Noob Smoked Question

So I am looking into smoking out my headlights. (I did search before posting this). Prior to doing anything research, I assumed when people were smoking out their headlights, they were darkining the clear lens. Now it appears most people are actually painting the chrome plastic under the lens. Is that correct? Which looks better?

Does anyone know what the law restricts in CA with regards to smoking the headlights?

 

I know for sure that it will be illegal to tint the headlight cover in Cali.

Personally I think the BHLM where they paint the chrome inside the housing looks better and is the more legal way to go. There are plenty of write ups on how to do that but you'll need a lot of time and be very careful so you don't end up with moisture on the inside.

 

^Agreed.

 

BHLM stands for....

 

Also, can you paint all of the chrome.. what parts can you not paint if any?

 

Also, why have I heard that projector headlights are not as bright as stock? Aren't you using the stock light bulbs?

 

BHLM= Black Head Light Mod

And yes tinting anything in Cali basically is legal, some cops are leniant but you have to be careful here.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/65226-how-black-head-light-mod.html

 

These have smoked lenses.. so these are potentially illegal?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TACO...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

Yes I believe any tint on your headlights is illegal, however i know people that have tinted headlights and they havnt been pulled over, at most its a fix it ticketand if you just get covers sometimes you can just take the cover off in front of the cop and you wont get a ticket. IF you do tint the front or buy tinted headlights just try and make sure they look clean and look like they came like that from the factory, the darker they are the more attention you're going to draw to your self.

 

Theirs a member who will do the BHLM for u

 

Alright I am going to do it myself this weekend. What parts should I not paint because I live in CA? The reflector? Anything else?

Also it looks like some people paint the chrome bowl that surounds the light and reflects it outward. Do people do this or am I mistaken?

 

I wouldnt paint the bowl because thats where ur light refelcts, id say unless u had projectors dont paint them.

 

Any modification of your lighting equipment is illegal in California. You may never be stopped and cited for them but you could. The chances of getting cited for smoking the lenses would be much higher than the BHLM. I would go that route. I think they look better anyway with the BHLM. If you search BHLM you will find a few how to threads with lots of pictures and step by step instructions. Good luck!

Legal stuff...

Modification of Vehicle Equipment

26101. (a) ( )1 A person shall not sell or offer for sale for use upon or as part of the equipment of a vehicle ( )2 any device that is intended to modify the original design or performance of any lighting equipment, safety glazing material, or other device, unless the modifying device meets the provisions of Section 26104. ( )3

(b) ( )4 A person shall not use upon a vehicle, and a person shall not drive a vehicle upon a highway that has installed a device that is intended to modify the original design or performance of a lighting, safety glazing material, or other device, unless the modifying device complies with Section 26104.

(c) This section does not apply to a taillamp or stop lamp in use on or prior to December 1, 1935, or to lamps installed on authorized emergency vehicles.



Required Laboratory Tests

26104. (a) Every manufacturer who sells, offers for sale, or manufactures for use upon a vehicle devices subject to requirements established by the department shall, before the device is offered for sale, have laboratory test data showing compliance with such requirements. Tests may be conducted by the manufacturer.

(b) The department may at any time request from the manufacturer a copy of the test data showing proof of compliance of any device with the requirements established by the department and additional evidence that due care was exercised in maintaining compliance during production. If the manufacturer fails to provide such proof of compliance within 30 days of notice from the department, the department may prohibit the sale of the device in this state until acceptable proof of compliance is received by the department.

 

Thanks!

 

The picture of these smoked headlights on ebay are a little deceiving...

I bought a set of these thinking they would match my smoked tails. They are much darker than pictured, almost as dark as those GTS/AVS black out covers for headlights. I went out and bought HIDs to counteract the smoke lens, and it wasn't enough.

Hear are a couple pics of just the lens from one of these lights. I used a roll of white paper towels on a black table for contrast.

[w/o Flash]



[With Flash]

 

Isn't everything illegal in Cali? lol