Kudos goes to Medallionman for an amazing guide he sent to me without request to my email address.

 

I now hate Butyl/Tar and it's the worst stuff I've ever worked with.

Got through it though and got most of it off the car.

 

 

Here is how far I've gotten so far...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The heating for 5 mins didn't work for me.

I went for a bake of around 7mins in the oven itself.

The lights glided apart like butter.

 

No marks on the lenses and no cracks etc.

Well happy.

 

Watch this space on the mod I'll be doing.

Sweet. I'll get some if not but they've been pretty good so far.

They're SMD too.

 

 

I'll keep you posted bud.

What do your rears look like?

Completely stock genuine 99 tails, I did have full smd and led strips in there for everything but noticed some failure and didn't want anymore grief from them so they were ditched.

Bummer.

That's the only thing I have been thinking about... Terry agreed too the other night.

 

So just in case decided on running silicon and getting rid of the butyl. Defo don't like that at all.

Just an update..

 

The perspex has gone back to the people I bought it from so they can fabricate it and bend it into shape to fix on the back of the light inserts.

 

Had major trouble measuring this out and cutting it so instead of wasting a 700x700 £29 worth of material he is going to sort this for me.

 

Will post results end of the week.

But happier now... seems to have beaten me this one looool.

 

I am going to make some white cardboard cuts for the LED strips to mount on and cover them in a silver mirror material (maybe)... depends on the current light scatter. I kind of like it so may not bother with the silver (probably foil).

 

Hope everybody is good =)

Just an update..

 

The perspex has gone back to the people I bought it from so they can fabricate it and bend it into shape to fix on the back of the light inserts.

 

Had major trouble measuring this out and cutting it so instead of wasting a 700x700 £29 worth of material he is going to sort this for me.

 

Will post results end of the week.

But happier now... seems to have beaten me this one looool.

 

I am going to make some white cardboard cuts for the LED strips to mount on and cover them in a silver mirror material (maybe)... depends on the current light scatter. I kind of like it so may not bother with the silver (probably foil).

 

Hope everybody is good =)

OK so I've gone for a slightly darker look with a black cardboard backing.

Fitting the lenses tomorrow.

 

Here it is so far....

 

[/url]

 

 

[/url]

 

 

[/url]

 

 

[/url]

everyone is messing around with there lights? nobody worried about the E mark and your insurance well and truly being void in an accident??

My lenses are going back over them bud.

 

Cheers for the advise though.

lol, it's not all about the lenses, the bulbs are also part of it... we all know how difficult insurance companies can be when paying out (as has been stated just recently).

 

just be aware that you are taking a chance no matter how many MOT testers look at it and say OK.

Thing is how far will they go? Far enough to disassemble a light unit to decifier the bulbs used? Enough to check what ecu you've got or what turbos you've got, even far enough to check the diameter and brand of your pistons?

I'm not saying you shouldn't declare or that it's nothing to be concerned about but I'd like to think unless you made a serious mess it wouldn't go that far. At which point the insurance is your last worry as you'd be in jail/dead.

Cant see the issue realy, is better to have nice clean cut modern bright lights than old lenes and bulbs you cant see. you could say the same to front hids ect. if youve messed with you lights then i would get a letter from your local mot station saying they are fine fit for use and have been done correct. then give your insurence company a copy. no issues then.

Sure these are gonna look smoked when fitted, hope they're not too dark !!

 

Your top two strips are both the same ? So is one brake and the other tail ? If that's the case when the brake one is activated it won't show up any brighter is what I'm thinking.

 

I notice you have mounted the indicator strip on the lip so this should light up the chamber very well, not sure on the need for the cardboard though here, you could of just sprayed black the backs.

 

Also and finally, cardboard may well dry out over time and lose a bit of it's nature, I mounted all mine on white perspex, you might also want to use some silicone to hold stuff in place as hot glue is not flexible.

 

As for insurance, I would of thought highly unlikely it'll be an issue, unless your rear ended and they start looking really closely into their workings, especially if there is a witness report saying that lights weren't on or were dimly lit.

Another thing bumblebee what the hell you thinking in keeping these on the sofa, you obviously have a death wish with the wife cos once that black stuff is on, you'll have one eck of a problem removing it :thumbdown:.

These forums are very diverse aren't they.

I'm sure everything will be fine.

A lot of thought has gone into this and defiantly some of the legal issues about brightness in direct sun etc... Insurance and VOSA.

 

I like the idea of getting some sort of document from an MOT station.

 

I also agree and disagree with a lot here; I know you cannot please everybody... Each to thier own I say.

 

I'll put a few more pictures up with the results after they're back together :)

 

 

 

p.s:

 

No gf or wife... It's my mates couch and most of the butyl is gone

OK here goes.

 

Marmite moment lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

someone sone is going to come out with a craker of an idea i love all this positive work going on with the rear lights they look great. keep up the good work, thou i pos woulnt mount them on carboard cas it will break down quick with heat and possible cause a fire. but if thats just a template then spot on.

I did one shot in daylight...

I am in the process of wiring in a resistor to emulate the presence of a bulb filament. I think the relay is going to throw a wobbly otherwise.

 

Hope some of you like it.

Was the worst thing I ever did but was fun.

 

Just hope I don't see any steaming up or faliure on the LEDs.

 

 

 

Have a good xmas and new year everybody

:santa:

 

 

 

-----

This was done at my friends place as he has a decent kitchen side

Yup he is a messy sod loooool

Edited December 22, 201311 yr by oobumblebeeoo

Surprised you didn't add the 99 spec pin striping whilst you were at it.

 

Good effort for being different and doing it yourself.

Not too fussed on the indicator strip being only at the top, and something about the perspex just doesn't look right. I think it's because the top one is still dispersion perspex. The should both be the same material in my opinion.

Looking good there mate, as said-good effort. Have you worked out the brightness/function of the brake lights?

 

Well done.

Thing is how far will they go? Far enough to disassemble a light unit to decifier the bulbs used? Enough to check what ecu you've got or what turbos you've got, even far enough to check the diameter and brand of your pistons?

I'm not saying you shouldn't declare or that it's nothing to be concerned about but I'd like to think unless you made a serious mess it wouldn't go that far. At which point the insurance is your last worry as you'd be in jail/dead.

 

Crash investigators go a long way, even to see if the bulbs used are e marked, if rear ended doubt they will need to take apart the lense they would just see in. They even check to see if the bulb was on by looking at glass fibres that have melted to the bulbs element. They go into it in a big way,

 

The mot guy will have no idea what so ever if it is Oem or not so will always get the pass but it dosnt mean it right,

 

I love the idea and I know they are brighter and you can argue as much as you like with the investigator. If it's not as should be then you will be screwed,

 

Just food for thought lol

Crash investigators go a long way, even to see if the bulbs used are e marked, if rear ended doubt they will need to take apart the lense they would just see in. They even check to see if the bulb was on by looking at glass fibres that have melted to the bulbs element. They go into it in a big way,

 

The mot guy will have no idea what so ever if it is Oem or not so will always get the pass but it dosnt mean it right,

 

I love the idea and I know they are brighter and you can argue as much as you like with the investigator. If it's not as should be then you will be screwed,

 

Just food for thought lol

 

Think they would only do that if someone was injured though mate. When I had my argument with a crash barrier and lost, they didn't do much investigating and just paid up. If someone was killed though, they would go over every inch of it..

Was you the only car involved ?

Otsy1/Lexx:

 

Yeah had the same convo with Terry.

He loves the pinstripe and I think because it's standard it's what people are used to.

I love the 99 spec but funnily enough not the pinstripe. Weird I know.

I wanted the rid the orange carrots mostly but thought I'd have a go at LED conversion too.

 

On the top tail strip I put an inline 510ohm resistor on the positive line.

The stop bottom strip is soldered straight on the same as the amber indicator strip.

 

Figured the colour codes for the wiring:

Red wire with green stripe - stop

Green wire with red stripe - tail

Green wire with yellow stripe - indicator

 

So tail is about 25% dull I'd say now.

Will get some pictures after they go on the car.

 

 

Thanks

Was you the only car involved ?

 

yes mate.

Well that's why they didn't look at your car, if another car was involved then they would start to look into it a bit more