Opening Headlight Opinions

[XFactor7889]

I'm inching closer and closer to finally working up the courage to order the smoked headlight markers to install myself. Before I do, though, I'm wondering if anyone with experience opening up headlights can let me know whether this is wise for someone with no experience to do. I've done my homework, checked into the supplies needed, watched step-by-step videos of the process, and will certainly do it all again before finally going through with it. I also got a cheap set of OEM headlights on FB Marketplace to use for this in case I totally screw it up. I don't know anyone who has done this before, so my intro to this process will be completely unsupervised. Am I getting in over my head? Is this something I should look for a professional to do? Should I just get the blackout vinyl instead and save a lot of time and money? Or is my inexperience worrying me too much? Any tips and tricks I should be mindful of if I do this? I appreciate everyone's help!

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[MiamiGT350]

If it was me, I would just use smoke tint.

 

[XFactor7889]

If it was me, I would just use smoke tint.

That's something I've been considering as the alternative. I just really like the clean look of the smoked markers in place of the yellow ones.

 

[Metal Mike]

Here's the 'spend the $$$' option. I also considered cracking the OEMs open and decided it was too much effort and risk for a first time attempt DIY. I was then considering a vinyl cover as well before I added CF to the front end (I already removed fascia). The vinyl looked cheap next to CF.

I then bit bullet and sent my headlights out to SW Lights in SoCal, who painted the silver to black and changed the orange for a clear lens, put it all back together fully plug n play OEM working, and returned it back in my hands in about a week. Absolutely one my favorite cosmetics modifications thus far and totally worth the money, and still OEM.

So consider sending those cheap OEM lights on hand to be professionally done, and then sell the ones you're about to potentially ruin. You might save more hassle than you think.

 

[mavisky]

If you're in Raleigh, pull them out and send them to my buddy at PS Lighting Solutions in South Carolina and have him knock out a few other touches while you're at it.

 

[MAGS1]

If you're in Raleigh, pull them out and send them to my buddy at PS Lighting Solutions in South Carolina and have him knock out a few other touches while you're at it.

That looks friggin awesome. If you don’t mind me asking, what does he charge for something like that? Assume he gets them sealed back up nice and good too?

 

[mavisky]

That looks friggin awesome. If you don’t mind me asking, what does he charge for something like that? Assume he gets them sealed back up nice and good too?

Honestly it's been over 5 years since he did mine and I don't remember. Shoot him a DM on facebook or instagram and he'll be happy to get you a price for whatever you want done. Mine had the etched lenses, color matched internals with the corner blacked out, and then the Diode Dynamics Demon Eyes setup. I wish I had done the tri-bar marker lights while he had it open as that would save me shipping them back to him.

 

[CrazyHippie]

I tried to open a stock headlight (2023), using my wife's oven and various prying tools. After a frustrating 4 hours wrestling with The Strongest Glue Ever, I gave up and bought Form headlights.

 

[XFactor7889]

I appreciate the replies! @Metal Mike and @mavisky thank you for the suggestion! Both of your setups turned out great! I will definitely look into that.

@CrazyHippie I appreciate you sharing your experience! That's essentially what I have been afraid of myself.

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