Spec-D Black vs. Gloss

[Sosa]

TL;DR:
Is there a comparison of the black and gloss black Sepc-D headlight?

I've been eyeing the Spec-D's for a long time and noticed two listings on FT86Motorsports. There is a "black" and "gloss black" available, both have the same description and pricing. The images (below: Black followed by gloss) look the same to my eye.

Black


Gloss


I have exhausted my search ability (both here and online), has anyone seen both; if so, is there a noticeable difference (eg: high contrast as in matte vs. gloss) between the two?

PS: I would contact the site/manufacturer, however I'm a while away from upgrading my lights, focusing on other parts

Thanks in advance!

[_gt86_user]

Ones matte ones gloss black housing inside, my opinion spend your money elsewhere for sure do not buy.

[Sosa]

Matte vs. gloss is a decision I can live with, but why spend elsewhere (as far as lighting is concerned)?
I understand that they’re heavy, as in Monogram/10 Series heavy, they require some play to get the lighting right, and sunlight may wash out the “boomerang”. Is there anything else I should be aware of?

[YamahaR86]

Originally Posted by Sosa

Matte vs. gloss is a decision I can live with, but why spend elsewhere (as far as lighting is concerned)?
I understand that they’re heavy, as in Monogram/10 Series heavy, they require some play to get the lighting right, and sunlight may wash out the “boomerang”. Is there anything else I should be aware of?

Lighting sucks. I have HIDs in mine but it's still bad. The projectors are halogens which mean they're suited for halogen bulbs. The light output is subpar, hotspots and an erratic cut off line. I've heard some people say their highbeams are stuck "on" as well on one of them so they have to keep flicking them on and off to get the flap to low again.

I don't like the boomerang color, it's a bluish instead of white, so I plan on changing out the LEDs in them to white when I open them up to replace the projectors as well to morimoto minis.

Also, this applies to spyder as well as any other aftermarkets. The headlight will lose it's UV coating in a year. It'll start to peel and crack.

[Sosa]

Originally Posted by YamahaR86

Lighting sucks. I have HIDs in mine but it's still bad. The projectors are halogens which mean they're suited for halogen bulbs. The light output is subpar, hotspots and an erratic cut off line. I've heard some people say their highbeams are stuck "on" as well on one of them so they have to keep flicking them on and off to get the flap to low again.

I don't like the boomerang color, it's a bluish instead of white, so I plan on changing out the LEDs in them to white when I open them up to replace the projectors as well to morimoto minis.

Also, this applies to spyder as well as any other aftermarkets. The headlight will lose it's UV coating in a year. It'll start to peel and crack.

Damm it, lol! I could get over most your dislikes, but poor lighting and an abrupt cutoff is concerning. Back to the drawing board for me (black out/JDM/BRZ). Thanks again Yamaha!

[ryoma]

you will probably get better performance by just using an HID kit in your stock housing. don't use anything JDM since their cutoff is on the wrong side

[Sosa]

Originally Posted by ryoma

don't use anything JDM since their cutoff is on the wrong side

This I remember, should have posted monogram/10 series, my bad :-)

[FR-Sky]

if you buying small items from them i can tell you go ahead.
If you buying something big i suggest you find a trustworthy company.
Because i dont have a good experience Spec-D.

[_gt86_user]

Originally Posted by Sosa

Matte vs. gloss is a decision I can live with, but why spend elsewhere (as far as lighting is concerned)?
I understand that they’re heavy, as in Monogram/10 Series heavy, they require some play to get the lighting right, and sunlight may wash out the “boomerang”. Is there anything else I should be aware of?

I worked at SpecD for like 5 years right around the time they released these lights at SEMA, honestly I'm just letting you know all the lights are shit.

[NyC Zn6]

Originally Posted by _gt86_user

I worked at SpecD for like 5 years right around the time they released these lights at SEMA, honestly I'm just letting you know all the lights are shit.

Yep just like Winjets as well

[weederr33]

I vote retrofit the stocks! And if you like the black look, just paint them.

[YamahaR86]

Originally Posted by Sosa

Damm it, lol! I could get over most your dislikes, but poor lighting and an abrupt cutoff is concerning. Back to the drawing board for me (black out/JDM/BRZ). Thanks again Yamaha!

Yeah I'm not a lighting snob but it's pretty bad. I did a retrofit on motorcycles a while back with FX-R Projectors and those were so crisp and clean I was amazed, especially since it was my first projector install. Nowadays I compare lighting to those projectors or even OEM HID ones and they have a clean cut off line.

These Spec-Ds aren't good at all. Another member and I plan to install morimoto mini's in there when we open them up later on as TRS (The Retrofit Source) sells a projector kit aimed to replaced Spec-D headlights, like really, it says "For Spec-D" on the product page.