z4 headlight amber delete

PrinceMiro · 11-15-2010, 05:50 PM

Ok so I found a shop that's willing to do the angel eyes, painting and amber delete. One problem though. The guy at the shop asked me if I could provide the clear strip for the headlight.

Anyone know where I can purchase these strips?

pokeybritches · 11-16-2010, 03:00 AM

They do know the headlight units are sealed and they will have to cut it apart?

PrinceMiro · 11-16-2010, 09:14 AM

Yea they know...it's not a random shop...it's a really good one...only difference is that it's on the east coast

So, anyone know where I can get the clear strip?

ZStig · 11-16-2010, 10:24 AM

u'd probably have to fabricate it

imz4n · 11-17-2010, 08:46 AM

There are no clear strips available that I know of. 05 headlights was the first year with the clear plastic.

PrinceMiro · 11-17-2010, 11:48 AM

Ok so the shop will have the do the work themselves. Thanks for the input everyone.

psygnosis · 11-17-2010, 02:05 PM

While the headlights changed, the orange/clear strip inside the light is the same for all Z4's

PrinceMiro · 11-17-2010, 02:10 PM

I thought the strips were removed post 2004. The 05 models have the clear lights.

psygnosis · 11-17-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrinceMiro

I thought the strips were removed post 2004. The 05 models have the clear lights.

But clear or orange, there's still a lens in there.

PrinceMiro · 11-18-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psygnosis

But clear or orange, there's still a lens in there.

so how do shops do the amber delete? they fabricate a clear strip?

Flying Scotsman · 11-18-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrinceMiro

so how do shops do the amber delete? they fabricate a clear strip?

Christ knows how the shop is going to do this "amber delete". If i was you i would make sure the shop knows that:
#1 These headlights aint the same as E46 ones i.e. DONT come apart either with clips or baking them (unless they know what the adhesive is)????
#2 Either amber or clear it IS STILL A LENS. Clear to any colour no problem with a tint film,,,,amber CANNOT be tinted to clear,,, cannot see them fabricating a fresh lens without being mega expensive and time consuming.

I can only see getting post 04 headlights already with clear hockey sticks put into your car. Maybe broken/salvaged 04+ lights for parts grafted into yours after just cutting the lens off and somehow attatching it back on with "glue"?.

I already looked into this, i already have bought a salavged Passenger side headlight of e-bay. I took my angel eyes off my E46 M-sport before i sold back in Scotland and brought them with me, but since have found they are far to large to put into the E85 light housing, so that project was shelved for the moment.

PrinceMiro i would just make sure this shop knows what their doing before they start or they might run into problems and have your car longer than they or you thought. Price could increase as well!!

BU Z4 · 11-18-2010, 01:53 PM

That shop have no clue about Z4 lights, your best bet is to find clear heads from ebay.

PrinceMiro · 11-18-2010, 05:17 PM

The 05+ headlights are ridiculously expensive. Way more than I want to spend on this job. Looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and send them to Tekarbon if I want to do this, which is going to cost me $330 plus shipping (which I'm sure is going to be expensive).

pokeybritches · 11-20-2010, 03:06 AM

Get the halos and painted housings while you're at it! I've heard second-hand of painted housings cracking over time (not from Tekarbon), but I've never seen any evidence of it. If my 3.0i doesn't sell in the next month, I may just keep it and do all three.

ZStig · 11-20-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrinceMiro

The 05+ headlights are ridiculously expensive. Way more than I want to spend on this job. Looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and send them to Tekarbon if I want to do this, which is going to cost me $330 plus shipping (which I'm sure is going to be expensive).

your shop bill will be more than that by the time they figure out how to do it

3002 tii · 11-23-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

your shop bill will be more than that by the time they figure out how to do it

seriously, what many shops fail to realize is that the z4 is unique in so many ways, and most times it means less options or more costly options. the same e46 mods aren't as transferable.

btw - you missed out on a great local gtg, probably last one until spring lol.

ZStig · 11-23-2010, 09:31 AM

hrrrrmpppfffffff

bdejong11129 · 11-23-2010, 08:40 PM

Are there no aftermarket headlights that delete the amber available? My 03 came with 05 style headlights, side markers and tail lights but I didnt think to much of it as far as cost but now I am thankfull.

Z@T · 07-05-2013, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrinceMiro

Ok so I found a shop that's willing to do the angel eyes, painting and amber delete. One problem though. The guy at the shop asked me if I could provide the clear strip for the headlight.

Anyone know where I can purchase these strips?

What happen to this?

I emailed tekarbon as well if it's possible to replace the amber strips with clear ones.

They came back that I need to provide the clear ones.

Any information or source where to get them?

pokeybritches · 07-05-2013, 07:14 PM

You can smoke the signal strips dark. There will be no amber visible when the lights are off, but the turn signal lights are still decently bright when lit up. You'll lose about 25% of the intensity.

Tekarbon used to have the amber delete option on their website, but when I had mine done, they only had the signal smoke. The dark smoke ended up working really well.

psygnosis · 07-05-2013, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z@T

What happen to this?

I emailed tekarbon as well if it's possible to replace the amber strips with clear ones.

They came back that I need to provide the clear ones.

Any information or source where to get them?

I had a lot of work done with my lights through tekarbon. Really long story short, I bought broken clear headlights off ebay and sent them to him so he could use the clear strip from it.

Z4inAZ · 07-06-2013, 12:16 PM

Things must have changed in the 3 years since this thread was started...

Why pay $330 for Tekarbon to take your current lights apart? You can get good condition clear 2005 lights for $250-400 easily. I just scored a set for $400 and only paid that much because all mounting tabs are intact and they come polished and look like new.

Then you can resell your old lights for about what you paid for the new clear ones, and instead of paying Tekarbon $330, you instead have a net cost of $0 and you have clear lights.

I was getting really mad because I didnt want to drop $800+ on lights but also for my project build amber lights REALLY would not have worked. So I did a lot of digging and found someone sold a set of clear lights for $250 shipped so I did some digging myself and there are junkyards all across the US with clear Z4 lights that they are selling at $200 OBO a piece... call em up, offer $325 shipped for a set and most will take it. No point going to Tekarbon anymore IMO... 3-5 years ago when these cars were brand new it made sense to go there because there were not junkyard parts. Now with a few of these cars having been wrecked, where is the motivation to pay a third party to disassemble your lights instead of just buying new (to you) units?

Not to mention they dont sell the clear lenses anywhere, Tekarbon never stocked them, so youd end up having to pay the $330 for the labor PLUS youd have to buy clear lights for parts or find the unobtanium clear sidemarker seperate from the headlight...

11-15-2010, 05:50 PM	#1
PrinceMiro Lieutenant 42 Rep 407 Posts Drives: z4 3.0i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CNJ iTrader: (3)	z4 headlight amber delete Ok so I found a shop that's willing to do the angel eyes, painting and amber delete. One problem though. The guy at the shop asked me if I could provide the clear strip for the headlight. Anyone know where I can purchase these strips?
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11-16-2010, 09:14 AM	#3
PrinceMiro Lieutenant 42 Rep 407 Posts Drives: z4 3.0i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CNJ iTrader: (3)	Yea they know...it's not a random shop...it's a really good one...only difference is that it's on the east coast So, anyone know where I can get the clear strip?
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11-16-2010, 10:24 AM	#4
ZStig instagram 997turbotom 279 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: Interlagos Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delray Beach, FL iTrader: (4)	u'd probably have to fabricate it __________________
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11-17-2010, 08:46 AM	#5
imz4n Captain 57 Rep 822 Posts Drives: 2006 3,0 si TITANIUM SIlVER Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County Ca. iTrader: (0)	There are no clear strips available that I know of. 05 headlights was the first year with the clear plastic.
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11-17-2010, 11:48 AM	#6
PrinceMiro Lieutenant 42 Rep 407 Posts Drives: z4 3.0i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CNJ iTrader: (3)	Ok so the shop will have the do the work themselves. Thanks for the input everyone.
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11-16-2010, 03:00 AM	#2
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	They do know the headlight units are sealed and they will have to cut it apart?
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11-17-2010, 02:05 PM	#7
psygnosis Major 23 Rep 1,034 Posts Drives: '04 Z4 3.0i Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	While the headlights changed, the orange/clear strip inside the light is the same for all Z4's __________________ Straightaways are for fast cars, Corners are for fast drivers.
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11-17-2010, 02:10 PM	#8
PrinceMiro Lieutenant 42 Rep 407 Posts Drives: z4 3.0i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CNJ iTrader: (3)	I thought the strips were removed post 2004. The 05 models have the clear lights.
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11-18-2010, 01:53 PM	#12
BU Z4 Captain 15 Rep 647 Posts Drives: Big & Small Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dallas iTrader: (5)	That shop have no clue about Z4 lights, your best bet is to find clear heads from ebay.
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11-18-2010, 05:17 PM	#13
PrinceMiro Lieutenant 42 Rep 407 Posts Drives: z4 3.0i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CNJ iTrader: (3)	The 05+ headlights are ridiculously expensive. Way more than I want to spend on this job. Looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and send them to Tekarbon if I want to do this, which is going to cost me $330 plus shipping (which I'm sure is going to be expensive).
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11-20-2010, 03:06 AM	#14
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	Get the halos and painted housings while you're at it! I've heard second-hand of painted housings cracking over time (not from Tekarbon), but I've never seen any evidence of it. If my 3.0i doesn't sell in the next month, I may just keep it and do all three.
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11-23-2010, 09:31 AM	#17
ZStig instagram 997turbotom 279 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: Interlagos Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delray Beach, FL iTrader: (4)	hrrrrmpppfffffff __________________
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11-23-2010, 08:40 PM	#18
bdejong11129 Private First Class 7 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 87 E30 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Raleigh iTrader: (0)	Are there no aftermarket headlights that delete the amber available? My 03 came with 05 style headlights, side markers and tail lights but I didnt think to much of it as far as cost but now I am thankfull.
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07-05-2013, 07:14 PM	#20
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	You can smoke the signal strips dark. There will be no amber visible when the lights are off, but the turn signal lights are still decently bright when lit up. You'll lose about 25% of the intensity. Tekarbon used to have the amber delete option on their website, but when I had mine done, they only had the signal smoke. The dark smoke ended up working really well. __________________ VF Engineering Z4 3.0i, ESS Z4M, G-Power Z4M, 996 Turbo
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07-06-2013, 12:16 PM	#22
Z4inAZ Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 224 Posts Drives: Z4 2.5 03 Join Date: May 2013 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Things must have changed in the 3 years since this thread was started... Why pay $330 for Tekarbon to take your current lights apart? You can get good condition clear 2005 lights for $250-400 easily. I just scored a set for $400 and only paid that much because all mounting tabs are intact and they come polished and look like new. Then you can resell your old lights for about what you paid for the new clear ones, and instead of paying Tekarbon $330, you instead have a net cost of $0 and you have clear lights. I was getting really mad because I didnt want to drop $800+ on lights but also for my project build amber lights REALLY would not have worked. So I did a lot of digging and found someone sold a set of clear lights for $250 shipped so I did some digging myself and there are junkyards all across the US with clear Z4 lights that they are selling at $200 OBO a piece... call em up, offer $325 shipped for a set and most will take it. No point going to Tekarbon anymore IMO... 3-5 years ago when these cars were brand new it made sense to go there because there were not junkyard parts. Now with a few of these cars having been wrecked, where is the motivation to pay a third party to disassemble your lights instead of just buying new (to you) units? Not to mention they dont sell the clear lenses anywhere, Tekarbon never stocked them, so youd end up having to pay the $330 for the labor PLUS youd have to buy clear lights for parts or find the unobtanium clear sidemarker seperate from the headlight...
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