DIY Blacked Out Headlights

[4everkidd]

This is a double post from the Canada forum but I figured the greater audience might appreciate it. I mean it's no "handbrake install DIY" :

I have been toying with the idea of shipping my headlights away to lightwerkz, Bavgruppe, or OneEighty for months. Never interested in changing the halos, just blacking out the internals.

The prices, down time, shipping risks, lack of communication etc.were all too much to swallow so I decided to tackle the "perma-seal" myself. I would have taken them to a local retrofitter but the shops in my area are useless.

This is not a new task for me, I have done several sets of Audi, Lexus, and Mercedes headlights however it will be the first set of F8X lights.

I will post progress here and plan on filming the breakdown of the second headlight and timelapsing the video

Removing headlights 1.5 hours

Time for the first headlight so far

Removing ballasts and clips 0.5 hours

Separating headlights 1.5 hours (including baking)

Breaking down internals 1 hour

Removing Chrome 1 hour

Removing perma-seal 2 hours (I had a helper)

Painting Internals 2 hours
- automotive grade black primer 3 coats
- VHT Black Pearl Engine Metallic 4 coats

Days curing 3 + 3 x 20 minute heat cycles.

Morimoto retro butyl 10 mins

I haven't baked and re-installed the lens yet but there were definite efficiencies from the first to second headlight.

[4everkidd]

Finished product.

I do 95% of my mods by myself, but this job was definitely a giant pain in the ass if you want it done right... That being said I'm extremely happy with the outcome

[PshhhhhMW]

Legit! Nice work.

[x.shell]

Looking good.

[THEROK]

Looks better stock or go with the '18 LCI lights.

[4everkidd]

Originally Posted by THEROK

Looks better stock or go with the '18 LCI lights.

Totally disagree... the stock have way too much chrome.

The LCI lights are nice but I'm not dropping 5+K on headlights lol

[THEROK]

Originally Posted by 4everkidd

Totally disagree... the stock have way too much chrome.

The LCI lights are nice but I'm not dropping 5+K on headlights lol

We agree - I can't stand the chrome look as well!

[4everkidd]

Originally Posted by 4everkidd

Totally disagree... the stock have way too much chrome.

The LCI lights are nice but I'm not dropping 5+K on headlights lol

Can't edit for some reason...

The blacked out are undeniably better (not my car)

[JibSTir13]

IMO there is too much chrome in the original LED headlights and too much blackout in the LCI LED headlights.

And too much blackout in the photo above as well.

[Sinnakle]

Originally Posted by JibSTir13

IMO there is too much chrome in the original LED headlights and too much blackout in the LCI LED headlights.

And too much blackout in the photo above as well.

At specific angles the pre-lci's look dark at others it doesn't. Then there is perception based on car color and/or wheels. My personal feeling is pre-LCI headlights stock look good on Alpine/Mineral white and Black. The some individual colors are ok with 437m in silver, but once you start adding blacked out/carbon parts White and Black cars do them best. All subjective but aesthetically I think darker headlights allow for more flexibility with wheel choices.

[TRYM3]

Black looks 100 times better but this DIY seems like way too much work, Id rather pay OSS. I bought the lightest smoke film from lamin-x and my head lights look much more aggressive now. I will have to post a picture but in pictures it looks much lighter than in person

[TRYM3]

not a great pic but you can get the idea

[4everkidd]

Originally Posted by TRYM3

Black looks 100 times better but this DIY seems like way too much work, Id rather pay OSS. I bought the lightest smoke film from lamin-x and my head lights look much more aggressive now. I will have to post a picture but in pictures it looks much lighter than in person

Originally Posted by TRYM3

not a great pic but you can get the idea

Oh it was a ton of work, but it was my first set and I was very very cautious... I understand why OSS, One-Eighty, bavgruppe/bayoptik charge what they do.

Personally I stopped tinting my headlights in high school.

[x.shell]

Every one is talking about black yay or nay. I think the black headlights (LCI included) looks better on the lighter colored cars. So they look fantastic on the Austin Yellow, Silverstone, Whites, Yas etc. I don't like them much on my Tanzanite, Black or Min Grey. I like contrast.

[THEROK]

My point is, go big or stay home. Stick with the OEM aesthetic. This whole backyard garage work is way too TMZ for me. IMHO, BMW knocked it out of the park with the LCI darkened headlights. It refreshes the entire F8X front-end to match that of the brand spanking new 5-series, 8 series, etc. The one thing I wish we had is the projector lens for the low beams.

[4everkidd]

Originally Posted by THEROK

My point is, go big or stay home. Stick with the OEM aesthetic. This whole backyard garage work is way too TMZ for me. IMHO, BMW knocked it out of the park with the LCI darkened headlights. It refreshes the entire F8X front-end to match that of the brand spanking new 5-series, 8 series, etc. The one thing I wish we had is the projector lens for the low beams.

Stick with the OEM aesthetic? I think one or two members here might disagree, not to mention Varis, Vorsteiner, Enlaes, PSM...

And I'll back yard garage all day because I'm capable and love that shit

[phantome46]

Great work I also did my own lights and they look excellent now

[High Octane]

Looks like you did an awesome job. I've done a few sets of lights myself (never BMW) and while it's a bit scary to tackle, it's not extremely difficult if you have patience.

&& I agree with black looking way better than the chrome.

[420Coupe]

Originally Posted by 4everkidd

This is a double post from the Canada forum but I figured the greater audience might appreciate it. I mean it's no "handbrake install DIY" :

I have been toying with the idea of shipping my headlights away to lightwerkz, Bavgruppe, or OneEighty for months. Never interested in changing the halos, just blacking out the internals.

The prices, down time, shipping risks, lack of communication etc.were all too much to swallow so I decided to tackle the "perma-seal" myself. I would have taken them to a local retrofitter but the shops in my area are useless.

This is not a new task for me, I have done several sets of Audi, Lexus, and Mercedes headlights however it will be the first set of F8X lights.

I will post progress here and plan on filming the breakdown of the second headlight and timelapsing the video

Removing headlights 1.5 hours

Time for the first headlight so far

Removing ballasts and clips 0.5 hours

Separating headlights 1.5 hours (including baking)

Breaking down internals 1 hour

Removing Chrome 1 hour

Removing perma-seal 2 hours (I had a helper)

Painting Internals 2 hours
- automotive grade black primer 3 coats
- VHT Black Pearl Engine Metallic 4 coats

Days curing 3 + 3 x 20 minute heat cycles.

Morimoto retro butyl 10 mins

I haven't baked and re-installed the lens yet but there were definite efficiencies from the first to second headlight.

Soooo... how much you charging

[4everkidd]

Originally Posted by High Octane

Looks like you did an awesome job. I've done a few sets of lights myself (never BMW) and while it's a bit scary to tackle, it's not extremely difficult if you have patience.

&& I agree with black looking way better than the chrome.

I completely agree but the perma-seal is a different animal; it doesn't get soft and gooey like butyl rubber. One good heat cycle with butyl and it pulls apart, with the F80 lights you need to get a hook in behind the lens and break the entire seal. Definitely tests your patience.

Originally Posted by 420Coupe

Soooo... how much you charging

PM me

[TurnerMotorsport]

Looks fantastic, can't wait to see them installed.

-James

[F80_M]

Well done