pkim05

I went to Rego Sports in Southern California and got my headlights smoked. However, they were not cleared first. All he did was just paint my orange reflectors black.

Is this how others did theirs too? I thought you were suppose to remove the reflectors then paint a portion of the headlights black.

It looks okay, but at certain angles I can still see the orange reflectors.

I would really appreciate it if someone who got it done from Rego Sports can tell me how they got their headlights done. Thanks!

PPLAPW

It depends on how you wanted it. Did you tell them to 'smoke' them? Maybe to them smoking is painting the reflector black. I know Lokius had his done with them and had them remove the amber and paint the chrome pieces black.....

PPLAPW

If you want a different look, I'd go back and ask them if they'd do it for free.

pkim05

Thanks for the input. I think I'm gonna ask them to remove it.

subinf

Can you post some pics of how it looks?

pkim05

Yea, I'll post them tonight

jmbnova

How can you pull the reflector out, paint it and then replace it? To remove the reflectors, you have to break the little clips holding them there..... Are they just loose in there or what?

pkim05

Hmm...good question. All I know is that the reflectors are still there. Maybe he just never took out the reflectors and spray painted over it? I'll post pics tonight, and maybe they'll make it more easier to understand.

pkim05

The orange reflector can only be seen at certain angles. I don't think any of these pictures captured that angle. Oh well. How does it look???

ding069

looks nice, but i would have them paint the chrome black and it would look real stealth.

subinf

doesnt look bad at all, hard to tell about the orange though. i decided to leave the chrome strip on the headlights just to have a little something different in there

the front of your car is a hell of a lot cleaner than mine.

pkim05

Thanks for the opinions. Yeah, I think I'm just gonna leave the chrome strip in there. And I just waxed my car yesterday, so that explains the cleanliness.

05TLTony

How come the pics aren't working anymore?

pkim05

Not sure. I'm at work now, so I'll post them once I get home.

ding069

not the chrome strip, the plastic fascia around the projector and fog lamp relfector.

ding069

rimz

this isn't the same question pkim05 started with, but still a question about clearing headlights that i'm stuck on, so any help would be much appreciated...

first, these two pics are courtesy of PPLAPW and gatdammit, respectively...i've tried to clear my lights twice now, and still haven't finished the job...the first time i had the bumper off, saw what lied ahead still, and decided i couldn't do it...the second time i felt pretty confident after reading more info on clearing lights and stuff, but got stuck while loosening my left headlight...there's this metal 'thing' at the bottom of the headlight assembly w/ 3 screws in it that i couldn't get to...it's on both the left and right headlight and can be seen circled in red in the picture below...




and it sits in the area where these 2 green arrows are pointing...




this is where i got stuck and had to turn back, yet again...i couldn't loosen any of the 3 screws...it's like i need a right-angled screwdriver or something...i could reach it pretty easily if that big black box was removed, but i didn't see how to do that...i removed the screw circled in yellow, but it didn't help much...just curious as to how everybody else who did this themselves got around this part...i haven't found anything in detail in this area and apologize if i've overlooked a thread that has explained this already...thank you in advance for any advice...

subinf

yeah, little bit harder when you dont have the cai.

edit: actually i will have to look at that picture longer to give you some suggestions

aztec209

How much did you pay to have it done.

PPLAPW

For the opposite side of the intake, just loosen the windsheild washer resevoir, you don't have too remove it. Now you can remove the intake box......I would order and air intake and install it, at the same time remove your headlights....

pkim05

I paid $200.

pkim05

Ding...whose car is that?

pkim05

fatalglitch

FYI....I would not paint the reflector on the fogs black... Halogen lights rely on that reflector for light output.

Painting it will basically destroy the light output of the fog lights.

Just my

Tom

aztec209

I live in Modesto, California? Were can I go to have the head lights done and is it something that I can wait aroundwhile its being done?? I dont mind going to LA or San Fran. I just want someone that really knows what they are doing. Also have you guys seen any water vapor in the lights.

rimz

pkim05, did you just have it done at a body shop? i've been wondering if i just walk-in to any body shop if they'll do it or not because it might be considered illegal or something and they won't do it...

pkim05

I got it done at a pretty ghetto place in Glendale, CA. They're called Rego Sports and they basically help modify cars (not a body shop). Beware....the owner, Harry, seems kinda shady. A few members on here will tell you the same.

I say he's shady for a few reasons....

1) I called him and asked how much it would be to clear and smoke my headlights, and he quoted me $230. The next day I had my girlfriend call and ask for the EXACT same thing and he quoted her $200. I go into his shop and tell him I'll do it for $200 because that's what he told my girlfriend, and he tries to tell me that he has to charge $230 because of the paint he uses costs $35 a can (then why did he tell my girlfriend $200???). He basically made up some BS, and I told him I'll only do it for $200. He seemed kinda irritated about it but he finally agreed with me.

2) He never actually cleared my headlights before blacking them out. He left the orange reflectors in there and somehow painted them black. I was thinking of going back and having him take out the reflectors like I initially wanted, but I like the way it is now. I have the single filament orange bulbs, and when I use the turn signals they're still very visible. Bottom line though, he agreed to clear the lights then black them out for $200, but he seemed to take the shorter route and just black them out. I guess in the end I got ripped off, but I don't want to make a big deal out of it (I'm just never going back to him).

3) I asked him if he'll seal my headlights again if they start to fog up (thinking it would be free of charge, because he did open up my headlights and seal them back. If they fog, it means he messed up on the sealing process, so any legit business should fix whatever mistake they made). However, he said he would do it for $80. Another member said Harry told him that he would do it for free if his lights start to fog.

All in all, maybe others have had a better experience with Harry, but I would never go back there again. However, I don't know of any other place that'll clear and smoke your headlights, so if you want them done professionally you almost don't have a choice.

rimz

yeah, i was just curious if it was some regular body shop that did it for you...like a lot of people on here, i'm very selective on who i'll let touch my car, even though i don't trust myself sometimes...i've already got the supplies, so i'll end up doing this myself, once i get around the problem i'm having i posted on the first page...thanks for the info and your lights look pretty good...

ding069

that is loki's car

agreed, i'dont know anyone who would do something that stupis. plus, it wouldnt even look good

lifetimeofwar

Hey pkim05 did you change the actual turn signal bulb? or is it the same one that came w/ the car? and can you take a pic of the turnsignals on so i can get a better idea of the brightness?

b827

Hey....I haven't had the time to call around and see who will do this, but for those of you that have, have you tried J Star Motors or westcoast customs, any of those other so cal customs shops? I have a buddy who buys all of his cars from Jstar and a few of them had smoked lights.

lifetimeofwar

can anyone help me out?