Ahmed303,

Where did you get? Or how did you "Tint" the Turn-signal portion (Dark Orange) of the Illumination Panel?

840ways to C

I used 2 coats of VHT, a coat of clear spray then slapped on a sheet of 3M lens protector.

If I could've gotten some smoked Euros... But no longer available.

Ahmed303,

Where did you get? Or how did you "Tint" the Turn-signal portion (Dark Orange) of the Illumination Panel?

840ways to C

It is Euro. All US cars have bright orange.

apologize for digging up this ancient post...

Koizumi, I'm preparing to buy a black 840 in the next few months, and I just wanted you to know your car is the epitome of how a black 8 should look! I'm especially fond of your older pics when you had just lowered it and still had the M-Parallels. That's the look I'll be striving for.

Did you spray just as much VHT on the orange corners as you did the white/clear? On some pics your orange corners look darker than other pics, or maybe it's just my eyes deceiving me. Also, did you ever consider slightly tinting your tails? I know that sounds scary unless you have a spare set to try it out first.

apologize for digging up this ancient post...

Koizumi, I'm preparing to buy a black 840 in the next few months, and I just wanted you to know your car is the epitome of how a black 8 should look! I'm especially fond of your older pics when you had just lowered it and still had the M-Parallels. That's the look I'll be striving for.

Did you spray just as much VHT on the orange corners as you did the white/clear? On some pics your orange corners look darker than other pics, or maybe it's just my eyes deceiving me. Also, did you ever consider slightly tinting your tails? I know that sounds scary unless you have a spare set to try it out first.

My orange corners look lighter when the sun pokes thru them, that's why in some pics they look lighter than others. In reality, they look quite dark, with very little orange color. I installed PIAA 1157 Extreme White bulbs inside them to make the color match my 4300k HID lights. I sprayed 3 coats of VHT on the corners. I installed custom tint lens protectors on the white flash-to-pass lights (the lights right next to the orange corners). I was going to install the tinted protectors on the corners too but the VHT cures permanently onto plastic after a few months.

Get an 8 and post up pics for us to see :D Take your time and find the right E31. There's no need to rush as there are lots of nice examples that you can wade thru until you find "the one".

Cheers

I've thought about smoking the tails but I figured that the 8 has a unique butt, so I decided not to do it.

BTW, the euro smoked FTPs/ light strips are available again, same price as regular ones. Call your favorite BMW dealer, rhymes with fault. FWIW, these parts don't age very gracefully; 6-8 years and the plastic gets brittle and the reflector surfaces fade. If you replace your old ones, be very careful removing the cap plate off the back; it's a separate part number and expensive. Use a heat gun to soften the plastic a little and avoid breaking the clips.

The FTP reflector is made of cheap plastic. I've refreshed mine after it faded to all black plastic with chrome paint.

I've been planning on purchasing euro ftp's, but I need another set of Wuffer Jr's tinted lens protectors--they are really great, nice & thick with good colored tint.

FWIW, my USA-spec ftp's are glass not plastic, but the orange corners are plastic.

I was under the impression that the euro ftp's came as a complete assembly... Thanks for the tip regarding the brittleness. I've got my heatgun on standby :)

Cheers

I've thought about smoking the tails but I figured that the 8 has a unique butt, so I decided not to do it.

I though about this as well, but if I did that I was thinking about having the black plastic between the lights painted glossy black as well. Has anyone done something similar?

Either that or I would paint that piece the same color as the car (Calypso Red). I really don't like how that large an area is just matte black plastic as it really contrasts with the rest of the rear and not in a good way :P

I agree that the black plastic area is not so hot looking (unless you're in europe, since that whole area would be filled with a license plate).

I had a custom red reflector that filled my old E32's black area perfectly. I have a pic of it on my other drive--I'll post it tomorrow. It was very nice looking.

Cheers

Body colour is best...
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u305/Wuffer44/R1034.jpg

Looks amazing on your car, but since mine is black... Maybe a black glossy paint instead of the dull oem black? Just a thought.

Yup - do it David - glossy black is body colour in your case! 8-)

Body colour is best...


Great looking car!

I see you painted the doorhandles as well, that's something I've been thinking about too. Also, the black part of the mirrors bother me :)

Ahmed303,

Where did you get? Or how did you "Tint" the Turn-signal portion (Dark Orange) of the Illumination Panel?

840ways to C

Here is another option that works well. You can buy a sheet and cut it out to fit. You can also use a clear set as an invisible bra to protect from the elements.

www.lamin-x.com (http://www.lamin-x.com)

Wow, the Europeans always get the best options when it comes to BMW's. Has anyone tried pricing the European OEM Illumination Panel?


And to Wuffer, the color matched door handles look amazing on your 8. Thats the only apperance item I hate on these cars because of the dull black finish. Great job Wuffer:D

Wow, the Europeans always get the best options when it comes to BMW's. Has anyone tried pricing the European OEM Illumination Panel?


And to Wuffer, the color matched door handles look amazing on your 8. Thats the only apperance item I hate on these cars because of the dull black finish. Great job Wuffer:D


check a few posts up - they are the same cost (actually I believe they are a few dollars more) as the "yellow" ones and can be gotten from GAULT BMW in NY.
Contact: Charlie.spear@gaultauto.com

I used 2 coats of VHT, a coat of clear spray then slapped on a sheet of 3M lens protector.

If I could've gotten some smoked Euros... But no longer available.

who told you this? AFAIK they are still available, but damned expensive:

left: 63 11 1 383 177 (http://bmwfans.info/part-63111383177/)
right: 63 11 1 383 178 (http://bmwfans.info/part-63111383178/)

who told you this? AFAIK they are still available, but damned expensive:

left: 63 11 1 383 177 (http://bmwfans.info/part-63111383177/)
right: 63 11 1 383 178 (http://bmwfans.info/part-63111383178/)


Hi Wolf, nice to see you around man!

:beermugdr

That post about the euro FTP I posted was a year & half old :) For a long time they were no longer available in the USA. The euro ftp's are now available again in the USA via Charlie Spear @ Gault BMW. I will be ordering a set in a few months :buttrock

Cheers,
Koizumi

uups. I didn't see that.
Sorry for my heavily reduced activities here. I started a new job beginning of the year and am burried in work. Almost 8:30pm and I'm still in the office :(

it's okay, we forgive you! Once you get used to having a nice, well informed BMW-maniac around the forums it's hard to go without ;). I've also pained all the black trim, including doorhandles on my car to match the paint (white), it really does make the car look much less dated. I'd like to also say I'm currently in the process of having the black rubber around the engine bay custom made in a white rubber as well, I'm being told it can be done in many other colors to match OEM, we're currently in the R&D of it tho.

Here is another option that works well. You can buy a sheet and cut it out to fit. You can also use a clear set as an invisible bra to protect from the elements.

www.lamin-x.com (http://www.lamin-x.com)

That is kind of what I used but pre-cut by Rob.

http://860.sentineltech.net/Pictures/Exterior/Front01.jpg
http://860.sentineltech.net/Pictures/Exterior/PassengerSide01.jpg
http://860.sentineltech.net/Pictures/Exterior/Rear01.jpg