Amber H3 Fog Bulbs
Why do you think flat paint? Why not high-temp orange gloss?
http://rndperformance.com/i-128737-v...-can-each.html
http://rndperformance.com/i-128737-v...-can-each.html
B
I haven't worked on fog lights yet, but my experiments on flashlights aren't going too well.
The color effect is achieved, but the flashlight's beam pattern became more spread out and not as defined, the color of the light also changed too. I will upload pics later to show.
The color effect is achieved, but the flashlight's beam pattern became more spread out and not as defined, the color of the light also changed too. I will upload pics later to show.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 57
From: Edm, Ab, Can
Wow, I do not like the yellow fog lights on anything except JDM civics and such but the ambers seems like it would look decent on these cars, I'd like to see a few pictures of Maximas with there's done not photshopped then I might think about doing it myself
So I got around to playing with the old OEM fog lens today, and baked it in the oven at 250 for 20 minutes. I got a pass from the wife to do this, and 250 degrees really isn't that hot after all. I didn't notice any fumes.
Anyway, after 2 minutes, the glass wouldn't budge. Then I put it in for another 10, and the glass slipped right off the black plastic with leverage from a small flat-head.
I'm looking at the inside now. Notice how easy it is to remove the hat. I'm tempted to remove the hat and see what the Amber LED would look like, before moving on and painting the reflector.
As to painting the reflector... I'm thinking of just painting the smooth backside, and leaving the ribbed walls chrome.
Playtime will be somewhat curbed, however, since we've had 2 feet of snow in the last 2 days.
Anyway, after 2 minutes, the glass wouldn't budge. Then I put it in for another 10, and the glass slipped right off the black plastic with leverage from a small flat-head.
I'm looking at the inside now. Notice how easy it is to remove the hat. I'm tempted to remove the hat and see what the Amber LED would look like, before moving on and painting the reflector.
As to painting the reflector... I'm thinking of just painting the smooth backside, and leaving the ribbed walls chrome.
Playtime will be somewhat curbed, however, since we've had 2 feet of snow in the last 2 days.
Today I put the 9-SMD bulb in the old OEM fog lens, and put it in the car for some side-by-side pictures. Take note, this is without the hat. That's pretty important, because with the hat in the lens, the LED bulb becomes super weak. Actually, it's pretty weak as is.
During daylight, it's a dead ringer for my running lights (same bulbs, actually). The only difference is that the surface area is larger. Also during the day (dusk), it looks more yellow than orange.
During the night, it looks pretty darn good. But the weakness of the light is just to obvious for my taste, and I prefer the white look.
During daylight, it's a dead ringer for my running lights (same bulbs, actually). The only difference is that the surface area is larger. Also during the day (dusk), it looks more yellow than orange.
During the night, it looks pretty darn good. But the weakness of the light is just to obvious for my taste, and I prefer the white look.
Tonight, I'm spraying the back surface of the reflector with florescent orange paint. Tomorrow, I'll put the lens back in the car again, this time with a bright white halogen light. The theory is that the white light bulb will reflect orange light out of the lens because the flat surface of the lens reflector is florescent orange.
At least, that's the theory. We'll see tomorrow.
At least, that's the theory. We'll see tomorrow.
I painted the back part of the reflector last night. IDK, maybe I should have painted the ribbed sides instead of the curved backing. 
This morning I reassembled the old fog lens, with the hat re-installed, and an old 100w H3 bulb I had left over from last year. I'll put it back on the car later today and take some more pictures.
It looks... well, very weird. While it certainly looks better than the orange exterior film that I tried out last year, it still looks kind of goofy. Maybe I'll think differently once it's on the car.
Anyway, here's what it looks like just sitting on my desk:
This morning I reassembled the old fog lens, with the hat re-installed, and an old 100w H3 bulb I had left over from last year. I'll put it back on the car later today and take some more pictures.It looks... well, very weird. While it certainly looks better than the orange exterior film that I tried out last year, it still looks kind of goofy. Maybe I'll think differently once it's on the car.
Anyway, here's what it looks like just sitting on my desk:
I have to admit, that was my feeling too.
OK, funny guy. 
It does look pretty silly here on my desk, and I'm feeling just as pessimistic as you and phatboislim. Just let me get through this for some closure. Check back this evening.
It does look pretty silly here on my desk, and I'm feeling just as pessimistic as you and phatboislim. Just let me get through this for some closure. Check back this evening.
I popped it in just now, and will take pictures at 4:00 (same time of day, same location, same sun); then again after dark.
I'll do it because, well, what the heck... it's not costing me anything but for a can of paint and some time to experiment. But I have to say, I really hate it. Seriously. Puke.
Guys, it looks pink. PINK! It's like I contracted Barbie to customize my fog lights.
Oh my God... Now I understand why Operatic said to use "dark orange".
I'll do it because, well, what the heck... it's not costing me anything but for a can of paint and some time to experiment. But I have to say, I really hate it. Seriously. Puke.
Guys, it looks pink. PINK! It's like I contracted Barbie to customize my fog lights.
Oh my God... Now I understand why Operatic said to use "dark orange".
Should be interesting to see how it looks anyway, you have gone to such great length thus far. I see you found out that Nissan spared no amount of sealant when they closed up these fogs as I believe I too spend about 1/2 hour at around 250* just to get it to loosen up and then another 15 mins. just digging out the balance that they file inside the trough to hold the glass. Like you mentioned there really wasn't any fumes from the baking.
Pink you say, well at least pink and gray go together so the silver from the bumper covery will be a nice contrast
Pink you say, well at least pink and gray go together so the silver from the bumper covery will be a nice contrast
i want amber fog lights. amber!
so the light bulb itself wont do the trick?
The lexus capsul idea would work, but that's yellow. And I was going for the orange side of yellow. There's really nothing stopping me from trying the painted reflector route again, with a dark orange. Maybe. Not sure I want to invest too much more time in a loser idea.
More pics later.
Here it is: Daytime Barbie Fogs. First with the lights off, in absolutely hideous neon orange/pink:
And next with the lights on, also orange in person, but on the camera it actually has a lot more yellow when lit, and is slightly less hideous.
Based on this, I'm expecting the nighttime shots to look half-way decent.
But the unlit daytime orange is a total show-stopper. Ug.
And next with the lights on, also orange in person, but on the camera it actually has a lot more yellow when lit, and is slightly less hideous.
Based on this, I'm expecting the nighttime shots to look half-way decent.
But the unlit daytime orange is a total show-stopper. Ug.
OK, yeah, I could agree with that, although it's way-y-y too bright orange, and not enough amber. That would be my bad for using bright florescent orange paint.
If I were to do it over again, I'd use a darker color, more yellow/orange than this florescent crap. And I think I'd paint the ribbed sides of the reflector, instead of the concave backing.
I'll still wait until after dark before swapping the lens out, so I can see what it looks like at night. Thank god it warmed up into the 40's today. If feels like a heat wave!
Oh. Thanks for the translation.
OK, yeah, I could agree with that, although it's way-y-y too bright orange, and not enough amber. That would be my bad for using bright florescent orange paint.
If I were to do it over again, I'd use a darker color, more yellow/orange than this florescent crap. And I think I'd paint the ribbed sides of the reflector, instead of the concave backing.
I'll still wait until after dark before swapping the lens out, so I can see what it looks like at night. Thank god it warmed up into the 40's today. If feels like a heat wave!
OK, yeah, I could agree with that, although it's way-y-y too bright orange, and not enough amber. That would be my bad for using bright florescent orange paint.
If I were to do it over again, I'd use a darker color, more yellow/orange than this florescent crap. And I think I'd paint the ribbed sides of the reflector, instead of the concave backing.
I'll still wait until after dark before swapping the lens out, so I can see what it looks like at night. Thank god it warmed up into the 40's today. If feels like a heat wave!
doesnt look to bad. i bet the darker orange (lights off) would match up with the side markers and orange in the headlights.
B
For some reason, I thought it would get better as it got dark out. I couldn't have been more upside down in my expectations. The more dark it grew outside, the more pink the fog light became.
Seriously. Pink.
...and this, which really shows what I mean:
Well, I'm done. This whole amber-fog thing has become a dead-end for me. God knows I've tried:
I'm going to keep my white fogs, and maybe do up a HID kit later this summer. But as for this amber holy grail... I'm done.
/amberfogs
Seriously. Pink.
...and this, which really shows what I mean:
Well, I'm done. This whole amber-fog thing has become a dead-end for me. God knows I've tried:
- Amber film overlay
- Amber LED bulbs with and without the hat
- Amber painted reflector
I'm going to keep my white fogs, and maybe do up a HID kit later this summer. But as for this amber holy grail... I'm done.
/amberfogs
Today I put the 9-SMD bulb in the old OEM fog lens, and put it in the car for some side-by-side pictures. Take note, this is without the hat. That's pretty important, because with the hat in the lens, the LED bulb becomes super weak. Actually, it's pretty weak as is.
During daylight, it's a dead ringer for my running lights (same bulbs, actually). The only difference is that the surface area is larger. Also during the day (dusk), it looks more yellow than orange.
During the night, it looks pretty darn good. But the weakness of the light is just to obvious for my taste, and I prefer the white look.
During daylight, it's a dead ringer for my running lights (same bulbs, actually). The only difference is that the surface area is larger. Also during the day (dusk), it looks more yellow than orange.
During the night, it looks pretty darn good. But the weakness of the light is just to obvious for my taste, and I prefer the white look.
Great work overall!! It's fun to experiment with different things. You even got a kick out of your wife in the process.
Have you decided what type of HIDs?
No. But you know that I like your setup. I'll probably be talking to you in the summer.
Lamin-x uses Oracal Transparency Film. All they do is cut it to spec and make a fortune on mark-up. For $12 last year, I bought a sheet in amber, enough to make like 4 pairs of fogs. It just looked way to rice for my taste. Good color match, though.
No. But you know that I like your setup. I'll probably be talking to you in the summer.
No. But you know that I like your setup. I'll probably be talking to you in the summer.
B
There's no serious light output from them, but our fogs are mostly cosmetic, or see-me-coming bright, anyway. They're use as actual fogs is somewhat lacking... unless you install a HID kit.