I pondered this concept a few month ago, but was hesitant due to heat exposure from the HIDs. So, a few local guys gave me their headlights as testers before I rip into my CLS's headlights. 99-00 Civic Headlights are being done first in 3M's Black Carbon Di-Noc. The 96-98 Civic Headlights will be done in the 3M's Graphite Carbon Di-Noc. Both will be coated in clear after to help seal them and also make the carbon more receptive to light.


Fresh out of the oven:


outline ran - underneath area does have some wrinkles as it's not viewable and the second one is near perfect.. (the learning curve)








test look. Still need to buff out the lens so it's actually clear! lol


The 96-98 will actually be easier and cleaner as they have less recessed areas, which is more similar to the 2G CL headlights.

 

Looks neat, defiantly want to see what the HID heat does to it if anything.

 

I use a digital heat gun and in order to mold the dinoc properly, I use it at 550 degrees. Plus after the clear coat, I'm thinking the HID system shouldn't affect it enough as it's not inside the reflective area of the housing.

 

that is flippin awesome

 

Thank you... I'm thinking the 96-98 civic headlights are going to turn out about 20x nicer. lol

 

Damn that looks sick! Good work!

 

Resealed with a single layer of clear coat and I removed the haze on the lens:

 

So the headlights were installed yesterday and I'm already learning how things need to be different. Looks like the inside areas need to be separate pieces completely opposed to the current one piece covers the entire headlight.... It's causing the DiNoc to pull, peel & bubble in areas. SOOOO, next set will start work on Wednesday with EJ Civic Headlights with Graphite rather than black carbon. I suppose you can't learn without error/failing first.

 

I still need to do a single coat of clear and a touch up on the driver's side, but then they'll be reassembled and put into my friend's show car.
96-98 Civic Headlights wrapped with 3M Graphite Carbon DiNoc

 

Looks great..Also interested to see how they hold up to the heat.

 

Sick, I can't wait to see it on your CL

 

My buddy sent me the pictures of them installed. But he only took the pictures with his phone, so the detail isn't really there. I went and looked at them late Saturday night. There are 2 areas with small bubbles, but nothing compared to the EK's issues. The passenger side ended up fogging too. Looks like I'm going to have to recrack them, rewrap them with the 3M DiNoc Black Carbon and give it, yet another go!







once all the kinks get worked out on the civics, then I may give it a go on the CL, but it's not looking to hopeful right now... Especially with the high beam area... That's going to be a nightmare to mold around!!!

 

Well, after much debate about it, I'm just going to order Epoxy, Resin, Hardening agents, liquid urethane and some REAL carbon fiber & carbon kevlar... I should have just done this in the first place, but I think this will have a better result. I'm going to start out by making a mold for 96-98 Civics and hope for the best. If it works out, I will make a mold for 01-03 CL's. From there, if there is enough interest, I will do a group buy and pump out a dozen or so. It's all based upon the 96-98 Civics first.

 

I like the concept, since I've had real CF in my headlights for like 5 years, never been a fan of the fake vinyl CF, but I give you props for doing the work.

 

nice to see you doing it right

 

x2

I have no problem with the di-noc stuff if used in moderation, but for a headlight bezel, thats just too much IMO.

 

I think inside the headlight if you could get it to work properly di-noc would be fine. Also you would probably want to not have to much more carbon on the car especially if its real.

 

Why?

 

The di-noc stuff looks good but when compared next to real carbon fibre its more obvious its fake

 

I'm going to redo the headlights in REAL carbon fiber.

 

If the molds work out Id definitely be interested