Kitty Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 I came across a nifty looking mod here on SCoA about painting the inner casing of your headlights. Not the lights themselves nor the plastic cover, of course, just the inside. I think it looks really cool. I'd love to do this to my Smart when it comes in, but I was curious if there might be any legal issues in Canada or Ontario with doing this. I don't think it would be a problem, but since it deals indirectly with a car's headlights and I've never in my life seen that done to a car around here, I figure better safe than sorry! Can anyone shed any light on this? (pun intended) Quote
ARTZ Posted July 23, 2008 Posted July 23, 2008 Looks like a neat idea. I like it but, I don't know anything about the legality of it. Quote
NJV Posted July 23, 2008 Posted July 23, 2008 Those look great! I think the BRABUS ultimate has headlights like that. And I know that the HONDA FIT has the headlight surrounds painted the body colour. Just don't paint the reflective surface of the highbeam or the signal. The low beam is fine behind it's projection lens anyway. Now what that guys did IS illegal by removing the orange reflectors. But then, so is my 450 because I don't have the orange slices anymore. Replaced them with clear amber LEDs. If you do what he did, and leave the reflectors in, should be perfectly legal, but I'm not a lawyer. Quote
Kitty Posted July 23, 2008 Author Posted July 23, 2008 Leave the orange reflectors in; good to know!Does doing things like this void any part of the warranty or anything? Quote
Guest kwaldron Posted July 23, 2008 Posted July 23, 2008 (edited) Leave the orange reflectors in; good to know!Does doing things like this void any part of the warranty or anything?I would guess that if you had fogging in the headlights it would be immediately obvious to the dealership that you had had it open and they wouldn't cover it. Bt then would you want them to since they would just replace the unit?Besides if you are good enough to do this you should be able to fix any fogging. Edited July 23, 2008 by kwaldron Quote
Kitty Posted July 23, 2008 Author Posted July 23, 2008 Thanks for the input!I've never owned a new car with a warranty, so I'm not really sure how they work! Quote
Evilution Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 No, no, no, take the reflectors out, they look pants (oh hang on that means trousers), they look underwear (damn the American language lol.Put a reflector somewhere else, not necessarily where the orange slices are. For a long time I have thought about reflective wheel center caps. Would look awesome no?Anyway, I can't see why it would be illegal simply because you aren't affecting the light output at all.As for fogging and warranty, I don't think the fogging will give the game away that you opened the headlights, the non silver reflector would give it away a bit.To ensure you get no fogging you just have to put it in the oven for a couple of minutes before assembly to dry it all out. Quote
VRsyncro Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 I agree with Evolution, it is not illegal to remove the amber reflectors, especially when other brands sell OEM units to replace the amber bits (i.e. Porsche, BMW, etc...)Pretty ingenious mod. I would buy a used set of headlights though to try it out on, that way if I screw up, I still have the stock originals to drive with! (wouldn't want to be stuck without the Smart due to my inexperience!) Quote
woolth Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 i got a 90 bucks ticket for having an amber glass cover over my headlight bulb. it's designed to change the light from white to light amber for added safety... well, at least that was what the guy at the shop (garage) told me... and of course, i wanted to mimic an European car design with amber headlight (or having a fog light as head light?). but guess it's illegal for doing so... thou i didn't change the intensity of the light... in fact, i was using the original bulb... but i learn that (after this incident) it's illegal to fiddle with the original headlight and tail lights... however, painting the housing should be a different issue here... it's more like choosing the paint job (or color) for your car... but don't take my word for it! see if u could write to them to find out if it's legal or not.... and perhaps u might consider inserting the link for their reference as well Email to Ontario Ministry of Transportation Quote
Kitty Posted July 29, 2008 Author Posted July 29, 2008 I would buy a used set of headlights though to try it out on, that way if I screw up, I still have the stock originals to drive with! (wouldn't want to be stuck without the Smart due to my inexperience!)Good idea!Can spare headlights be found on eBay or somewhere? Quote
Guest SMRT ROD Posted July 29, 2008 Posted July 29, 2008 Try this link. Scroll down about 3/4's of the way to find the Brabus Xclusive right-hand traffic version. I think in the long run this may be your best bet. www.smart-parts-direct.com/acatalog/Exterior_parts.htmThey are expensive but they are OEM and should be fool proof. If you do get them take some pics! Quote
Evilution Posted July 29, 2008 Posted July 29, 2008 As long as you spray them black or dark grey you could insist they are OEM Brabus headlights. Quote
NJV Posted July 29, 2008 Posted July 29, 2008 I still say if you remove the orange reflector, technically you are not meeting Transport Canada regulations. Probably the same in the US regarding DOT requirements.Of course this hasn't stopped me from using non-reflective, amber LEDs instead of the orange reflectors. Or others in Canada from switching to EU style fenders with no reflectors either. Quote
bilgladstone Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 (edited) I might want to have this interesting mod. From last winter's accident, I have a spare right hand headlamp assembly that has a minor defect in its mounting frame making it unusable but otherwise it is complete and intact. If someone in BC would like to use this one as a learner rather than taking a chance on their perfectly good headlights, let me know. In exchange, I hope after you've learned on this one and done your own, you'll let me visit you and you'll help me do mine at cost-plus. Bil Edit: This is a 450 model Edited August 25, 2008 by bilgladstone Quote
SmartieParts Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 Thanks for the input! I've never owned a new car with a warranty, so I'm not really sure how they work! Warranty is a laot simpler than people make it out to be. I get so tired of the question, "will that void my warranty?".It is your car and you can do whatever you want to it (I mean in terms of warranty, not the police, etc). They will continue to warrant the original equipment against manufacturer's defects in materials and workmanship. The key there is the bolded term. If you caused damage to something then it can not fairly be called a manufacturer's defect, can it? But if you didn't damage it, then it is still covered. Absolutely, after you paint them your headlight plastic will no longer be covered for defects. But its just a hunk of plastic. You should know by now if there's a defect, and certainly before you paint them. If the headlights stop working because you have an electric defect somewhere in your car, it has othing to do with you painting plastic parts. There is grey area. Sometimes your customization gets unfairly blamed for a genuine defect (so my advice is to always put it back to stock if doubt may exist) and alternatively some people get their damage covered unfairly under warranty. But overall, it is as simple as that. - Steven Quote
BitBot Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 Hey Bill I have done mine (450) and it is no big deal. If you are out to Ontario again I can help you out. I will also have Angel Eyes installed by this weekend will post pictures next week if people are interested.Cheers,Steve Jones Quote
bilgladstone Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 Hey Bill I have done mine (450) and it is no big deal. If you are out to Ontario again I can help you out. I will also have Angel Eyes installed by this weekend will post pictures next week if people are interested.Cheers,Steve JonesSteve,Did you post pictures of your painted reflectors? I'd like to see them installed... Also, OF COURSE we want to see the angel eyes!!B Quote
The Rog Man Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 we want too see pictures of everything people do too their smarts...I guess we are a bunch of picture junkies??? Quote
BitBot Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 Well here is a pick of the Headlights before the Angel Eyes. I will post another pick when I get them installed.Cheers,Steve Jones Quote
Francesco Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 While I'm waiting for the pictures, may I ask: what are "Angel Eyes"? Quote
BitBot Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 BMW Started the Angel Eye Craze. They are illuminated rings around the headlights. On my SMART they will be around my turn signals. Oh and mine will be blue instead of the standard white.Cheers,Steve Jones Quote
Duck Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 Those BMW lights look crazy-angry. I can't wait to see what you come up with.-Iain Quote
Francesco Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 Ah. OK. I have a similar project underway... I think I told Bil about it at the Pitt Meadows event. Quote
Kitty Posted August 27, 2008 Author Posted August 27, 2008 I'm waiting until my car gets in to make any decisions, but I'd like to paint my headlight casings yellow. I haven't found a good yellow paint, though. I don't want a lemon-yellow. Quote
BitBot Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 Hi Kitty, have you thought about putting a yellow film on the lens instead of painting the inside? It is a popular mod in the Tuner car scene. If you want more info you can contact me at stevejones@bugnbots.com I am just in Brampton so it is easy to help you out.Cheers,Steve Jones Quote
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