Tail light freshening

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Crabtree

Tail light freshening

Post by Crabtree »

When's the last time you looked at your tail lights? A tad dim? I did a really simple procedure this weekend with some "chrome bumper" spray paint--. Just pull the lenses and bulbs, do some quick clean up of the interior of the bulb surround housings, and mask the surrounding area and bulb contacts and give the chambers a quick shot with the paint. (hopefully these photos post, my first attempt at it!) REALLY makes a difference in the visibility of the lights!
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Post by GRNSHRK »

Many of us who have had to remove the lenses for one reason or another, realized why their rear lighting was so friggin' dim, once the lenses were removed #-o

But a simple blast of "chrome paint" out of a rattle can is all it takes :shock:

Here's a couple of shots when we refinished the reflectors on a friend's M6 :roll:

:mrgreen:
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IMG_1346-sm.jpg (87.11 KiB) Viewed 16051 times
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Last edited by GRNSHRK on Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
:mrgreen:
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Post by clipper47 »

They look great. It is definitely on my too do list also and have a can of chrome paint. Thanks.
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Crabtree

Post by Crabtree »

I think I have the photo thing figured out, here are my before and afters.
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nick88highline
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Post by nick88highline »

I used aluminium stick-on tape which is very shiny and makes a big difference to the light output.
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Post by Brucey »

nick88highline wrote:I used aluminium stick-on tape which is very shiny and makes a big difference to the light output.
-me too in other lights, gotta do the 6er ones yet.

BTW if the Al tape surface dulls, you can polish it if you like... :shock:

cheers
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Post by World-Class6 »

nick88highline wrote:I used aluminium stick-on tape which is very shiny and makes a big difference to the light output.
I've sprayed chrome paint on both of my 6er reflectors and certainly improved lighting output~ If you have any before & after pics using aluminium stick-on tape would be appreciated. I get the feeling it works a bit better than chrome spray paint :-k
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common problem - SALE PRICES THRU JULY 4

Post by MisterFixit »

GRNSHRK wrote:Many of us who have had to remove the lenses for one reason or another, realized why their rear lighting was so friggin' dim, once the lenses were removed #-o

But a simple blast of "chrome paint" out of a rattle can is all it takes :shock:

Here's a couple of shots when we refinished the reflectors on a friend's M6 :roll:

:mrgreen:
How about the modifications to double tail and double brake bulbs, using high output lamps? I have two more sets in the works, happy to help out anyone else who wants to really increase their rear light output.

After re-spraying the silver in their reflectors ... yes, you can do this yourself, with a little prep and a clean work area ... you get a HUGE increase in light output!

You can lower the costs of this performance increase by restoring the shiny silver youself, then consider the following two options:

Add high output bulbs, get 'better than new' lights.

Add another tail and another brake light bulb behind the lens, get more than double the output and reliably keep them off your tail.

I just got back from California, so I am ready to go back to work keeping these sharks out of the junk yards ... anybody in the mood for a sale price? Send me your reflectors, I'll add the wiring and sockets to convert to double tails + double brakes, plus install High Output bulbs in all tail and brake locations.

Getting back to work, helping you 'Be Seen, and Not Hurt"
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Post by Hefeweizen »

Here is a write up on adding another light bulb:
viewtopic.php?t=11559
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One Bulb, Two Functions

Post by MisterFixit »

Hefeweizen wrote:Here is a write up on adding another light bulb:
viewtopic.php?t=11559
Good idea, since many folks do not pay attention to their driving, this is a good way to grab their attention.

Great idea: adding both additional tail lights and brake lights. I do this using BMW parts from six series E24 lights, utilising the "extra" socket location and reflector that in the US gets nothing. Many overseas cars have a rear fog light there, which comes on with front fogs -- kind of 'tail lights on steroids' for low visibility weather (common in the UK).

After restoring (spray painting new silver) your reflectors, adding more bulbs increases the size, output, and reliability of your rear lights. Not bad for under $100 [priced a new tail light lens lately?] ?

LED in the works, BTW, in basic configuration of tails plus brakes; optional turns and reverse, after design is proved.
"Be Seen, and Not Hurt!"
Lighting Upgrades for 2002, E3, E12, E21, E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, E36, E39 - front & back
Headlight and Tail Light upgrades for maximum visibility. Headlight protection to keep lights intact.
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Re: One Bulb, Two Functions

Post by Hefeweizen »

MisterFixit wrote:
Hefeweizen wrote:Here is a write up on adding another light bulb:
viewtopic.php?t=11559
Good idea, since many folks do not pay attention to their driving, this is a good way to grab their attention.

Great idea: adding both additional tail lights and brake lights. I do this using BMW parts from six series E24 lights, utilising the "extra" socket location and reflector that in the US gets nothing. Many overseas cars have a rear fog light there, which comes on with front fogs -- kind of 'tail lights on steroids' for low visibility weather (common in the UK).

After restoring (spray painting new silver) your reflectors, adding more bulbs increases the size, output, and reliability of your rear lights. Not bad for under $100 [priced a new tail light lens lately?] ?

LED in the works, BTW, in basic configuration of tails plus brakes; optional turns and reverse, after design is proved.
Have you figured out how to put something in the top middle? I am always afraid I'd get stopped since the middle light seems to be "burned out"
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Re: One Bulb, Two Functions

Post by MisterFixit »

Hefeweizen wrote:
MisterFixit wrote:
Hefeweizen wrote:Here is a write up on adding another light bulb:
viewtopic.php?t=11559
... Great idea: adding both additional tail lights and brake lights. I do this using BMW parts from six series E24 lights, utilising the "extra" socket location and reflector ...
Have you figured out how to put something in the top middle? I am always afraid I'd get stopped since the middle light seems to be "burned out"
Yes, that area is what I am calling the 'extra socket and reflector,' where no wires or bulb contacts were ever installed in US cars. I do my magic to install shell and base contacts, then modify them to accept a dual filament bulb. That's the way to get both tail AND brake in one reflector. It is above the stock tail, so increases the height of that, and across from the stock brake, so it double that function, with a smallish dark area between the two. It's dark because that's where the wiring connector is mounted inside the reflectors, but with an LED conversion it could feasibly ALL light up.
"Be Seen, and Not Hurt!"
Lighting Upgrades for 2002, E3, E12, E21, E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, E36, E39 - front & back
Headlight and Tail Light upgrades for maximum visibility. Headlight protection to keep lights intact.
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Post by shay_mcquaid »

If I was just a tad lazier,I'd have you mod me a set. :mrgreen:
Good service you offer imo.
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Lazy ain't so bad ... dim is worse

Post by MisterFixit »

shay_mcquaid wrote:If I was just a tad lazier,I'd have you mod me a set. :mrgreen:
Good service you offer imo.
Thanks, and if you want to stay lazy and STILL get brighter tails, do the silver repaint yourself, then order a set of HO (high output) bulbs for them- all nickel base, of course- they are 1/3 brighter in brake, reverse, and turn, and 1.5 times brighter in tails. $40 for a set of eight, delivered.

It's why I call my back yard biz "Mo Brighta, Mo Betta."
"Be Seen, and Not Hurt!"
Lighting Upgrades for 2002, E3, E12, E21, E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, E36, E39 - front & back
Headlight and Tail Light upgrades for maximum visibility. Headlight protection to keep lights intact.
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Post by ron »

shay_mcquaid wrote:If I was just a tad lazier,I'd have you mod me a set. :mrgreen:
Good service you offer imo.
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Post by markh »

Andy - you have e-mail.
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Post by tadpole »

anyone have before/after photos of having this done?
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Tail light referb

Post by JCS »

Here ya go.

<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W5Lh ... CT0042.JPG" height="480" width="640">

<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gl0F ... CT0043.JPG" height="480" width="640">
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Aluminium tape version

Post by nick88highline »

And after using aluminium tape instead of paint:

<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8227 ... 1198_c.jpg" width="800" height="534" alt="XG4U7159">

Well worth doing and gives a very bright light.
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Re: Tail light freshening

Post by MisterFixit »

UPDATE on this subject - a new reflector surface restoration technique.

See here for the update post:
https://bigcoupe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.p ... 9&start=38

See the entire topic from the start:
https://bigcoupe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=11559

Andy
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Lighting Upgrades for 2002, E3, E12, E21, E23, E24, E28, E30, E32, E36, E39 - front & back
Headlight and Tail Light upgrades for maximum visibility. Headlight protection to keep lights intact.
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