thenamesian

All, just applied my gunsmoke 16% Lamin-X healight covers this weekend to my '08 NBP TL-S. Check out the pics and let me know what you think. These are the darkest headlight covers they offer.

Initially I thought that they would be so dark that the DRLs would become useless but that is not the case. Pics show with the DRLs on and off. I've noticed hardly a difference in headlight output at night as well.

I think they look pretty slick. Have a bunch of air bubbles on the drivers' side headlight but apparently it can take a couple weeks to fully cure. If bubbles persist then you can take a pin/needle to the bubble and puncture it - the covers are self-annealing and will "heal" themselves. Will update how they turn out if anyone is interested.

Install was somewhat of a pain - lots of trial and error but the adhesive is pretty forgiving. If they cure nicely I will definitely be keeping them on.

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

You posted in the wrong section. Any who, it looks pretty good against the NBP, but I wonder how badly this is going to impede your headlight output at night...

thenamesian

it's not bad at all - you can't even tell. this is a modification, is it not? i figured i'd post in this section due to reading it as either performance parts or modifications. i will correct this next time as this has nothing to do with engine performance.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

idk dude it kind of makes the car look cheap

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

Yeah, I can see how the title can be misleading "Performance Parts & Modifications" But I think overall the "& Modifications" refers to things performance oriented. No biggie, the mods will move it, if need be.

thenamesian

well "cheap" is definitely not the look i am going for. i will get some more opinions and see what people think. thanks for the feedback. i, personally, like that blacked out look.

Otacon

iTrader: (1)

Smoked headlights are stupid no matter how you do it.

DaeHanMeenGuk

black out your rear tails so no one can see that you're braking too!

ParaSurfer1979

I think it looks good but its illegal to do that in NC. I can't see the light output being the same as before. Tint blocks light whether coming in or out of something. You'd have to upgrade your HID's to 50watt set to maintain the stock output with the tint.

vietxquangstah

iTrader: (7)

I'm going to be 100% up front and honest and get straight to the point.

Ugly. Whether you were going for the cheap look or not, it still looks cheap. Tinted black tail lights and head lights are played out especially on a black car. Some cars can pull it off, some can't. TL isn't one of them. Black spray tint or black lamin-x tint is by far the cheapest and easiest way to turn a good looking car into a ruined car.

Your TL-S already comes from the factory with internally blacked out housing (base model TL headlights have shiny chrome inside), and yet you still decide to slap on more black tint to the exterior cover of the headlight housing?

Also you can deny it all you want, but the truth is black tinted headlights and tailights DO REDUCE LIGHT OUTPUT. How can you not tell there is a significant difference in light output by just looking at the picture you have of your daytime running lights? It clearly looks pretty dim and you were standing at what, 5 feet away? Imagine 50 feet. Imagine 500 feet. DRL is supposed to help other motorists see your car during the day even at a great distance.

Sorry, but I just cringe when I see people doing this to their already fine stock headlights or tails.

NetoAzul

I like that a lot. looks good OP.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Ian, I like the look on a NBP. I did this originally on my Type S, but I went with the 1/2 tints. This will severely hamper your headlight output. See how it is-you may need to adjust to a 1/2 tint.

Noober

iTrader: (7)

Acura604

Remove the tint. Type-S headlights are already so sexy. Absolutely no reason to mod them.

UA6

Meh..

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Ugly.

you're hiding the beautiful projectors.
if you really want to change the way your head lights look, do it the right way, and open them up to customize them.

the way it sits now, it does look cheap. something like a mustang or a civic would do.

P.s. Im in houston and we're having a meet on the 21st of oct.
Get in touch with one of the houston members, so we can show you what a REAL head light looks like.

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

tough crowd...

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Dew it like this...

ebelp

^Whore. He's got a Type-S already, so his headlight housings already look great since it's all smoked on the inside from the factory. The headlight tint looks cheap/ricey/trashy IMO, but hey, I'm not driving it.

Also, funny user name, OP. Why not just choose "Ian" or something along those lines?

thenamesian

i honestly did not expect this volume of responses on this but i appreciate the honest feedback. so far i am getting a resounding you're "gay"/you're an "asshole for ruining perfectly fine headlights" opinion on these.

the level of safety that the DRLs provide was not my top concern. as i said before: headlight output at night is perfectly fine and i hardly notice a difference. obviously the tint is going to reduce the output - i'd be stupid to think otherwise but the difference is negligible.

i'm going to leave them on for now and at least see how they cure over the next 2 weeks. once i get my CREE LED DRLs (go ahead and crucify me on the CREE decision as well, if you must) i might take off the Lamin-X.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^i thought the main consensus was that they are ugly.

thenamesian

i believe that exact adjective was primarily your consensus.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

man, stop being a tight wad and come to the houston meet at bear creek on the 21st.
we have a few people running modified headlights, and they LOOK sick as hell.
WAAAAY better than yours.

pbmike101

i honestly hate smoked lights, they just make the car look like trash, and if you want smoked ill trade you my normal lights for your type-s ones

Ruby

I'm definitely not a fan, but hey it's not my ride.

thenamesian

how am i being a tight wad? thanks for the invite but i'll pass.

i'm going to reevaluate these covers once i get the CREE LED DRLs - maybe add some clear Lamin-X for protection in place of the gunsmoke. thanks for the opinions folks.

350

iTrader: (4)

+1 on the tough crowd stuff... I do like the look, but I prefer blacked out inside, it is starting to get a little played out. I've been thinking about doing a light smoke and not blacked out, honestly I kinda prefer output/performance over looks I probably wont. My last daily driver, I had a Trailblazer SS, and I had a black insert instead of grey and it looked way meaner, the housing looked darker but the lens was clear.

Something like this would look way better IMHO
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-2008-AC...f1ee05&vxp=mtr

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

i could see maybe doing it to 04-08 base lights but not sure whats the point being you have type s lights already...ruined a perfectly good headlight IMO

pwr2panda

Be careful..dark tint on the headlight lens can cause spider cracks in the surface of the lens due to improper heating/cooling of the lenses. I've got them on my head and tail lights...

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

damn dude i hate that shit and then they get mad because you got too close for not braking in time