Hello everyone,

I'm looking to get that smoked headlight look, and I'm confused whether just to get the gunsmoke lamin x headlight precut films, or take it to a shop to paint the bi-xenons black.

I heard I may lose light output with the lamin x so I'm not sure, and I'm not sure if painting has any cons (paranoid perfectionist...)

Anyone recommend either? pics would be helpful to compare.

You heard that you may lose output? You are tinting your headlights. Of course you will lose light output.

Do it the right way. Leave the headlight "lens" alone and paint the inner parts of the headlamp unit for that "blacked out" look.



Also, there are a NAUSEATING number of threads on blacked out headlights. Please use the search function before starting threads. Even a simple google search for "C300 blacked out headlights" will return 5 threads from this site, about this exact topic, at the very top of your search results...

Thanks.

^+1.........and same for tail lamps. Light output is a critical safety factor for you and everyone around you, and very carefully designed and engineered as is! Doesn't matter if its film or spray....darker is the wrong way to go.

You guys are on crack.......

Light output is just fine. My wife hasn't noticed a difference and she's **** McAnalene

Now you've heard both sides of the story, OP.

Your call now.

...and equally compelling cases they are, indeed!! Years of testing, human factors research, regulatory rulemaking based on cost/benefit analyses, engineering testing and design.....vs. a few forum members and/or their spouses who prize their own fashion sense over the safety of themselves, their passengers, or those around them on the road. Hard to decide which is more persuasive!

There will be a loss of output. A 95 percent tint means 5 percent less light is allowed to pass through the window/lens. Whether that loss of light output concerns you or not is up to you. I think that opening your headlights and painting the insides is the best choice to get the look you want without any consequences. Since you have bi-xenons, you don't have to worry about blacking out your high beams reflectors (making them useless), which is the biggest con of painting the inside of your headlights.

For clarification:
The personal anecdote about their wife is an opinion that sounds like they're saying there is no loss of output, resulting in a rebuttal. There is a loss of output.

I got mine painted...it looks much cleaner and you can not get cited for it. if your local to Los Angeles, Juno does great work at a great price

i got my headlights done with lamin-x (gunsmoke) and they work fine for me at night with just stock bulbs. and i have passed tons of cops and they dont say anything. And if i were to get a fix it ticket the shop i went to said they would remove and reinstall for free.

That made me lol today

So when painting them, 2 things come to mind,

What is the best paint to use? For no cracking or melting over the years (would be nice if it can be bought online internationally)

And I believe the eyebrows should NOT be painted too for that C63 headlight look, just the bi xenons am I correct?

Thanks

I will say, that the tint of that doesn't look like too bad of a compromise between darkness and light output. I like that^