TxRx8

Damn, I guess 8 headlights are shut pretty tight! Oh well, good luck on that bud. If you do find a way to do it with out damaging the housings let me know, I need to clear out some nasty inside film on mine. :D



Here's the link to another headlight mod, towards the middle there's an explanation on how to seperate the lenses. Maybe this one will help.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384488

truemagellen

headlights are easy, tailights are shut damn tight...the guys who did the 'angel eyes' mod for the headlights got them apart no problem

TxRx8

My bad, I thought the head's were giving you troulble. Well, is there anything I need to know before I do mine? I really want my headlights to look decent again.

truemagellen

the nasty film is covered in a TSB, the dealership should replace the headlight housing/lense FOR FREE

RX8SpdDmn

Handon,
What kind of detrimental effect did you find on the light output with the smoked tint on the lights? Do you still see the color and clarity of the xenon lights?

The high beams are halogen bulbs, like the foglights. Have you found that running your high beams has overheated the film? I'd think that, as long as you're moving, the air would pull enough heat away to keep them cool.

Thanks

TxRx8

I tried going to those bastards, and the service manager said that they cant replace them until the headlights are completely covered in the "film." To the point where the headlights are useless in other words. I think my warranty is almost up too, so by the time that happens I'll be **** out of luck. I've been looking for that TSB to prove they need to do replace them but I've had no luck. I hate my dealership.

truemagellen

you need to go to a new dealership, these guys are idiots

here just print this out and show them lots have had the problem:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/getting-new-05-headlights-installed-63482/

TxRx8

Sweet, thanks alot bud.

handon3

RX8SpdDmn, the color and clairty of the xeon lights still shines through but it is not a bright, so it's a decision as to weather or not the style and looks are more important then the brightness? I think it's looks sweet, and this last weekend I but on a new grill, oil cooler covers, and lower piece that were chrome (another e-bay purchase- The Grill Guy) and now it looks really cool with the lights tinted because there is a lot of crome to off set it. Besides when I drive with my fodlights on it is plenty bright for me (30yrs old/drive w glasses @ nite) and I don't have perfect vision, but it looks bad ***-- My 8 / I never thought about the high beams being halogen, I will keep that in mind-- Thanks RX8SpdDmn


FYI to others- I replaced my inside door lights and map lights (194) to blue led lights lights I got off e-bay ($12 for 4) and It looks sweet ! I have the blue led footwell lights to match.

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

Were they LED or Xenon interior light bulbs? I would think the LED ones would not be very bright.

I installed the "Xenon" bulbs for the interior the kit was like $29 and has just slightly less output than the stock interior bulbs but give the interior a cleaner look because it is not yellowish colored light.

I'm glad I switched them out and have no thoughts of switching them back.

DontPassTheFence

i tinted my grand am's tail lights in a similar method, using tint spray. yes the finish was originally flat black, but some fine wet sanding and 3 clear coats later, I have quite the shine that has lasted for 6 months now, no fading :D

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

^^ That looks nice on a black car.

So you painted the outside of the tail lights?

DontPassTheFence

yep, just the outside since pontiac thought it would be great if the tailight was indestructable and the coloring (red black and white) was impossible to get off. So i just covered it all up. IIRC, I used 1 full can of VHT's Niteshades Spray Tint. I Wetsanded the hell out of the lenses, then put down 5 thin, even layers of spray tint; then waited overnight for it to cure, wetsanded it in the morning, put on 3 even layers of clearcoat, wetsanding lightly between each coat of clearcoat to get out all the imperfections. It took forever, but IMO, it worked flawlessly,and on a black car, nothing is better

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

Truemagellan, new plan for the tail lights?

That looks pretty smooth on the Grand Am.

'cept we just want to dull the chrome inside not the lights.

truemagellen

too many projects me go crazy

SEVENplus1

haha yeah man those are really clean headlight covers

Mikelikes2drive

sevenplus... no pics yet?

ddark

This looks pretty darn good...how exactly do you fine wet sand if you don't mind me asking?

lazi

im gonna be doing this.. hopefully next week

truemagellen

there are two DIYs on wet sanding, one for the entire car and another one part of a scratch removal DIY I made

both in DIY sectino

truemagellen

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-removing-scratches-clear-colored-plastics-resins-headlights-etc-71424/

DontPassTheFence

thanks for the compliments, I never get tired of compliments on these lights :D One of the best DIYs Ive ever done.

Also, yea, I see the problem with the 8's and the chrome inside the tailights, if those could be ripped open without destroying anything, you could paint the inside of the housings black and then it would look pretty damn good, I bet.