Shaving/Deleting corner bumper reflectors

PT · Postby PT » Mon May 12, 2014 10:03 am

Hi All,
Has anyone successfully shaved or deleted the corner reflectors from the bumper? They are not required under ADR but the US does, hence, we got them too. I'm getting some paint work done shortly so was thinking about getting them colour coded, but would rather have them filled or removed completely somehow.

The only vehicles I've seen with no reflectors are on aftermarket bodykits. I prefer the clean lines of the standard bumpers, just without the reflectors.

Thanks
Paul

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Mon May 12, 2014 10:34 am

Remove, bog, sand -> paint. :wink:

noobee · Postby **noobee** » Mon May 12, 2014 11:40 am

are these part of the Australian design rules ie defectable?
Mick

trader · Postby **trader** » Mon May 12, 2014 2:18 pm

As I recall no.. but if you have them they must be orange reflectors not clear.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue May 13, 2014 12:57 am

The reflectors are an excellent safety feature. Tried and proven that reflectors work and still on virtually every rear combo lamp. In case anyone missed it the MX5 is a low profile hard to see car unlike the current blocks of flats sailing around. The blocks of flats are now usually bristling with lights. And yes side reflectors must be amber it is a std lighting reg.

malibu Q · Postby **malibu Q** » Tue May 13, 2014 2:07 am

Are they reflectors on all the Australian cars? Mine were just lenses and didn't reflect light. I didn't fill them into the bumper, only made them bolt on from behind and built up the level on the lens to match the bumper.

If you want to lose them totally, consider taking them to a bumper repair specialist and have the holes plastic welded up. Then bog, sand, prime, sand, paint.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Tue May 13, 2014 3:34 am

Don't bog the entire hole. What you want to do is get a spare na bumper from a wrec, cut out the shapes you want and plastic weld them to the existing refelector holes.
You can then sand over until smooth before bogging over the tiny gaps to make a smooth surface. This is the cleanest way to do it. If you bog the entire hole, vibration from the road may cause the bog to come out. Another issue is that the bog will sink over time and may cause a low section etc.
Only use bog to fill in tiny low areas of an already flat panel to smooth before painting.

Smacca · Postby **Smacca** » Tue May 13, 2014 1:12 pm

I toyed with the idea when I recently had my front bar resprayed during some minor crash damage repair. The panel beater also advised against bogging the holes as plastic front bars will flex when hitting speed humps, driveways, etc, but the bog won't. He convinced me that risk of the bog cracking or falling out wasn't worth the cost or effort.

noddi85 · Postby **noddi85** » Tue May 13, 2014 3:10 pm

I sanded the reflectors flat removed writing smooth surface etc. Then smeared fiberglass bog over the top sanded back to shape then a light smear of bog to sand back smooth. Has held up for the last 6 years well. Though as nanotech has said plastic weld or epoxide glue in some plastic would be a better solution.

malibu Q · Postby **malibu Q** » Fri May 16, 2014 1:54 am

Mr nanotech wrote:Don't bog the entire hole. What you want to do is get a spare na bumper from a wrec, cut out the shapes you want and plastic weld them to the existing refelector holes.
You can then sand over until smooth before bogging over the tiny gaps to make a smooth surface. This is the cleanest way to do it. If you bog the entire hole, vibration from the road may cause the bog to come out. Another issue is that the bog will sink over time and may cause a low section etc.
Only use bog to fill in tiny low areas of an already flat panel to smooth before painting.

Mr Nanotech has the right method. If I was doing this, I'd trim most of the plastic away that forms the lens mount on the bars to just leave oval shaped holes. Then I'd want to pay a tradesman to have the plastic welding done. I use a bumper repair shop regularly and he'd do it cheaper and better than I ever could. I'm thinking he'd charge about $150 for the four holes and they would return rough sanded with #40. I'd want to use a plastic filler designed for use on bumpers which is more flexible than the regular stuff.

BTW USDM Miatas have lights fitted in these. Not sure if they're running lights or park lights.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Sat May 17, 2014 3:54 am

USDM Miata's don't have the side markers, so the reflectors may well be bulbed with indicators.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Sun May 18, 2014 7:56 pm

Mr nanotech wrote:USDM Miata's don't have the side markers, so the reflectors may well be bulbed with indicators.

I think they're actually wired in with the parking lights in the US.

Think of it as a crap version of a truck with the orange side lights.

greenltd · Postby **greenltd** » Sun May 18, 2014 9:28 pm

Some recent volvos had similar yellow (front) and red (rear) lights

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk

Postby **Okibi** » Mon May 19, 2014 2:47 am

Yeah the US ones are red.

I have put bulbs in mine so they also work as indicators.

Mr Sexy · Postby **Mr Sexy** » Sat May 31, 2014 11:26 pm

I was just going to paint my reflectors so they at least blend in. I Don't see the point or more like my wallet doesn't in respraying a perfectly good bumper just to delete the reflectors.