Fog light bulbs melting/burning Laminex?

[SLVRSRFR]

Good day everyone,

I applied Laminex yellow over-lays on my BRZ fog lights 2 summers ago. I bought the overlays online from FT86SpeedFactory and applied them myself.

However, after all this time, there are now some dark "burnt" spots showing on the Laminex in the very middle of both fog lights. At first I thought perhaps it was dirt or dust getting in behind the Laminex, but upon closer inspection, it seems as if I applied it pretty well and there is no way any dirt could have gotten in there.

A friend who also has a BRZ said he heard it was because the factory fog light bulbs burn too hot and will melt the Laminex, and I have to swap the bulbs out to stop this from happening.

Is there any truth to this?

I'm going to have to replace the Laminex, as it looks like shit now. But I don't want to go through all the trouble if the same thing is going to happen again.

I just had a fog light bulb go out the other day, so I want to replace both, and wanted some advice on what bulbs I should look to get to avoid this happening in the future.

I'll try and post a picture later so you can see what I mean (I'm at work right now).

Thanks for any help/advice!

[SCQTT]

Same happened to me (with yellow) on my Miata. Stock bulbs too. Laminex says they know of the problem and have made a change, they may or may not warranty your old ones. I have since purchased new, but have not put them on yet. I also bought yellow overlays for the headlights, but if the fogs discolor the headlights seem like they would actually melt.

[SLVRSRFR]

Originally Posted by SCQTT

Same happened to me (with yellow) on my Miata. Stock bulbs too. Laminex says they know of the problem and have made a change, they may or may not warranty your old ones. I have since purchased new, but have not put them on yet. I also bought yellow overlays for the headlights, but if the fogs discolor the headlights seem like they would actually melt.

Thanks. I was planning on doing the headlights too, but i'm not even going to try those myself.

The fog lights were hard enough as it is, and they were perfectly circular. The headlights, being such an odd shape...there's no way I'd try it myself.

I have a connection with a professional tint guy (I work at a dealership) and will probably get him to do the headlights and re-apply on the fog lights, but again (especially since I have a bulb out) I want to put the right bulbs in before I pay someone to do that only to have them burn through again.

So it might be an issue with the Laminex itself and not the bulbs? I'll have to investigate that further, unless you have some links handy?

[Overdrive]

Well, considering the lights were not designed to have anything layered on top of the lenses, the bulbs aren't really burning too hot. They're doing what they were designed to do. It's the Laminex that isn't up to the task. You could put LED bulbs in place of the stock ones, which shouldn't really ever burn hot enough to harm your overlay, but you could also just get a different colored bulb, too, and avoid needing a tinted overlay altogether. Can't do that with the headlights (not legally in most places, at least), but at least with fog lights you can just get a yellow tinted bulb or yellow LED bulb.

[stevesnj]

Yeh just get LED's

[SLVRSRFR]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

Well, considering the lights were not designed to have anything layered on top of the lenses, the bulbs aren't really burning too hot. They're doing what they were designed to do. It's the Laminex that isn't up to the task. You could put LED bulbs in place of the stock ones, which shouldn't really ever burn hot enough to harm your overlay, but you could also just get a different colored bulb, too, and avoid needing a tinted overlay altogether. Can't do that with the headlights (not legally in most places, at least), but at least with fog lights you can just get a yellow tinted bulb or yellow LED bulb.

I was thinking of just getting yellow bulbs, BUT I like the look of the yellow over-lay even when the bulbs are not on during the day time, so that option was quickly dismissed.

It seems like LED is the best route; that being said, does anyone have any idea what specific LED bulbs I should be looking for that will fit the OEM BRZ fog lights? Sizing/brand etc.

Forgive me; I'm not super familiar with light bulbs. lol

Thanks again everyone.

[Stang70Fastback]

Here's what I did, if you want to consider this route:

http://www.seriesblueadventures.com/...led-fog-lamps/

[SLVRSRFR]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

Here's what I did, if you want to consider this route:

http://www.seriesblueadventures.com/...led-fog-lamps/

Dude. Amazing. Just what I was looking for, and then I can re-apply the overlays to these once they're installed.

The price is right too!

I'm going to order a set soon and install them once the snow has cleared. Do they come with the bulbs or do you have to purchase those separately?

Many thanks!

PS "NOT AWD" - awesome license plate!!

[Cole]

Originally Posted by SLVRSRFR

Dude. Amazing. Just what I was looking for, and then I can re-apply the overlays to these once they're installed.

The price is right too!

I'm going to order a set soon and install them once the snow has cleared. Do they come with the bulbs or do you have to purchase those separately?

Many thanks!

PS "NOT AWD" - awesome license plate!!

Last I checked, they come as a whole assembly. I'd also recommend looking into the Morimoto kit. I've had a set of Morimoto HID's and the quality is absolute top notch, and their customer service is killer.

I made a mistake on my order, and called them about it. They took the box out of the shipping pile and corrected the order while I waited on the other end of the line. Wouldn't hesitate to do business with them again.

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by SLVRSRFR

Do they come with the bulbs or do you have to purchase those separately?

They are a sealed, "non-serviceable" unit. You un-box them, install them, aim them, and that's it.

[Overdrive]

Thanks for sharing. Great solution, and something I'd go for once I get my fog lights done.

[SLVRSRFR]

Thank you everyone for your help and input!

I will be placing my order ASAP so I have them ready-to-install once all this fluffy white bullshit is gone for good.

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by SLVRSRFR

...once all this fluffy white bullshit is gone for good.

There was a tiny bit of fluffy white bullshit on my car this morning too...

[SLVRSRFR]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

There was a tiny bit of fluffy white bullshit on my car this morning too...

Holy snap! Looks like your car is wearing one of those medical masks LOL!

Hope you cleared that shit out before you drove so your rad could breathe!

My car had a mask this morning too, but nothing like that.