Problems with all frenched lighting?

[ZM Blue Devil]

I have run them on various e30/e28 projects no issues, police usually understand its a "special car"

If anyone is interested in genuine ones I have 3 sets in inventory 1 set with city light 2 sets h1/h4(sorry for the shameless plug)

[khnordeen]

The photos in my sig are just using lamin-x. Came out great IMO.

[IminDiegoTriick]

^ this. Curious about what product you came out with Castro. any pictures?

[khnordeen]

Anyone know the best DIY way to achieve the deep-yellow color of OEM french lights?

[Van Westervelt]

Anyhow, although they look sweet, you can't see shit at night.

Yellow light actually travels farther and doesnt reflect back off of rain/snow/water. They do no illuminate the road like a white light does, but the light does travel further and highlight more detail in poor conditions at night. If its dry, they are pointless.

[bimmerteck]

He's not cutting his lenses.
In this instance, it was being used as a verb.

French e30 headlights are yellow. To emulate them, you would color the lenses yellow, not "French" them.


Anyhow, although they look sweet, you can't see shit at night.

To add to this yes, the lights you are talking about are colored yellow, I was taught by my grandfather from a young age that "frenched lights" have nothing to do with the color of the lenses. ;)

[KenC]

Says the ignoramus. It is a verb, and it refers to a certain way of cutting food.

He's not cutting his lenses.
In this instance, it was being used as a verb.

French e30 headlights are yellow. To emulate them, you would color the lenses yellow, not "French" them.


Anyhow, although they look sweet, you can't see shit at night.

[Alkasquawlik]

I have yellow lamin-x over my high beams and have never gotten a ticket for that.
I've been pulled over a couple times and been cited for tinted tail lights and no front plate, but never about the high beams.

[dinanm3atl]

In California you might get hassled. Certainly possible. In Georgia I ran around with my track car with all yellow lights with really loud exhaust. Big wing. Splitters. Eventually it was stripped and still drove to meets and track events. Never hassled a single time.

California seems a little different though. My Jeep has no license plate light, all 4 tires outside the fenders(no rear fenders at all, lifted too high and more. Again, no problem.

[///digitalme]

french fries!

[shiftbmw]

"French" is an adjective, not a verb.

Says the ignoramus. It is a verb, and it refers to a certain way of cutting food.

[KenC]

"French" is an adjective, not a verb.

Have you ever tried to drive with yellow headlights? You can't see shit.

[///digitalme]

ive never had frenched lights, but i had smoked highs on my old e30 and didnt have any problem drove like that for about 2 years no problems...now on my 318is im running smoked highs havent had a problem its been 8 months now

[khnordeen]

VC Code Here

Good luck explaining this to a peace officer...

V C Section 25950 Color of Lamps and Reflectors
Color of Lamps and Reflectors

25950. This section applies to the color of lamps and to any reflector exhibiting or reflecting perceptible light of 0.05 candela or more per foot-candle of incident illumination. Unless provided otherwise, the color of lamps and reflectors upon a vehicle shall be as follows:

(a) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from in front of a vehicle, shall be white or yellow, except as follows:

(1) Rear side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show red to the front.

(2) The color of foglamps described in Section 24403 may be in the color spectrum from white to yellow.

(3) An illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall emit radiation predominantly in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Any incidental visible light projecting to the front of the vehicle shall be predominantly yellow to white. Any incidental visible light projecting to the rear of the vehicle shall be predominantly red. Any incidental visible light from an illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall not resemble any other required or permitted lighting device or official traffic control device.

(b) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from the rear of a vehicle, shall be red except as follows:

(1) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, may show yellow to the rear.

(2) Turn signal lamps may show yellow to the rear.

(3) Front side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show yellow to the rear.

(4) Backup lamps shall show white to the rear.

(5) The rearward facing portion of a front-mounted double-faced turn signal lamp may show amber to the rear while the headlamps or parking lamps are lighted, if the intensity of the light emitted is not greater than the parking lamps and the turn signal function is not impaired.

(6) A reflector meeting the requirements of and installed in accordance with Section 24611 shall be red or white, or both.

(c) All lamps and reflectors visible from the front, sides, or rear of a vehicle, except headlamps, may have any unlighted color, provided the emitted light from all lamps or reflected light from all reflectors complies with the required color. Except for backup lamps, the entire effective projected luminous area of lamps visible from the rear or mounted on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall be covered by an inner lens of the required color when the unlighted color differs from the required emitted light color. Taillamps, stoplamps, and turn signal lamps that are visible to the rear may be white when unlighted on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1974.
Amended Sec. 38, Ch. 766, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 198, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.

Thanks for posting this, exactly what I was looking for!

And from the sound of the bolded section, I should be fine, no?

And Van Westervelt - thanks for the photo. Your car is part of the reason I am taking this approach.

[Van Westervelt]

I have legit oem french lights all over the front of mine... Never had an issue with it. BUT I could easily be given a ticket any day I have it on the road. Key is its not an everyday car, and I dont drive like a douche etc. Both make the chance of getting cited for it lessen.