So I'm in the process of painting/clearing my other set of headlights but I have a question for those of you who've done it. I would also like some feedback from all the other AZ members as well...

When I paint them black, should I use a Flat/Satin black? Or should I use a Gloss black? Please vote.

My fear is that the car is NBP and there's a lot of blue in that color. Would it even look right if it was glossy? I'm almost thinking of going flat black.

Tell me what you guys think. I'm doing one at a time, and taking my time since I still have my originals on the car. Not to mention, the lights I'm using have been painted black before and to be honest, they're in bad shape so it's going to take time.

 

I like flat black...

 

flat

 

The 03 headlights are actually Anthracite paint. Use that.

I've seen lights that have been painted flat black in person and to be honest, they don't look that great.

 

from my understanding black is one of the hardest colors to match...id go flat or athracite.

 

i've done both flat black and gloss black..and my personal preference goes to gloss black..looks kinda chrome blackish..but really its up to your personal preference..i really doubt the blue pearl in the NBP paint will have any effect on what black you use on your headlights. flat black doesn't look bad, but gloss black looks cool

 

Do it the color of the car

 

Thanks for the input fellas. This is really helping me.

 

Well, I ended up priming one since they had been previously painted and now it looks like I'm going to have to go back and do some serious sanding. The paint from the first time someone tried to do it is still wanting to chip off. I think I'm going to find a place that has a bead blaster or equivilent and have them blast the hell out of them. I'd like to start with a clean slate.

 

If you bead blast them you will destroy them most likely. They are not very strong as they are only plastic. Bead blasting is meant for metal only really.

Just sand them down till they are a off white color. Thats when you know your down to the plastic.

 

In all honesty, I'm not all the familliar with bead blasting. I know sand blasting wouldn't hurt them. I used to do that to plastics all the time. I just don't have access to the sand blaster anymore. D'oh!


What grit level should I use if I actually sand them?

 

I got them sanded. Actually a buddy and I sandblasted them with an old school sandblaster from the early part of the 20th century his dad had laying around. It worked perfectly. If anyone ever plans to do this mod, I suggest skipping the sanding by hand if you have a sandblaster available.

Lst night I painted them and they look great. I used Flat black, high temp paint. From the looks of them, they are going to look great in the housings.

Now, here's my question...

I know it's been said to leave the original silicone sealant on the lights to re-seal them but it's REALLY a mess. It looks like they've been sealed, and resealed, and sealed again, then there was electrical tape around THAT before I opened them up. (Remember, I got these used as a "trial and error" set.) Should I just heat them up and get all of this nasty crap off and start from scratch? I've got a tube of silicone already just in case. I just don't see how they could possibly reseal properly the way they are.

What do you geniuses think?

 

hondabond.

 

So, do you think a complete re-seal is in order? Do they sell this at the dealer?

 

I would do a complete re-seal.

I don't know if they sell it at the dealership -- but you might be able to find it at a cheaper retail store - it's just high temp silicone, but i used it when i first cleared out my 01 headlights, works well.

 

Thanks, Brian!

 

Hey, Brian, is tis the stuff you're talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA...spagenameZWDVW

 

 

As soon as my pieces arive, they're goin' in!

 

all that silicon is a pain in the ass to rip off. unless you have a ridiculously large amount of time, i'd suggest stickin the pieces back in the oven and heat em up for a lil bit. it makes things a lot easier, and on top of that i'd just leave the silicon in the grooves there and put the silicon on top of that. just make sure the outer walls of the groove are straight, or you might have fogging problems regardless of the seal