Blacking out the reflectors!

Originally Posted by SD 335is

I removed and replaced both of mine in 15 minutes. The first one took 10 minutes and the second one five minutes after I determined the best method to use from removing the first one.

ECS Tuning had a sale on the smoke reflectors in March and I paid $2.95 for them.

Am ordering a set myself. Curious, how do they stay attached? Do they come with adhesive backing, or some other method?

BTW, thanks for the ECS reference. These look great and a great deal.

Originally Posted by plo335ICPE

Am ordering a set myself. Curious, how do they stay attached? Do they come with adhesive backing, or some other method?

BTW, thanks for the ECS reference. These look great and a great deal.

The replacement reflectors are constructed exactly like the stock ones. There is a "flange" around the reflector which has some sticky foam adhesive. The reflector sticks out through the hole in the fender and the sticky foam adheres to the inside of the fender.

Sorry about the delay. Clear reflectors on DSB

Are the indicator lights amber inside already or do you have to replace them with amber equivalents to maintain some level of legality?

Im getting them tinted tomorrow... It's maybe the same vinyl coat they put on the windows I'm not sure... Should cost me 25$ for both...

thanks tex. The clears look nice too. I think If I go ahead with a amber reflector delete I'll go for the clear. It matches the side indicator.

Originally Posted by texdrake

IT IS A HUGE MISCONCEPTION by most of the public that amber side reflectors are required in the USA. Vehicle requirements are actually made and enforced at the state level (in most cases).

I had heard several times that Texas requires the side reflectors but THEY DO NOT require side reflectors for passenger cars. Check your states requirements:

Texas Side Reflector:

"Inspection/Rejection Criteria

20.21 Reflectors (Side). Refer to Reference Section for lighting diagrams.

1. Required on all:

Buses 80 inches or more in overall width.

Trucks 80 inches or more in overall width.

Trailers and semitrailers 80 inches or more in overall width.

Trailers and semitrailers 30 feet or more in overall length."


I actually removed my amber ones today and put on some clear ones from ModBargains.com

You don't have a clue of what you are talking about. U.S. federal safety standards (FMVSS) always trump state regulations, and U.S. state vehicle codes usually follow federal motor vehicle safety standards. Even if the state vehicle code does not specifically cite the federal standard, the federal standard will prevail. FMVSS "108" (CFR 49) covers lamps, lighting and reflectors, and the side reflectors are required by federal statute, otherwise car makers wouldn't spend a penny putting them there. Go ahead and remove them; I doubt if many state law enforcement agencies would make an issue of this, or that any DOT/NHTSA black helicopters would circle over your house.

Originally Posted by pointandgo

You don't have a clue of what you are talking about. U.S. federal safety standards (FMVSS) always trump state regulations, and U.S. state vehicle codes usually follow federal motor vehicle safety standards. Even if the state vehicle code does not specifically cite the federal standard, the federal standard will prevail. FMVSS "108" (CFR 49) covers lamps, lighting and reflectors, and the side reflectors are required by federal statute, otherwise car makers wouldn't spend a penny putting them there. Go ahead and remove them; I doubt if many state law enforcement agencies would make an issue of this, or that any DOT/NHTSA black helicopters would circle over your house.

There is no federal agency that monitors or fines for this. The US Marshalls aren't running around ticketing people for side reflectors. It is the states responsibility and in Texas the state does not require or check for them at inspection.

Originally Posted by pointandgo

You don't have a clue of what you are talking about. U.S. federal safety standards (FMVSS) always trump state regulations, and U.S. state vehicle codes usually follow federal motor vehicle safety standards. Even if the state vehicle code does not specifically cite the federal standard, the federal standard will prevail. FMVSS "108" (CFR 49) covers lamps, lighting and reflectors, and the side reflectors are required by federal statute, otherwise car makers wouldn't spend a penny putting them there. Go ahead and remove them; I doubt if many state law enforcement agencies would make an issue of this, or that any DOT/NHTSA black helicopters would circle over your house.

I just skimmed the majority of that 300+ page document and the only area that I can find that is requires amber side markers is for vehicles wider that 80". You may very well be correct, but I cant find the info. More importantly though. Fines are left to the state inspection and state police, neither of which check or are required to check for it.

Incidentally a lot of new US cars have no amber side markers, they only have an orange coated plastic overlying the bulb used for the turn indicator (Ford fiesta, focus, and Taurus to name a few)

Smoke reflectors due in tomorrow......what is the best way to get the originals out?

Originally Posted by hyperzulu

Are the indicator lights amber inside already?

They're not lighted, they're only reflectors.

Originally Posted by texdrake

the only area that I can find that is requires amber side markers

Isn't this mixing apples and oranges here? The thread is about the bumper reflectors, not the side marker lights.

I am curious, though, if there's some law requiring the reflectors to be amber. Not that I care in this particular case, but it's an interesting topic of discussion.

Installed the $3 specials in a Space Gray coupe. Took all of 10 minutes to do the swap.

Originally Posted by Verts4Ever

Isn't this mixing apples and oranges here? The thread is about the bumper reflectors, not the side marker lights.

I am curious, though, if there's some law requiring the reflectors to be amber. Not that I care in this particular case, but it's an interesting topic of discussion.

Yes. DOT/NHTSA requirement.
That's reason why European and non US models can have clear reflectors.
"On the rear-1 red on each side of the vertical centerline, at the same height, and as far apart as practicable"
"On each side-1 red as far to the rear as practicable, and 1 amber as far to the front as practicable"

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text....2.7.8&idno=49

Interesting... After looking over the DOT and SAE Standard J594f requirements,
I can find NO requirements on the reflectivity of AMBER reflectors.

All of the specifications "appear" to be for RED or WHITE reflectors.
"IF" this is the case, a smoked amber reflector may be legal.

Maybe I just missed it somewhere, but I searched for "amber" in both specs.

Added smoke side turn signals. IMHO looks pretty good on the gray paint.

Originally Posted by bear-avhistory

Added smoke side turn signals. IMHO looks pretty good on the gray paint.

kevin,

Looks great! Which smoked side turn signals did you use? I've seen both LED ones and non-LED. Missed what I shold have gotten - a pair of smoked covers that you can simply replace the clear ones with, using the OEM bulb/connection....for $20 if they were ugly or didn't work it would be no big deal....

I'm debating between smoked reflectors and turn signals or body-colored reflector replacements. If I do the smoked, would also do blackout grills and paint the grill mesh under the front grills.

Anyoen have photos of Monaco Blue with smoked reflectors? I've photoshopped to see what it would look like with painted, and like that as well....

Originally Posted by bear-avhistory

Added smoke side turn signals. IMHO looks pretty good on the gray paint.

Looks great, Kevin! I just finished putting clear reflectors on ours (which required the patience of Job's therapist), and lightly silvering the side marker bulbs to eliminate the egg yolk effect.

I tried the Weisslicht high-intensity LED amber side markers from JLeviSW, but the cutouts on our E93 are pinched toward the rear to the point that the part couldn't fit into the hole. We're happy with the silvered bulb though as it's still very bright during the day, and I have to give props to JLeviSW for agreeing to a return without any questions.

Originally Posted by SD 335is

I removed and replaced both of mine in 15 minutes. The first one took 10 minutes and the second one five minutes after I determined the best method to use from removing the first one.

ECS Tuning had a sale on the smoke reflectors in March and I paid $2.95 for them.

I got the clear reflector's for my space gray E92. I am not crazy about the smoked on gray. However, it looks fabulous on Monaco Blue. Also, ECS Tuning still has them at 2.95 a set.

Folks,
I think the $3 reflectors from ECS will only fit the e92/e93 (coupe/vert) and not the e90 (sedan). If I'm not mistaken, the reflector size for the coupe is a bit longer than the sedan. Is that correct?

For the sedan, Jlevi has them in clear and smoked for $27. Not too bad:
http://www.jlevistreetwerks.com/3-Se...duct_info.html

""ECS Tuning had a sale on the smoke reflectors in March and I paid $2.95 for them.""

I bought these a few weeks back for the same price also at that price I bought a set of clear incase I did not like the dark ones. The IS has most of its trim blacked out so I thought I would start there.

""I tried the Weisslicht high-intensity LED amber side markers from JLeviSW, but the cutouts on our E93 are pinched toward the rear to the point that the part couldn't fit into the hole.""

I bought the same ones because of the fitted plugs for a plug & play install even though they were a bit more expensive then the others. Like you I found them too tight at the back end. The E92 coupe has plastic fenders so I used a razor knife to trim the back part of the opening about 1/64". Really was just removing the raised paint edge. Had them in in faster then the reflectors.

Originally Posted by bear-avhistory

The E92 coupe has plastic fenders so I used a razor knife to trim the back part of the opening about 1/64.

I considered doing that, but my wonderful and generally patient wife politely but firmly stated her opinion of the idea of me trimming a body piece on a $60k car to fit a $60 part. In sum, our conversation went something like:

Me:

Her:

Me:

After that, with a bit of research I found the silvered bulb idea and it worked out good.

Thats why its a good plan not to ask when you know what the answer will be......its a lot easier to ask "don't the new sidelights I just put on look great?"

Originally Posted by Verts4Ever

I considered doing that, but my wonderful and generally patient wife politely but firmly stated her opinion of the idea of me trimming a body piece on a $60k car to fit a $60 part. In sum, our conversation went something like:

Me:

Her:

Me:

It's always easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.