Amber H3 Fog Bulbs
02-19-2010, 11:04 AM
#1
Amber H3 Fog Bulbs
Last year, MIK3 started a thread with intent to get an amber light in his fogs.
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...out-amber.html
I was on board with the idea, and if you read the thread you'll see it meander into numerous topics. However, specific to the color amber and the fog lights, I tried Amber LED's (which MIK3 ended up using), and I tried an Amber "lamin-x" film... but nothing really worked for me. I ended up going white.
There's been a lot of thread-talk lately about fog bulbs again, so I'm throwing this out there: where can I find amber H3 bulbs? Now, that's "amber", not to be confused with "yellow". The color amber is much more orange-like, as in the turning signals and the front side-markers.
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...out-amber.html
I was on board with the idea, and if you read the thread you'll see it meander into numerous topics. However, specific to the color amber and the fog lights, I tried Amber LED's (which MIK3 ended up using), and I tried an Amber "lamin-x" film... but nothing really worked for me. I ended up going white.
There's been a lot of thread-talk lately about fog bulbs again, so I'm throwing this out there: where can I find amber H3 bulbs? Now, that's "amber", not to be confused with "yellow". The color amber is much more orange-like, as in the turning signals and the front side-markers.
02-19-2010, 11:48 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 155
Custom amber HID can be done, it may cost a little more but I've seen HID companies sell custom color HID's like green, pink, red ect. I'm sure amber orange would be doable. I'm interested in this outcome as well because unlike most I like the look of the amber orange but like you I want a deeper bright orange to match my parking lights on my 01. I'll see if I can find those companies again.
02-19-2010, 12:17 PM
#4
02-19-2010, 12:21 PM
#5
Custom amber HID can be done, it may cost a little more but I've seen HID companies sell custom color HID's like green, pink, red ect. I'm sure amber orange would be doable. I'm interested in this outcome as well because unlike most I like the look of the amber orange but like you I want a deeper bright orange to match my parking lights on my 01. I'll see if I can find those companies again.
I'd be happy to go HID with a ballast and custom color if that's do-able, although I'd also be happy to go the simple route, with an amber (orange) H3 bulb replacement. Either way, please post back if you're on to something.
02-19-2010, 01:07 PM
#6
It occurs to me just now... it's possible the reason why fog lights are never amber (orange) is because that's an emergency color. In other words, it might not be legal.
Hmm.
Hmm.
02-19-2010, 01:15 PM
#7
02-19-2010, 01:17 PM
#8
im not versed in legal jargon so take that for what its worth
B
02-19-2010, 01:49 PM
#10
Thinking about that after writing it, that seems a silly statement on my part. LOTS of cars use their amber turn signals as wicked bright running lights. Cadillac comes to mind.
IDK what to think. What I do know is that I'd like a relatively bright amber light in my fogs without using an amber lens or overlay.
02-19-2010, 04:35 PM
#13
Thank you, woody.
02-19-2010, 05:54 PM
#15
Custom amber HID can be done, it may cost a little more but I've seen HID companies sell custom color HID's like green, pink, red ect. I'm sure amber orange would be doable. I'm interested in this outcome as well because unlike most I like the look of the amber orange but like you I want a deeper bright orange to match my parking lights on my 01. I'll see if I can find those companies again.
talk about pissed. right now i'm rocking the amber alert and loving it because no one has it...BUT you cant really see it during the day which sucks
02-19-2010, 05:59 PM
#16
phatboislim, I remember you from Mike's thread.
I agree that the amber LED's look fantastic at night, but during the day, even when overcast, they're pretty much invisible. That's why they're just sitting useless here on my shelf.
They're the identical 9-SMD stalk of amber LED's that I have in my running lights. And while that looks great in my runners, it's just not enough light behind the fogs. I considered removing the hat inside the lens to let them shine better, but didn't want to ruin my fog lenses for an experiment.
I agree that the amber LED's look fantastic at night, but during the day, even when overcast, they're pretty much invisible. That's why they're just sitting useless here on my shelf.
They're the identical 9-SMD stalk of amber LED's that I have in my running lights. And while that looks great in my runners, it's just not enough light behind the fogs. I considered removing the hat inside the lens to let them shine better, but didn't want to ruin my fog lenses for an experiment.
Last edited by Rochester; 02-19-2010 at 06:01 PM.
02-19-2010, 06:01 PM
#18
yea im considering throwing my yellows back in for now until i can find some amber HIDs....but if i get these lug nuts...i may leave the whole amber alert thing in there
02-19-2010, 06:07 PM
#19
02-19-2010, 07:10 PM
#21
These so called SMD LED bulbs you can buy in white to simulate HID, they do sell in other colors, from my experience when they say yellow...they really mean orange.
I bought some for my custom headlights I'm making and needed a 9005 in orange to use for a turn signal...trust me its pretty orange/amber
I bought some for my custom headlights I'm making and needed a 9005 in orange to use for a turn signal...trust me its pretty orange/amber
02-19-2010, 07:58 PM
#22
These so called SMD LED bulbs you can buy in white to simulate HID, they do sell in other colors, from my experience when they say yellow...they really mean orange.
I bought some for my custom headlights I'm making and needed a 9005 in orange to use for a turn signal...trust me its pretty orange/amber
I bought some for my custom headlights I'm making and needed a 9005 in orange to use for a turn signal...trust me its pretty orange/amber
Last edited by Rochester; 02-21-2010 at 07:29 AM.
02-19-2010, 08:11 PM
#24
http://www.automotivelightstore.com/...re-hidkit.aspx
The chevy camaro's custom lights are from this site. Looks legit. Check it out.
The chevy camaro's custom lights are from this site. Looks legit. Check it out.
02-20-2010, 05:02 AM
#27
http://www.automotivelightstore.com/...re-hidkit.aspx
The chevy camaro's custom lights are from this site. Looks legit. Check it out.
The chevy camaro's custom lights are from this site. Looks legit. Check it out.
In the last couple days, I've been pounding the Google pretty hard, and coming up empty. It's frustrating.
02-20-2010, 08:59 AM
#28
B
02-20-2010, 02:40 PM
#30
operatic.
they do the HID 3000k kits and they are the only kit that ive seen that looks close to the lexus "yellow". someone else told me that and i searched some pics and found out that he was right. PM or email them and see what they can do. i might be interested in an amber set as well.
B
they do the HID 3000k kits and they are the only kit that ive seen that looks close to the lexus "yellow". someone else told me that and i searched some pics and found out that he was right. PM or email them and see what they can do. i might be interested in an amber set as well.
B
02-20-2010, 05:17 PM
#31
02-21-2010, 07:52 AM
#32
This response from operatic over in his Group Deals thread... way down at Post #1931. Needless to say, it's a big thread.
http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals...og-lights.html
http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals...og-lights.html
There is... an oddball color code that we've done a couple times before. Problem is, it's not a consistent output. Some cars it burns an amber color, other cars it comes out an amber/rose color.
This is a raw picture out of an ML500 headlight. Atleast I think it was an ML500... honestly it's been in the back for so long I forgot what it came out of.
http://www.3bspecialties.com/custome...ach/ML500a.jpg
Another raw picture. Directly off the camera, this comes out an orange color.
http://www.3bspecialties.com/custome...0IS300_2WM.jpg
But... there's always a but. In person, it looks more like this.
http://www.3bspecialties.com/custome...AdjustedWM.jpg
Now I've stuck these into the fog lights on a '97 Civic and they came off a light amber color. I honestly do not know what color they'll come out as on any year Maxima. Again, it's not a color we admit to having because we don't know what the hell color it really is. But if you're hell bent on it, we can get a couple sets in for ya. Or we can just order some orange LED bulbs.
This is a raw picture out of an ML500 headlight. Atleast I think it was an ML500... honestly it's been in the back for so long I forgot what it came out of.
http://www.3bspecialties.com/custome...ach/ML500a.jpg
Another raw picture. Directly off the camera, this comes out an orange color.
http://www.3bspecialties.com/custome...0IS300_2WM.jpg
But... there's always a but. In person, it looks more like this.
http://www.3bspecialties.com/custome...AdjustedWM.jpg
Now I've stuck these into the fog lights on a '97 Civic and they came off a light amber color. I honestly do not know what color they'll come out as on any year Maxima. Again, it's not a color we admit to having because we don't know what the hell color it really is. But if you're hell bent on it, we can get a couple sets in for ya. Or we can just order some orange LED bulbs.
02-22-2010, 05:48 AM
#33
And then this response:
...which seems like a brilliant idea. Has anyone reading this thread ever painted the reflector before?
I still have one of my old OEM Nissan lenses kicking around, although one of the two screw posts is snapped off. Still, it would make a great test case. Bake it open, paint the reflector, seal it and mount it for review, analysis, pictures. It's a little daunting, since I've never "baked" any fog or headlight lenses before to crack them open, but I have nothing to lose because my old lens is just junk anyway.
OK, I have a new project now. Understand, it's not going to happen right away, but I'll be sure to post up here when it does.
In the meantime, if anyone else wants to follow through on this idea with more timeliness than my lazy schedule, by all means please do.
But you know what, if you're going to take it apart, paint the reflector a dark orange. Then throw in a 4300k or a 5000k bulb. It'll light up the housing an orange color (how orange depends on color used) but will light up the ground white. I've seen this done on a Silverado headlight where the guy wanted a blue headlights but the brightest output possible.
I still have one of my old OEM Nissan lenses kicking around, although one of the two screw posts is snapped off. Still, it would make a great test case. Bake it open, paint the reflector, seal it and mount it for review, analysis, pictures. It's a little daunting, since I've never "baked" any fog or headlight lenses before to crack them open, but I have nothing to lose because my old lens is just junk anyway.
OK, I have a new project now. Understand, it's not going to happen right away, but I'll be sure to post up here when it does.
In the meantime, if anyone else wants to follow through on this idea with more timeliness than my lazy schedule, by all means please do.
02-22-2010, 06:24 AM
#34
And then this response:
...which seems like a brilliant idea. Has anyone reading this thread ever painted the reflector before?
I still have one of my old OEM Nissan lenses kicking around, although one of the two screw posts is snapped off. Still, it would make a great test case. Bake it open, paint the reflector, seal it and mount it for review, analysis, pictures. It's a little daunting, since I've never "baked" any fog or headlight lenses before to crack them open, but I have nothing to lose because my old lens is just junk anyway.
OK, I have a new project now. Understand, it's not going to happen right away, but I'll be sure to post up here when it does.
In the meantime, if anyone else wants to follow through on this idea with more timeliness than my lazy schedule, by all means please do.
...which seems like a brilliant idea. Has anyone reading this thread ever painted the reflector before?
I still have one of my old OEM Nissan lenses kicking around, although one of the two screw posts is snapped off. Still, it would make a great test case. Bake it open, paint the reflector, seal it and mount it for review, analysis, pictures. It's a little daunting, since I've never "baked" any fog or headlight lenses before to crack them open, but I have nothing to lose because my old lens is just junk anyway.
OK, I have a new project now. Understand, it's not going to happen right away, but I'll be sure to post up here when it does.
In the meantime, if anyone else wants to follow through on this idea with more timeliness than my lazy schedule, by all means please do.
on topic to what you are doing...id like to see it cause then it would be interesting to see it dont with other colors
B
02-23-2010, 10:37 AM
#35
Don't forget to take light output pictures of a before and after, I'd imagine that you wouldn't lose much output (Like when I did my corners), but the fog lights may be designed a bit differently than parking lamps.
02-23-2010, 10:46 AM
#36
Anyone have a recommendation on paint? (I haven't looked yet.) A friend of mine suggested dark "smoke" orange. I've never heard that term before, but apparently "smoke" means there would be some translucency to the orange, so the silver in the reflector can still do its thing. IDK, really. Still have to separate the lens I'm experimenting on...
...and to that end, has anyone ever tried using a heat-gun to loosen the adhesive? We just bought a rather expensive oven, and I'm not too keen on baking plastic inside it. I think my wife would kill me.
02-23-2010, 10:52 AM
#37
02-23-2010, 11:00 AM
#39
Anyone have a recommendation on paint? (I haven't looked yet.) A friend of mine suggested dark "smoke" orange. I've never heard that term before, but apparently "smoke" means there would be some translucency to the orange, so the silver in the reflector can still do its thing. IDK, really. Still have to separate the lens I'm experimenting on..
B
02-23-2010, 11:16 AM
#40