Smoked Headlights & Tail Lights
 

So I'm waiting for the 2016's to come out in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, I'm making my build on my spreadsheet.

I just got some horrible news. Blackened taillights (and headlights too?) are illegal in CA.

I love those Valenti or Spyder tail lights in blackened.

Any way around this? Any kind of tips or ways to make them not as smoked out?

There are several types around that are black inside but still have clear lenses. They can look almost as good as smoked. I am in the same boat as I love the smoked but know I would get pulled over in seconds with them.

Move to somewhere that its ok? :)

Ya, then there would just be something else they wouldn't permit there so I would not be ahead.

Just have to look up alberta laws then you can decide if you wanna be my friend or not.

They may look cool but they are reducing the effectiveness of a safety device. I suspect it is illegal nearly everywhere. Why not call the State Patrol and find out what they will or won't accept?

Window tint is illegal too but I have it, so are my side markers, muffler delete, headlights, and not having a plate but I don't mind. Fix it ticket at worse but I doubt you'll get pulled over for only that.


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I actually recently got hit with a fix it ticket for muffler delete, he said he could give me ticket for tint, valenti smoked, and clear die markers but he said he'll just give me the exhaust one. I'm going to try spraying the smoked valenti with VHT red and see how it looks

haha he gave you a ticket for the hardest one to rectify!

Yeah I was hoping someone would say it's one of those things like tinting that they technically can but usually don't get you for.

But moreso I was hoping someone would say they knew of some smoked looking ones that are just smoked enough to be legal.

Why bother? It looks ricer as fuck. Just get clear tails or red. Plus is it really worth the headache of worrying about the police?

Edit: when things like this come up, it makes me think of people who willingly illegally modify their car, knowing full well that it's illegal, then complain about "police harassment"

Where in CA are you? I've never been given any trouble over mine but this isn't LA. Most people who get the trouble are the ones who literally paint or tint their tails to the point that light transmission is heavily reduced.

Some aftermarket tails/head lights aren't dot approved and illegal regardless of color.


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Yet you're less likely to attract attention if your safety devices aren't blacked out. I suppose you entirely missed the point of that post.

Ahhh making your dream build list without having a car... To feel young again.

You could always wear very dark sunglasses 24/7. It'll have the same effect on your ability to see at night.

Properly made smoked lenses can actually have way less effect on light level than you may think. Put a light meter (I have all sorts of cool meters at work) on ones I had in a previous car and they were only 4% less than the stock ones. They were however actual smoked lenses not painted ones. Other guy's truck that we checked was almost 30% less with a painted smoke.

i live in LA and haven't gotten a ticket yet for having smoked tails, i have the valentis black editions and i just turn them on whenever i see a cop during the day and they are pretty bright that you cant really tell that they are smoked believe it or not, but either way your going to take a chance

pay to play.

Buy smoked ones and keep the stockers for backup...

why dont you bake open the headlights and cut open the taillights then paint them?

That's the problem, there is no way to know what you're getting when you buy them. It's not only the tint but also the light distribution that counts. You know the hoops that you have to go through to certify brake parts for OEM usage. The same applies to lighting components.

Buy them if you want, just know that your car may be less safe as a result.

Exactly! As cliché as it may be this is a case of "you get what you pay for". The expensive ones have been tested and inspected and pass all the requirements. The cheaper ones ...Not so much.

Just to let everyone know, I'm waiting for Valenti REVO's for tail lights and getting Winjet JDM for headlights.

Was just planning on getting them smoked and got hit with the news. ha

My town is very small so I'm sure it'd attract more attention of officers with nothing better to do than it would in L.A. or something.

Especially since I may be getting red (if not asphalt).

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Hanford, CA.
Very small town.

Ha well...

I know for certain I'm getting the car, so just doing the research on everything since I'm waiting for it to come out.

On the other hand, I could just sit here twiddling my thumbs, get the car, and have wasted valuable work time actually working when I could have been researching exactly what I want to do with my imminent vehicle. ;>

That and imgur, of course.

"making my build on my spreadsheet" -> talks about ricey headlights.

ugh.

Just look for a 13 sitting at a lot somewhere. Save like 1 grand unless you want that god awful looking sharkfin.

I don't know about headlights (never researched it) but most sta.tes, including NC, just have a visibility standard for tailights. In NC and many other states, they must be visible at 500 ft

I'm just going to go clear side markers (illegal?) and maybe red overlays on my stockers. As much as I want headlights and taillights I can't pay $700+ for the quality parts. I've had this car 4 weeks and my first illegal mod probably will be a catted uel header which I will have no problem paying $700+ for. On another side note where can these laws be looked up?

As long as you use orange bulbs in your side markers it'll be legal. DMV site will have the laws.


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Opinions are fun, aren't they?


I see what you're saying, but to be honest, I'd rather spend a grand and have a car that hasn't been sitting around for 2 years.

Now if I could save a few grand, that'd be a different story!

My 2013 FR-S was priced at $19,000 with 9300 miles, so I guestimate saving $5000 since car is paid for(but the car is used). Now if I financed I would of save more like $7500 after finance charges. My main reason for ordering new or buying new is I'm in complete control of paint, preventive maintenance and who has driven the vehicle. My last 2 WRX's I was literally there when they came off the truck. Stripped plastic off myself and no one else even farted in my car but me. :)

If it helps I saved about $8,325 on a 10 series; first owner, bought with 74 miles.

On topic, I wouldn't do smoked lenses. Fingers will be pointed at you in an accident, and they remind me of spray painted nite-shades lights. If it has to be modified, keep it red or clear.

i paid 27400 otd for my 13 and i bought it September of 2013. I paid near full price but the odometer reading 6 miles is priceless <3

Yeah, not gonna go with smoked lenses.
Why give anyone a reason to pull you over?

Oh and I guess it's the law and all that too. :P'

Now I have a question...
Is there a difference between smoked lenses and blackened housing?
For instance, these let you choose for black housing: http://www.nigel-jdmparts.com/valent...turer_id=12923

I complain about it, but then I hear my BOV and I remember why it was worth it. :thumbsup:

If you're going to smoke your head lights or tail lights OP you should be fine. Just don't be driving like an idiot to where it gives the cop a reason to pull you over. Then they'll probably bring up your lights.

having smoked/blacked headlight covers is illegal for safety reasons.

it should also be illegal for aesthetic reasons.

Yes there is a difference; blackened housing when done right doesn't affect light output and visibility. Blackened housings with enough "chrome" around the bulbs to reflect are okay, but all black everything will not give anything to reflect. Smoked lenses are pretty much all no, unless you have ridiculous light output to compensate, which negates it and is stupid imho.

I can't speak for those specifically, but I would look in detail at products. Although you can buy from companies, they are not responsible for legality issues, and many are considered offroad use only.

So I spent an hour looking through the vehicle code for CA on DMV's website.

I couldn't find anything that specifically forbade darkened housing.
Only thing I could find was that various lights and reflectors must be visible from certain distances when in use.
So I'm wondering now if getting smoked lenses is fine if you get bulbs strong enough to meet the visibility requirements.

Let me give some links so if anyone is inclined, they could maybe see something I missed.

Vehicle Code on DMV Website

All of these are under:
- Division 12 - Equipment of Vehicles
- Chapter 2 - Lighting Equipment

Article 2 - Headlamps and Auxiliary Lamps - link
Headlamps - V.C. 24400
- Doesn't mention visibility.


Article 3 - Rear Lighting Equipment - link
Taillamps - V.C. 24600
- Light must be red.
- Must be visible from 1,000 feet.

Stomplamps - V.C. 24603
- Light must be red.
- Must be visible from 300 feet.

Backup Lamps - V.C. 24606
- Light must be white.

Reflectors on Rear - V.C. 24607
- Must be visible from 350 feet.


Article 5 - Signal Lamps and Devices - link
Visibility Requirements of Signals - V.C. 24952
- Turn signals must be visible from 300 feet.


Article 6 - Side and Fender Lighting Equipment - link
Clearance and Side-Markers - V.C. 25100- Front clearance light must be amber, back must be red.
- Both visible from 500 feet.
- Side markers also must be visible from 500 feet.


Article 15 - Light Restrictions and Mounting - link
Color of Lamps and Reflectors - V.C. 25950
- Seems to just say what colors certain types of lights should emit.

:needpics:

Um... like these?
http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/vale...tion-1949.html

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/imag...ti-black-2.jpg