DIY: Smoked HELLA/Bosch euro elipsoids.
We all know this sweet mod making home made smoked headlights.
It is pretty much easy, but doing it for the first time, please get a spare pair of headlights as you might break the glass of one of the headlights by accident.
What you need:
- 2 pairs of euro ellipsoid headlights (Hella/Bosch, doesn't matter)
- 1 tube of black silicone for glass/plastic
- Exacto knife
- 200 and 400 sandpaper
- 1 can of Black Matte or Black metallic spray.
- Source of really hot air (hot air pistol or something)
- A pair of metal plates to make the "cross" section of the inner headlights.
- A big flat screwdriver.
Doing the good stuff.
OK, let's start. Grab a mate to chit-chat, bring some beers and a pair of chairs.
Release each headlight from the height adjustment screws. It's very easy to do it.
You will want to get out the elipsoid out from the low beams! They are held by 2 screws. Unscrew them&twist the whole thing to unclip it, then pull it back gently.
When you have 2x2 low and high beams, you are ready to go.
Starting with the Low beams:
Apply heat gently to the glass with the hot air source. You don't want to break it! If that happens, you have a spare pair of headlights, but dont rely on that.
Once heated, grab the screwdriver and try gently to pull out the glass. If it don't start to come out, apply some more heat, but be careful!
At some point you should be able to get the glass out and finish like this:
Now grab the sandpaper and begin with 200 to sand down the plastic cover. Proceed with 400 to smooth it perfectly. You will end up like this:
Now spray the cover with 2 or 3 coats of paint and let it dry.
As you can see, the factory glue remains on the glass and on the plastic part of the low beam. With the exacto knife grind down all the glue possible. You want to seal the headlights perfectly, don't you?
This is the exact moment to inspect the lenses and the reflector of the headlight. Clean the lenses but don't touch with fingers the reflector surface as it might fall down! Use a soft cotton to clean the reflector from dust and etc. but don't apply pressure!
Moving to the high beams.
If you don't already have the "cross" plates, here is the template for them: http://www.r3vlimited.com/Hella.pdf
Spray them black with the same technique as the low beams.
One very important thing! If you want to copy the original Smoked Hella look, don't forget to spray the metal cup covering the bulb on the High beams too! If you don't do that, you will end you with shitty high beams!
This is wrong in so many ways!
You have a choice - glue the crosses to the high beam, or make holes for the stock dents as you can see on the picture.
When ready, seal it tightly with the silicone and put some pressure on the glasses, to seal properly (use books or whatever you find to apply pressure) Let it dry for one night and then assembly everything back together.
Now, enjoy your pretty headlights and mock your friends with stock white headlights!
Photos: Google, E30Tech.com
It is pretty much easy, but doing it for the first time, please get a spare pair of headlights as you might break the glass of one of the headlights by accident.
What you need:
- 2 pairs of euro ellipsoid headlights (Hella/Bosch, doesn't matter)
- 1 tube of black silicone for glass/plastic
- Exacto knife
- 200 and 400 sandpaper
- 1 can of Black Matte or Black metallic spray.
- Source of really hot air (hot air pistol or something)
- A pair of metal plates to make the "cross" section of the inner headlights.
- A big flat screwdriver.
Doing the good stuff.
OK, let's start. Grab a mate to chit-chat, bring some beers and a pair of chairs.
Release each headlight from the height adjustment screws. It's very easy to do it.
You will want to get out the elipsoid out from the low beams! They are held by 2 screws. Unscrew them&twist the whole thing to unclip it, then pull it back gently.
When you have 2x2 low and high beams, you are ready to go.
Starting with the Low beams:
Apply heat gently to the glass with the hot air source. You don't want to break it! If that happens, you have a spare pair of headlights, but dont rely on that.
Once heated, grab the screwdriver and try gently to pull out the glass. If it don't start to come out, apply some more heat, but be careful!
At some point you should be able to get the glass out and finish like this:
Now grab the sandpaper and begin with 200 to sand down the plastic cover. Proceed with 400 to smooth it perfectly. You will end up like this:
Now spray the cover with 2 or 3 coats of paint and let it dry.
As you can see, the factory glue remains on the glass and on the plastic part of the low beam. With the exacto knife grind down all the glue possible. You want to seal the headlights perfectly, don't you?
This is the exact moment to inspect the lenses and the reflector of the headlight. Clean the lenses but don't touch with fingers the reflector surface as it might fall down! Use a soft cotton to clean the reflector from dust and etc. but don't apply pressure!
Moving to the high beams.
If you don't already have the "cross" plates, here is the template for them: http://www.r3vlimited.com/Hella.pdf
Spray them black with the same technique as the low beams.
One very important thing! If you want to copy the original Smoked Hella look, don't forget to spray the metal cup covering the bulb on the High beams too! If you don't do that, you will end you with shitty high beams!
This is wrong in so many ways!
You have a choice - glue the crosses to the high beam, or make holes for the stock dents as you can see on the picture.
When ready, seal it tightly with the silicone and put some pressure on the glasses, to seal properly (use books or whatever you find to apply pressure) Let it dry for one night and then assembly everything back together.
Now, enjoy your pretty headlights and mock your friends with stock white headlights!
Photos: Google, E30Tech.com
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