cob1980 Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 (edited) Alright Z'ers... I've been guilty of having these facelift headlights stashed away in my garage for the past year which I've wanted to modify but for various reasons I have not done so as yet. What I have done is nearly sort out the lenses as they were quite heavily scratched...I'd say they are about 80% done. I really want to get them fitted now so I thought I'd start a thread as there doesn't appear to be too much information out there on this subject so may be helpful to others. The main reason I haven't got them done is deciding exactly what I want and what parts I need to buy. I'm thinking halo's, blue demon eyes, gloss back internals, and chrome projector shroud. There are other options to such as STI-R (clear) lens, iron-man mod, different colour top corner LEDs. I'm still undecided on: - How much of the inside to have gloss black (I have read there can be issues with paint bubbling on the part below lens shroud) - If I should leave the amber LEDs as they are but hook them up the indicator bulb or... - ...change the LEDs to the same white colour as the halos and leave them connected to the side lights... - ...and if I do that I could ditch the standard side light bulb? - Whether to get CCFL Halo or LED type And I don't know what or where I should buy the halos from, and what compnents I need to do the demon eyes. And finally should I tackle it myself... or get a pro (thinking RSV Graphics) to do them for me. That's where I'm at Iain. Edited July 8, 2017 by cob1980 Images Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strudul Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Do this: As for whether to DIY, personally I would. The mods themselves are very easy, the only scary part is taking the headlight assembly apart and resealing it properly. Though it might be worth getting it doing professionally just for a warranty on the resealing bit, especially considering that Z headlights aren't cheap to replace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15UL T Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 (edited) I did these myself. I'd say give it ago. I got my Painter to paint the parts and I sources various leds and halos from eBay to see what worked best Let me know if the video works Edited May 11, 2017 by P15UL T 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 Do this: As for whether to DIY, personally I would. The mods themselves are very easy, the only scary part is taking the headlight assembly apart and resealing it properly. Though it might be worth getting it doing professionally just for a warranty on the resealing bit, especially considering that Z headlights aren't cheap to replace Yes I considered doing that too (more options!), looks well done but I don't know if I'm that keen just something not quite right to me on the 350z perhaps it's just the shape of the headlight I don't know. It's normally the type of job I would love to tackle myself but as you said it's the pulling apart, sealing etc. and I have a habit of braking plastic tabs lol. Thinking about it now; perhaps a half/half solution would be best. I could get RSV pull them apart and leave the innards with them to spray up (I'm rubbish at painting). I could then work on the insides until I am happy with that, then take them back to be re-sealed by them! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strudul Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 (edited) Sequentials make me all tingly in my special place, regardless of the car. Sounds like a plan Edited May 11, 2017 by Strudul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 (edited) I did these myself. I'd say give it ago. I got my Painter to paint the parts and I sources various leds and halos from eBay to see what worked best Let me know if the video works Wow..pretty impressive, well done! Am I being OCD thinking the manufacturers should make the lights long enough to go right into the corners? Yer definitely got to get someone else to do the painting. At least if I do the rest then I get to try out different LED's and what not until I feel it's right. Sequentials make me all tingly in my special place, regardless of the car. Sounds like a plan I'm probably just being an old f@rt. I think I'll have a warm fuzzy feeling when I finally get these done especially if I can do some of the leg work. OK so first thing, I'll see if I can get the light's booked in at RSV to get them pulled apart... Watch this space Edited May 11, 2017 by cob1980 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted May 30, 2017 Author Share Posted May 30, 2017 (edited) After a little research mainly on the American forums I decided to be brave and pull the headlights apart myself. Deffo a brown pants moment... Tips for anyone thinking of doing this: 1) 100 degrees Centigrade is enough heat to soften the glue 2) Protect the headlight from touching the sides of the oven 3) Took me 3 attempts to pull it apart, 5 mins in the oven at a time 4) Take your time! I managed to do it... no damage. I still can't decide on the finish. Also I have read if you blackout the reflector directly beneath the projector is can melt even with high temp paint. Just done the one headlight for now until I decide this and order all the parts I need. Edited July 8, 2017 by cob1980 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strudul Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 I reckon you should be fine if you use decent VHT paint. They are often rated up to 650°C and designed to be used on BBQs and exhaust manifolds, which I'd have thought get significantly hotter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 I reckon you should be fine if you use decent VHT paint. They are often rated up to 650°C and designed to be used on BBQs and exhaust manifolds, which I'd have thought get significantly hotter. Agree - I found a post on another forum that said the cause of the melting is actually the STi-R lens mod, if the sun is at the right angle it shines through the lens and on to the reflector melting it. I wasn't that fussed about the STi-R lens so definitely leaving that one out now. So yes as you say VHT should be fine on the rest of the lens housing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted June 7, 2017 Author Share Posted June 7, 2017 (edited) First mod done, ordered white LEDs off ebay to replace the amber ones. Cost £1.89 for 20 and only took 15 mins to fit. Edited July 8, 2017 by cob1980 Images 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 Bump 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 57 minutes ago, davey_83 said: Bump Is that a virtual kick up the arse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 Since my last post I have pulled apart the other headlight, and sent the innards to Paintmodz for a little tinkering... a little progress just no photos as yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted August 23, 2017 Author Share Posted August 23, 2017 I've been very busy with this over the past couple of weeks. I was hoping to have them done and ready for the Japanses Performance Show last weekend but sadly I am still waiting on a couple of parts shipped from Jap... er China. I picked up the internal components from Paintmodz, the quality of the finish is spot on, so I am really pleased with these: As you can see I decided on carbon dip for the main part, gloss black for the middle section, and half gloss black for the indicator. Out of time this eve to write any more... more tomorrow hopefully... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15UL T Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Looking great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobie140 Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 These look great. No matter how many times I read about putting their lights in the oven and it working i'd still be bricking it to do it myself Can't wait to see them finished Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted August 24, 2017 Author Share Posted August 24, 2017 (edited) 20 hours ago, P15UL T said: Looking great 13 hours ago, scobie140 said: These look great. No matter how many times I read about putting their lights in the oven and it working i'd still be bricking it to do it myself Can't wait to see them finished Thanks chaps. Haha... yep they are a little expensive to replace if you melt them! A little more of an update... I'm not a big fan of having the halo on the outside of the projector housing so wondered if it were possible to put them on the inside of the housing as there is a small gap. I bought a pair of 90mm CCFL halos, these were are fraction too small for the projector. A hour or so of filing later I got one to fit. The good thing with putting them on the inside is that they will illuminate the opaque part. I plan on wiring these up to the side lights. I think the effect looks pretty good. Not as bright as a full on halo but good for sidelights. You can see on the last photo above the paint is a little thin in places so I will give the inside a coat of paint to stop the light leaking through. Next I bought 10x 5mm blue LEDs. Could only find room for 4 on each lamp, and they are not as bright as I hoped. Decided I will wire these up to the courtesy lights to give a cool blue light when locking and unlocking the car. I've ordered a pair of bluetooth LED kits from China just for show use. I'll update this thread when they arrive.... Iain. Edited August 24, 2017 by cob1980 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted September 5, 2017 Author Share Posted September 5, 2017 Bluetooth LED kits have arrived from China... The LEDs are on metal strips which you can just trim down to suit. I've fitted one inside the projector housing, and one on the outside. Here's a completed unit (finally)... I decided to fit a discreet On-Off-On switch to the side of each headlight unit. This will switch between the street legal 4 side LEDs + Halo, Off (or side light bulb if present), and bluetooth LEDs. Sneak preview! Chuffed with how this is coming together, taking me an age but I think it'll be well worth the time. Now to do the other headlight, fully test them, then back in the oven! Iain. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted September 17, 2017 Author Share Posted September 17, 2017 Finally got one of them finished... !! Here's new vs old prefacelift... Had some issues with the other one - managed to crack one of the halos and bluetooth LEDs packed up so waiting again for parts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobie140 Posted September 17, 2017 Share Posted September 17, 2017 Looks much better than the OEM light before you've even light it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cob1980 Posted September 20, 2017 Author Share Posted September 20, 2017 On 17/09/2017 at 22:08, scobie140 said: Looks much better than the OEM light before you've even light it up! Thanks buddy, yep I'm really pleased with the outcome, and it's in-keeping with my standard-ish look i.e. mods that are not too "loud". I think it'll really transform the front of the Z and bring it a little more up to date too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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