Paint Headlights BLACK

[der baron]

This title sounds strange - allow me to elaborate:

I own a NB8A, and the lights are looking a little dated. My friend who has a ScoobyDoo WRX, removed his headlight cluster from the car, placed them in his (mum's) fan forced oven at 100°C - this made the plastic soft enough so he could 'pop' them open. Then he pained the parts that are not needed to be reflective. Plastic primer + black paint.

He then heated the light back up - thanks to mum's oven, and popped them back together.

Has anyone done something like this for the NB MX5, how does it look, and how did it go?

[der baron]

to re-describe: making my NB8A headlights look more like SE headlights - by pulling them apart and painting them

[bruce]

I think MXHEVN may have done it before. Massive PIA to get open. You have to worry about future leaking, which would put me right off the idea.

[Jeo]

MXHEVN did it, have a search through some of his posts and I'm sure you'll find it.

Getting them apart isn't hard at all, I've done a variety of lights. A heat gun is far easier to use than an oven though.

[der baron]

hmm, found this article in an older post.

http://www.altezzaclub.org.au/files/Pai ... lights.pdf

i'm concerned about leakage post work...

I'm gonna do it guys! I will start work next week

[der baron]

MXHEVN did it, have a search through some of his posts and I'm sure you'll find it.

Getting them apart isn't hard at all, I've done a variety of lights. A heat gun is far easier to use than an oven though.

so, you heat-gun - lug by lug?

[Jeo]

Just slowly work your way around the edges, it should be fairly self explanatory how it comes apart when it's in front of you.

I've done the front indicators/parkers on mine and have no leakage issues. Just make sure you heat the glue as much as you did the first time when you put them back together again.

[Mr Morlock]

A few points to consider. The link is well written and the operator was thorough but if nothing else it does underline that headlamps were not made as service items apart from globe replacement.

The hot melt glue is an engineering hmg- you cannot buy it. Provided you do not lose any and it is distributed evenly on reassembly it should be ok.

Headlamps do get hot so using a good quality paint and primer it is a good plan. Consider if you want a gloss paint. Not sure about heat and effect on the bezel over time?

The painted bezel I think does look quite smart though many OE headlamps still stay with the chrome look ( metallising) - it depends on your taste.

[sprx3]

her you go, on a evo gold nb8a

http://img196.imageshack.us/i/13032009389.jpg/

http://img43.imageshack.us/i/13032009383.jpg/

[der baron]

wow, sweet. that looks great, and is what I am trying to achieve.

What method did you use tp pull the headlights apart?

A. the Mrs' Oven
B. a heatgun
C. the Great Australian Sunshine + screwdriver

thanks.

[der baron]

this is a good source from our REX friends:

http://www.rexnet.com.au/forum/index.ph ... &hl=orange

[sprx3]

wow, sweet. that looks great, and is what I am trying to achieve.

What method did you use tp pull the headlights apart?

A. the Mrs' Oven
B. a heatgun
C. the Great Australian Sunshine + screwdriver

thanks.

i used an oven & oven mitts from memory 70 deg for about 15 minutes & it comes apart easy, then when its all painted back in the oven & put it back together, took me about an hour all up...

[Crapweasel]

I have a link for the NB, but all of the useful pictures have been removed from Photobucket by the owner... but the instructions are still there, so this may be of assistance. (temps are in degrees F, so don't forget to convert!!)

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4616717

Hope this helps!!

If you're going for the look of the SE - don't go black, follow the instructions in the link, sand the plastic back, prime it, do a couple of coats of gloss silver, then sand lightly again. Then go to your local model shop, and ask them for some smoke paint for plastic. It'll be a lot closer.