I really want to chrome my head lights but chrome them for real is something that nobody can do here in my country.

 

If i am not mistaken someone in here has used chrome paint for the job.

 

Do u think its a good idea to use chrome paint or am i going to have any issues later on?

I said this before on this topic but I cant see how the chrome tape can make any difference to how much USABLE light is projected down the road. They do look better, and they might well put out more light, in a haphazard, irregular sort of way. But the light needs to be reflected out of the light, forward and down the road, and putting tape where it is put can not do this. IMHO of course.

Mark, the tape is just there as a vehicle to provide a reflective surface. Whether the reflectiveness is stuck on or sprayed on, it makes no difference. If it was the case that the extra reflection would cause uncontrolled light delivery, there would not be a marked improvement in the lights on the road, where it is most needed.

 

All the new cars have chrome effect reflectors. Manufacturers would not do this for nothing as it is an extra cost to production. The fact is that the reflective film makes an improvement and I have witnessed the results today. I would more than happy for to meet up with anyone and compair standard with the upgrade.

 

Not only does it give you a better light source but the front of the car looks a lot better too. Wouldn't you agree Macca?

Hello Cos,

 

Did you take any pictures/video with one upgraded light and one normal?

 

Vijay

not yet mate - I rebuilt my pc last week so i need to install the software on again??

I did a mock up of this a while back. From a couple of different angles. The red car is Jeff TT's which has had the upgrade done. The silver car is mine which hasn't (the right hand pics). But I photoshopped Jeff's headlight onto mine (the left hand pics).

 

Personally, I think the silver looks better where the car is a contrasting colour - like Jeff's or other darker colours. I didn't like the look for mine so haven't done it.

 

As an ex-physicist, I find it hard to see why reflective material stuck where it is can have any appreciable effect on a shaped beam coming from where it does. Someone (Hairsy?) once posted his theory that the general clean that the lenses and bulb surrounds get during the bacofoil upgrade is the major source of any benefit. This seem logical.

 

Anyhow, be interested to see Cos's real pics rather than these faked ones.

 

Cheers - Gio

 

Gio

 

I agreed with your scepticism before I did the upgarde as JeffTT had told me that the lights would need a good clean. However, I was suprised by the lack or dirt/dust on the black reflector insert, glass and lense. The only thing that I think that it could be, and this part is pure speculation, is that the extra light produced by the reflectiveness of the film within the headlight, is helped in its direction by the covering glass. Obviously I can not support this statement at this stage but regardless, there was a major difference overall.

 

Please don't take offence to this statement as I am very interested in finding the true answer.

 

However, one more thing that has quized me is, if you look at cars driving towards you at night, you can usually tell the older cars for the newer cars. Baring this in mind and excluding cars that have those Zenon 600W halogen laser beam lights, or whatever they are, bulbs have not really changed that much over the years so why the vast difference in intensity of light. Sure, there are difference styles of bulbs but they are 99% of the time 55W but alot of the older cars apear to be duller and and a yellowey tint.

 

Anyway, its food for thought. All theories appreciated or even better, an web demonstrated experiment with quantified results, aside from the Z headlights.

 

 

Cos

No offence at all Cos - to look at this more deeply I'd have to find a cutaway of the lens / headlamp unit and draw out the optics which is just a little nit-picky and pedantic. Not like me at all lol :D

 

Whatever the case, I've heard from enough people that this upgrade works that even I believe it - even if I'm not certain exactly why. The test would be to do the whole process to two lights but only put foil in one of them. But why bother?

 

For the older cars being yellow, I have a dim (!) memory of something called colour temperature. The hotter the filament, the "bluer" the light - i.e. further up the spectrum. In fact, I think this may be the same thing as black-body radiation.

 

Imagine a black body (one which reflects no light at all). Now heat it up to 50C. It will be radiating heat (not light). Heat it up still further and it will start to glow with a range of frequencies starting at Red and including more of the spectrum as you heat it up further.

 

So the higher the temperature of your filament, the whiter the light will appear. One of the ways to make your filament glow at a higher temperature is to make it thinner so the resistance is higher. This makes it more fragile.

 

So one of the things you need to do is to make better alloys to make your filaments with.

 

So older bulbs were made with thicker filaments which are slightly yellower than the thinner ones which newer technology makes possible. Maybe. ;)

 

Anyhow - all this coming from someone who remembers 6v bike headlights made by "Joe Lucas - Price of Darkness" hehehe

 

Cheers - Gio

So what kind of bacofoil is that?

 

Is the same one used for the kitchen? Is there any kind of bacofoil that is like a sticker? I mean doesnt need glue?

 

Any brands of bacofoil?

 

P.S Silly questions but I want to do it in the right way :)

Hi NitroPow - sorry for the confusion but the use uf the word "bacofoil" is just a joke ;)

 

There is a particular type of soft self-adhesive foil available in DIY stores which is what Jeff uses. More details are here or yo ucould e-mail him directly from the Zedworld site or someone here may know the part number!

 

Sorry again - Gio

from Homebase, code 780153. It's a 1.45m x 45cm roll.

 

Vijay

OK, thanks Cos. I am mor than happy to accept your word. And they do look loads better. Not sure I am patient enough to do it though.

 

Tis a beee-otch of a job to do though, a knuckle skinner and no mistake.

 

I think it is 80/20 cosmetic/illuminative but as someone who drove on Isle of Wight B roads, well D roads on both stock Zed lights and upgraded ones, I say go for it.

 

But it is a bugger of a job though:)

man I miss that car:( .....

 

I think Im gonna buy another 300zx.... best of both, hell ALL worlds.

Damn your right, it DOES look like a Mondeo ;)

Well Glen,

 

The way she's been behaving of late - I may be open to offers before long!!!:D :D Nah, just joshing - how could you fail to fall in love with such a beauty!:)

 

Talking of headlights - my hat is off to you, the bacofoil conversion has stood the test of time, albeit that after a UK model, the headlights seemed almost pointless ... even with the conversion in place. God only knows what J-specs are like without.

 

Just last week I've treated her to PIAA super ice white bulbs, 85w brightness with 55w current draw - they are the muts nuts and no mistake ... Let there be light - and there is now!:)

 

CheerZ,

John.

Howdee John,

 

She'll be alright, she always is.

 

Sorry to hear you are having strife, hope it all becomes good soon mate,

 

Glen

Cheers Glen,

 

I'm sure you're right (well, I hope you are!) ... she'll be fine, I think, once Mandella pulls his corporate thumb out of his ass and gets my friggin relay in, as promised!!

 

Thinking of getting a daily-driver to reduce the strain, then the batmobile can lurk safely in the garage until unleashed at the weekends:D

 

CheerZ,

John.

Originally posted by senna

 

Tis a beee-otch of a job to do though, a knuckle skinner and no mistake.

 

I think it is 80/20 cosmetic/illuminative but as someone who drove on Isle of Wight B roads, well D roads on both stock Zed lights and upgraded ones, I say go for it.

 

But it is a bugger of a job though:)

 

Hehe the real answer is in the pic!!! Check out the parts that haven't been bacofoiled. Both reflectors look considerably brighter on the foiled headlight. The others however, are very dull. Wonder where all that extra light is coming from???? ;)

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

Errr. The picture was taken with flash photography digital camera.

 

Thats where the extra light was coming from;)

:p At last - the videos are here.

 

However, they are a bit gurthy and I am strugling to deposit them anywhere for you fine people to view them.

 

There are 6 files averaging 9Mb each.

Originally posted by vijay

from Homebase, code 780153. It's a 1.45m x 45cm roll.

 

Vijay

 

Vijay..Are you sure this is the code?

 

I check their web site (Advance Search) and couldnt find anything

 

Does it have a name? Or can you double check the code for me?

 

Thanks

Just fyi I called Homebase and quoted the number - they didn't recognise it. :confused:

Just to clear up the confusion over the chrome film I think maybe Home base have changed the supplier for the film, I have one here and the info on the packet is as follows:

 

Alkor Deco Design

 

Klebefolie

 

Self Adhesive Foil 1.5m long x 45 cm wide

 

Bar code number 4 006765 780153

 

780153 UNI SILBER-GL

 

Hope that helps.

 

Jeff TT

So in summary nice looking but no measureable improvement in light on the road!

 

Logical Jim. A reflector needs to be behind and above the light source to reflect it forward and down.

Originally posted by Jeff TT

Just to clear up the confusion over the chrome film I think maybe Home base have changed the supplier for the film, I have one here and the info on the packet is as follows:

 

Alkor Deco Design

 

Klebefolie

 

Self Adhesive Foil 1.5m long x 45 cm wide

 

Bar code number 4 006765 780153

 

780153 UNI SILBER-GL

 

Hope that helps.

 

Jeff TT

 

Jeff, with this information can I get this from Home base ?

 

I am from Cyprus and I have to send a friend of mine (he is in London) to buy it for me.