As you know, my Z is currently back in the bodyshop having things done to it. It may come as no surprise that I have elected to go with the moustache again. I have chosen a very nice metallic grey. My problem with this however is that the fog lights and indicators are a bright colour and don't blend in with the moustache.

 

Now half the problem could be solved with UK corner blanks. These look really nice, BUT the lenses are very different to the series 2 indicators which match the fog lights. So instead of using UK corner blanks drilled out, I have attempted to 'tone down' the contrast and bring them more in-line with that of the headlights and by default, they'll also blend in a little better with the moustache.

 

I don't like tint film at all and I sure as hell don't like tint spray and I want it to look as if it could have come from the factory like this! However, I have untilised some of that here! Anyway, this is what I've been doing.

 

Now I've only completed one fog light so far, I am currently working on an indicator lens which I have split.

 

Firstly, I removed the lens, heated the lens in the oven to soften the plastic and managed to work the corner tabs out without breaking them. Now my fog lights are not very old, so older ones might be more difficult.

 

 

Once that was done, I masked up ALL the glass, including the level adjuster screw (wanting to keep it OEM-esque you see) and blacked out all the visible plastic, which included the sections under the corner tabs.

 

I just used a normal satin paint for this. When I 'masked' the inside of the inside of glass, I pushed newspaper up under it as the glass curves round where you can't mask.

 

 

Next thing to do was do 'tone down' the visible glare of the fog light reflectors. I still wanted these to reflect, so I managed to get hold of some of this horrible stuff, that tacky light tinting spray that kids used to use to black their rear lights out. Actually this stuff is very good, all it really is is a tinted lacquer and it goes on very glossy.

 

 

I did about 3-4 light passes on both reflectors and made sure I covered the very corners as these would be the most visible through the lens. The reflector now took on a really glossy shadow-chrome, so it still has a good deal of reflective properties, something that I would have lost simply by painting it gloss black, which would have looked rubbish as I still wanted the reflector to be visible through the fog light so as to appear 'OEM type'.

 

 

Now fully assembled awaiting to be fitted onto the car, I am very happy with the results. NONE of the glass has been touched, it's all an effect of the colour of the backings.

 

 

 

I am currently working on my series 2 indicators. I considered using UK corner blanks, but as I have suggested earlier, the lens pattern does not match and the 'tone and contrast' wouldn't have matched the fog light, so I am employing the same ideas on these, hopefully, they'll look like the fog lights when complete!

 

Edited July 15, 201411 yr by Funkysi

Looks great mate.

 

Always looks better to tint the inside if the glass, especially if they are in good condition.

 

Peter

Next up...

 

 

Neons!!

Looks great mate.

 

Always looks better to tint the inside if the glass, especially if they are in good condition.

 

Peter

 

I haven't tinted the glass!!! lol

Does look very good tho, will be perfect on mine too, I'll do my headlight too

Yeah, looks clean that Si. I do wonder how affective the fog lights will be after that treatment though.

This is why I used a tinter rather than blacking them out; they're still highly reflective. I never use the fog lights anyway, but I can't imagine there'll be too much difference as the reflector only has a light coating. The photo of the lens was taken in a dark garage and it's still reflective and you can still see the reflector clearly through the fog light lens once all fitted back up.

Looks good to me and nice write up Si. Thanks for sharing.

Good work Si - i'm planning on putting the moustache on mine but won't have time before the weekend but was thinking of tinting the outside of the glass as well to go mega dark to match the dark grey of the moustache.

 

Will be interesting to see the outcome of this :)

Just completed an indicator. They are a little more challenging, just wet sanded and polished the lens too so it gives the same gloss as the glass on the fog light. I have managed to achieve what I set out to do and have them matching.

Edited July 15, 201411 yr by Funkysi
Grammar!

I haven't tinted the glass!!! lol

 

I meant inside of the glass (under/behind it) lol.

 

That being said, a friend of mine took his Camaro rear lenses apart and tinted the inside of the glass and they looked amazing.

 

Peter

Looks spot on Si - look forward to seeing the finished product in situe :)

Just completed an indicator. They are a little more challenging, just wet sanded and polished the lens too so it gives the same gloss as the glass on the fog light. I have managed to achieve what I set out to do and have them matching.

 

Looks good, what's the indicator and side light illumination output like now?

Great work Si.

I really want to do this with mine now. They will look so much better like that with my '99 spec indicatiors. How do you get them out of the bumper again? Is it from the screws at the front or go in throught the indicator hole?

I really want to do this with mine now. They will look so much better like that with my '99 spec indicatiors. How do you get them out of the bumper again? Is it from the screws at the front or go in throught the indicator hole?

 

Remove the indicator and you will see three fixing nuts.

Cool. Could be another job for the weekend. ;)

Looks good, what's the indicator and side light illumination output like now?

 

 

Not tested yet. When I get the car back on Thursday, I'll take some photos. I can't imagine the indicator will be any less as it's no different than the 99-spec indicator in essence. The side light has a super bright LED in it, so again, it shouldn't make a huge difference.

Before I sold it all - when I took the 99 spec lights apart to make them "clear" the reflector was chrome, and

the dark 99 spec tint was simply from the inner black plastic surround.

 

Interesting. Well, my reflectors have only had a light coating. Interesting to see whether light output has been impaired. I don't think it will have done to any noticeable degree as I wouldn't have done it.