Bake and black out headlights?

[sensinitas]

Hey guys-

In the VW world, this is called the "Joey Mod". Has anyone done this to their 5? I did my Subaru's, and it turned out AMAZING. Just interested to see pictures and hear some horror stories.

Thanks! (wiggle)

 

[dw8]

I've done it, but not by baking it. I took the headlights apart on my Ford Focus to paint them. Used a hair dryer and a screwdriver. It is fairly easy to do, just not sure how good it would look on the 5.

 

[maple_leaf]

I'd love to do the tails if it was possible....

 

[BlueWolfCry]

people do it on the protege. It's a safe mod. Go for it. You'll likely get this sticky glue s*** all over, so be slow and careful

 

[maple_leaf]

Well, I know it gets done on Proteg alot, I used to own a P5. But I've read somewhere (can't remember where) that it doesn't work for the 5.....??? Not sure I wanna take the risk.(shrug)

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

by a cheap pair of altezzas from ebay and spray those?

 

[sensinitas]

Well, I know it gets done on Proteg alot, I used to own a P5. But I've read somewhere (can't remember where) that it doesn't work for the 5.....??? Not sure I wanna take the risk.(shrug)

Why wouldn't it work for the 5? I obviously don't want to take the risk either if there's a chance it won't work.

 

[maple_leaf]

Why wouldn't it work for the 5? I obviously don't want to take the risk either if there's a chance it won't work.

The type of glue or somethig....(dunno)

 

[jandree22]

I read somewhere that the tails are plastic welded together rather than glued whatever that means. Honestly, I have never read of anyone that has actually attempted it. Just be careful and follow baking instructions exactly. If they come apart, great! But if not, all youve lost is a few hours of your day.

 

[sensinitas]

I read somewhere that the tails are plastic welded together rather than glued whatever that means. Honestly, I have never read of anyone that has actually attempted it. Just be careful and follow baking instructions exactly. If they come apart, great! But if not, all youve lost is a few hours of your day.

Yea...I'm not going to mess with the tails. It's the headlights I want to open and paint.

 

[jandree22]

Yea...I'm not going to mess with the tails. It's the headlights I want to open and paint.

Oh, damn my fault! You did say headlights, didnt you. Well, as far as the headlights go, I actually have read that those do respond nicely to the bake method. Granted again, not sure of the source of this was actually ever attempted.

 

[antlind]

Oh, damn my fault! You did say headlights, didnt you. Well, as far as the headlights go, I actually have read that those do respond nicely to the bake method.

That might work for headlights with a glass front lens...Isn't the headlight lens on the Mazda5 some sort of plastic material...May not survive baking.
Anthony

 

[Kurt07]

I did this for my Mitsubishi. I turned the oven on warm. On a baking sheet I put a wet towel. After removing the bulbs and everything else I could remove from the headlight housings, I place the headlights lens side down on the wet towel. I would check them every 5 minutes but they stayed in there less than 15 minutes. I put them in the oven to re-seal them, but I added a small amount of adhesive. After they came out of the oven, I tied them tightly together so they would seal.

 

[jandree22]

That might work for headlights with a glass front lens...Isn't the headlight lens on the Mazda5 some sort of plastic material...May not survive baking.
Anthony

That's what I initially thought the first time I heard the method too. However you use a lower temp like 200*F - 325*F, which is the middleground of melting the glue but not enough to melt the plastic (Disclaimer: I am unsure of the correct temperature exactly... find another source to be sure).

Two more things I should mention about reading others' past experiences...
1) Important, the headlights WILL be hot as a mofo to the touch... use protective gloves or an oven mit to handle.

2) Some people have moisture issues after performing this mod. Especially during the humid summer months, moisture will get inside the housing when you take it apart, then you reseal it locking the moisture back in. When the lamps cool down the moisture will condense and either fog or drip inside the lamp. Not sure if there's any way around this or not, but be warned it might happen.

Kurt raised a good point about the wet towel, too. If you were to put the clear lense on a hot pan directly, the concentrated source of head, not to mention residual grease from cooking would probably leave a nasty (permanent) spot of discoloration.

 

[sensinitas]

Thanks guys. I believe when I did my Subaru's, the oven was only on 200. Just enough to pry the glass case from the housing. They were held together by black silicone, which was mighty stringy when I pulled them apart. But I was able to handle the lights right out of the oven. I want to try this, but I want to hear at least ONE success story before I do. Are there any 07-08 models people are doing this mod on currently?

The lights will look so good if it's possible...

 

[sensinitas]

I still want to do this, but haven't received any confirmations that it can be done. I guess I could take the risk, but it would be nice to know for sure.

 

[sensinitas]

Hey guys - I wanna bump this thread up.

Do you know if anyone has done this to the Mazda 3? I'm assuming the headlights are made of the same materials...

Edit: I just found the thread on how to install angel eyes on a three. This process involves baking the headlight. I CAN be done! This is the next mod on my list. I'll have this done in a couple weeks, and then I'll post photos. Can't wait!

 

[nismospeed]

just to put you at ease i have done both, a lexus gs400 and my personal zenki 240 lights both came out great. as for the moisture , it is no different to open the lens by baking or to change the bulbs either way you have broken the factory seal. air gets in the housing when you change a bulb. if it was that bad think of all the people that have the HIDconversions, yet nobody has complained of moisturein the lens. just my thoughts.

 

[BLACKOUT]

Hey guys - I wanna bump this thread up.

Do you know if anyone has done this to the Mazda 3? I'm assuming the headlights are made of the same materials...

Edit: I just found the thread on how to install angel eyes on a three. This process involves baking the headlight. I CAN be done! This is the next mod on my list. I'll have this done in a couple weeks, and then I'll post photos. Can't wait!

Can't wait to see what it looks like. Do you have sport/Touring OR GT. I want to do mine but I'm curious with the factory HID how to get that off it has the leveling thing on there, dont want to bake those(nailbyt)

 

[sensinitas]

just to put you at ease i have done both, a lexus gs400 and my personal zenki 240 lights both came out great. as for the moisture , it is no different to open the lens by baking or to change the bulbs either way you have broken the factory seal. air gets in the housing when you change a bulb. if it was that bad think of all the people that have the HIDconversions, yet nobody has complained of moisturein the lens. just my thoughts.

Yea I'm not too worried about moisture. I had just heard a couple times the glue used to seal the headlight unit couldn't be baked. I've done this to my Subaru with amazing results.

Can't wait to see what it looks like. Do you have sport/Touring OR GT. I want to do mine but I'm curious with the factory HID how to get that off it has the leveling thing on there, dont want to bake those(nailbyt)

I have a Sport. If you think about it, 200 degrees really isn't THAT hot. I mean with a 100 degree day outside, and the temps of your engine, I'm sure they withstand good amounts of heat.

I'm hoping to do this this weekend. Maybe I'll write up a little DIY on it.