BRZ Headlight Black Out

[MalcolmHimself]

Originally Posted by gdrider77

I've done this 4 times now on BRZ , and basically just remove from car. Once removed from car, ready to bake! No need to remove anything else.

One thing I recommend, when baking, put a couple 2x4 pieces of wood to set lights on. Then no chance of plastic touching metal oven pieces and melting.

I used a silicone baking mat for my prelude, plan to use the same thing for my BRZ. Don't need the grill marks

[toast]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

yeah, i'm sure you can make it brighter, the boomerang is a piece of glass/plastic with a few LED's behind it every little bit...i'm sure you can replace those LED's with brighter ones and it'll do the trick, i just dont know if you can take it apart without breaking it and ruining the boomerang, its very fragile.

You don't need brighter leds to get brighter boomerangs. The ones that are there are very underdriven. There is a thread on what to do to make them full power (some soldering and adding a heatsink). It is a good thing to do while you have the headlight apart to black it out.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by toast

You don't need brighter leds to get brighter boomerangs. The ones that are there are very underdriven. There is a thread on what to do to make them full power (some soldering and adding a heatsink). It is a good thing to do while you have the headlight apart to black it out.

Hey toast, what setting were you born on? Like crunchy 6 on the toaster or like blackened 9? Lol

Why in the frickle frackle would they under drive the LED's from factory? Because they didnt want to have to deal with that heatsink you have to add?

[Jive Turkey]

Originally Posted by toast

You don't need brighter leds to get brighter boomerangs. The ones that are there are very underdriven. There is a thread on what to do to make them full power (some soldering and adding a heatsink). It is a good thing to do while you have the headlight apart to black it out.

yeah that comment was made almost 2 years ago...that kind of info wasn't around yet. LOL

[toast]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

yeah that comment was made almost 2 years ago...that kind of info wasn't around yet. LOL

I wasn't criticizing, just point something out since this thread has been revived lately.

The stock leds are underdriven because the heat generated can be handled simply by the circuit board itself. Driving them at full strength requires changing the power pathways and added a pretty good sized heatsink.

[teehan]

I'm doing mine for my BRZ and I'm curious how far I should take it apart. What did you guys remove on your headlight prior to baking?

And at what temperature did you bake it at and for how long?

Any help would be awesome! Thanks everyone!

[k.houan]

Anyone interested in trading your stock brz headlights for my professionally painted black ones? Im thinking of getting rid of my car soon.

[BOND007_LTK]

Looks yummy as f
Comments on light output tho...
Legal but more importantly safety concerns.

[Ivegotamain2]

Here is my before/after.

I ended up going with 6-7 coats of the VHT engine enamel, sprayed in 10 minute coats and dried under a heating lamp. Let sit for 24 hrs.

[sharpsicle]

Originally Posted by BOND007_LTK

Looks yummy as f
Comments on light output tho...
Legal but more importantly safety concerns.

BRZ uses HIDs with projector housings, FRS is halogens. Light output is not affected at all on BRZs.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by sharpsicle

BRZ uses HIDs with projector housings, FRS is halogens. Light output is not affected at all on BRZs.

in that last pic, the turn signal output is affected...

[Ivegotamain2]

Originally Posted by soundman98

in that last pic, the turn signal output is affected...

I've actually noticed no negligible light output degradation from the fogs, even using stock bulbs.

I used the directions on the second page with the black chrome paint and they still retain more than acceptable reflection.

I was actually thinking of switching to LED amber turn signals because I feared the output would be less, but it's been perfect as of now.

As said in this thread, the BRZ uses a projector, so the light doesn't reflect off of the chrome housing - that stuff is just there for looks (besides the turn signal housing of course).

[ShadowReaper]

2 year revival.

How good of a seal is this afterwards. I'm not sure of the material in the headlight but if you need to bake something, what is the material that is being softened, and inevitably expanding. How does it go back to normal fitment, please don't say "it just stiffens back up to original fitment"

[DarkPira7e]

Originally Posted by ShadowReaper

2 year revival.

How good of a seal is this afterwards. I'm not sure of the material in the headlight but if you need to bake something, what is the material that is being softened, and inevitably expanding. How does it go back to normal fitment, please don't say "it just stiffens back up to original fitment"

It just stiffens back up to original fitment.
Something that inevitably expands when heated, inevitably contracts when cooled.

3 years on my headlights since baking them and no condensation or leaks. Same with a second set I did. I added no extra gasket material.