchies; Tinting/light output comments (& short hijack)

... I had been toying with the idea of doing the insides yellow for quite a while ...


Over all I'm very happy with the output; very yellow and bright!

ive heard that the OEM frenchies are the same as regular ones except the inside of the glass has been tinted with some sort of film/transparent paint... I wouldn't tint the reflector, personally, because you are reducing the light output.

Good job bro, tho I would worry a bit about the condition of the reflector after coating - looks like a bit of 'orange peel', and I can't help but agree with straight6pwr, that it will distort the beam to some degree... more glare, less light on the road... But the Frenchies I have seen (and sold) are made with yellow glass, not tinted. Can't speak for all lights, just the Cibie CSR I saw.

I think it looks a little more classy (unlike my car at the moment) than films and what not.

I think film is a good option, not just because I sell it but because it protects the lenses from sand blasting and rock damage, plus is removable if you want to go another direction. Plus LOTS easier to apply.

TAIL LIGHT TINTING

Haha my friend does the same thing but with night shade

Nite shade sux compared to the red glass stain ...besides with the red glas stain u can choose how dark u want them ,either a dark red or the more coats u give it the more black it gets but what I love about it is that it dosent impare how much light comes out unlike nite shade it makes the lights look more dim and just well....BLACK...

I didn't like the idea of night shade either but if people are willing to pay...

Clearly there is a range of opinion on tinting rear lights; but any dimming could conceivably be remedied with higher output bulbs, or more bulbs, or both, eh? Gee, who thinks - honestly - that dimmer tails is safer or cooler? I mean, doesn't the styling factor take a back seat when you want the Monster Truck behind you to stop short when you stop short???

lol I was looking at those... I don't have that kind of cash though so my simple 5 dolla solution will do for now ;-)
You make good stuff though, maybe one day I'll rock one of your tail light kits.

Yeah, I can relate. Cash always has a part in the equation. I'm no Rockefeller either; just trying to make a living here !
You got the point instantly, bro. Adding more bulbs, brighter bulbs, et cetera, will put your beloved on the map so to speak, by bringing your visual profile up to snuff. MAN, some of those newer SUV/Crossover/Truck monstrosities with LEDs can blind you with their brake light 'hot spot' beaming directly in your eyes at a stop light, eh? I would want to have a fighting chance at least, so that's why I do tail light re-design - take advantage of the "missed opportunity" in the BMW Lights, and ...

Keep MORE of these classics on the ROAD, and out of the Parts Yards!
There, I said it. I love old cars, prefer them over almost anything new.

[WARNING - HI-JACK!]
Check out these examples of E30 rear lights that rock the hardware by 'boldly using bulbs where no bulb has gone before'. More bulbs, brighter bulbs, dual function bulbs, all using BMW hardware with a thin coating of Yankee Ingenuity. This is what can be done with lights to increase their output and reliability; perhaps a good idea with tinted lenses ???
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=165624 (scroll down for discussion on output and lens tinting)
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=190578(early lights w/pics)
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191231(late lights w/pics)
[END OF HI-JACK]

Thank you for your kind attention - I look forward to all your replies!

[nickflic3]

lol I was looking at those... I don't have that kind of cash though so my simple 5 dolla solution will do for now ;)

You make good stuff though, maybe one day I'll rock one of your tail light kits

[Mo Brighta]

REAL French highs from Cibie

Why not go with the real thing? If top quality is your priority, that is.

I found a few sets of Cibie CSR in French Yellow, the glass is colored, not a spray on coating.

They are direct replacement for US lights, ie. sealed beams, and fit those buckets perfectly. Not made any more, anywhere.

Very rare, very bright. Takes an H1 bulb, no sweat.

Anybody interested, I can sell you a set for the going rate, like $149 each.

Andy

[nickflic3]

I guess it would, but from what I saw it pt out a LOT of light, if not as much as stock. We'll see though, I'll do a comparison when my car is up and running.