Our amber headlights CAN be de-ambered
 

I was going to keep this to myself, but decided to share ;)

As the title says...
If you've got the guts.

Pictures are easier than typing :p

Last pic shows what I got after 60 seconds with a Dremel and plunge router attachment set to 1.25mm. :cool:

Edit: Video showing how to open a sealed headlight after baking for 15 minutes at 225f.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqUrWnxrAeY&feature=youtu.be


Edit: picture of finished product.

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...4CF923A277.jpg

Just as I was about to jump into bed, you post this. Off to the garage. lol

Subscribed!!! although watching with one eye closed ;)

Subscribed

I really think a belt sander is going to be a little too aggressive for this work.

Let me toss this idea out there:

Why not cut the entire amber lense off? Then attach a replacement reflector in the appropriate color? The bond to the rest of the lense would not need to be superman strong as the entire lense is supported by the housing when resealed.

The less amber lenses out there ...

... the more exclusive my car becomes ;)
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

I've been saying Dremel for years...

Actually my idea was to just cut that part off and sell a plug and play puzzle piece just like the triangle. Of course unlike PW I thought through none of this.

My 1998 Boxster has amber turn signals but, the turn signal area has an amber colored film over it. No where near the thickness of 1.25 mm. It is more like the thickness of a heavy tint film that would be used on a window. When running your finger pads acrross the edge you can feel the "step" up onto the film. I'm thinking this might be removed with a heat gun, only concern would be the adhesive residue. Anyone else have amber film on their headlights?

Particlewave I have a drivers side headlight you can have. If you want it I will send it out to you next week. Let me know.

I'm 99% sure that what you are feeling is just the transition I posted above. It does look and feel like a film, which has confused many people over the years. Don't feel bad.

Unless someone actually put amber film on a clear lens which I'm pretty sure didn't happen ;)
They never came from the factory that way...

Definitely! Thanks Tommy!

I've considered this as well, but it would be a lot of work. Firstly, you would have to find a material that looks correct. Next, the piece is pretty complex shaped...it's got a compound curve. Not to mention getting a good seal between the two pieces.

Well, this polycarbonate is pretty tough. I've gone at it with power tools before... It will be wet belt sanding though :D
I've also considered something like a plane, but that would be difficult also. The best way to find out is to dive right in!

How about using trim router with square bit.
You can adjust how deep U want to go and will do the job quickly

Hmmmmm.

Remove/cut off the entire Orange section and build a single separate LED turn signal that fits in its place
with a clear plexi lens Vacumm formed over a plug to achieve the compound lens shape.

http://inventionstudio.gatech.edu/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/FormechVacuumGuide.pdf

Very Interesting!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ting-Arte1.jpg

So, while you have my headlights anyway.... ;-)

I'll be watching with great interest!

I started to sand off the amber part with a hand orbital sander using 80 grit. I worked on it for 10 minutes but then got bored. looking at your cross section picture, maybe I just need to keep trying.

How thick is the whole lens? Taking off 1.25mm from something which looks to me not to be more than a couple of millimeters thick doesn't really improve the structural integrity of the piece.

Btw, thanks to Fred's advice of just sanding down the yellowed lenses with 1200 grit sandpaper, etc., etc., my headlights now look factory new again! Still contemplating the HID upgrade. Not sure if I like the modern look or the old style better. Decisions, decisions.

The bulk of the lens (main portion) is 3mm thick. The turn signal area is just over 6mm thick, so plenty of room for error (not that I make mistakes ;) )

It's a good thing that this is not an issue, seeing as how there are more amber headlights on the market than people know what to do with because no one wants them except Pedro, lol! :D

You guys are very ambitious

I'd say this is done with a semi-soft sanding block (manual), starting slow with #100 up to #whatever. Gradually getting good at curving your block to meet that final organic curve is what you want. No quick way unless you are on your 1000 pcs run (manufacturer).

Put anything electric in there and you'll possibly need a new eye as much as some not-so-cheap headlights.

My 2cents

............

What the heck did I miss?

Some of those guys on the 996 forum are quite uppity and full of themselves. Can you believe that one actually PMed me to tell me how stupid this was and how my mods in general are "ghetto"?
A well established member, too :(

I tried not to take it personal but it kinda bummed me out, so I'm going to take some time off to think things over...

At times i disagree with what others do with their cars but that is just it... it is THEIR car. As for your mods though i do really like them, sorry to hear about that.

Sorry you feel that way. :(

I guess it is part of being on a forum. There are always people who think they are above everyone else and have to voice it. Unfortunately these people tend to also be the people who are the established members. It is what it is. you either grow thicker skin and let it run off, not participate, or succumb to the way they want you to act.

Look at JD, I'm sure he gets more than his share of the abuse. Sure some people think he asks for it, but to me he stands proud of what he says and does on this forum. So should you. You put in your part and there are plenty of people here who appreciate what you do for the forum.

I would have loved to see it. Based on your analysis it appears that it's feasible. Please post. Just think about the abuse and criticism JR got and he created and has given the 9x6 community a wealth of information and help on these motors.

Aww C'mon!! Show it to us dang it!!! You've cracked the code and some douche is getting you down l? Who the fark is he? The curator of the Porsche museum of fine and exquisite tastes?

If experience has taught me anything is that those guys spend more time judging each other than any other car I can think of. This 911 isnt as cool as that one. Ours are the last real 911's. Bla bla bla. Then they get into endless fights within their own tribe. It's like a daily soap opera. At least the track/GT3 guys lay down an ocasional bet or track day challenge to back up their keyboard war mongering.

Ah, just ignore.
You're having fun. You're doing a great job and providing a great service. Your 'customers' are happy, so sc&$# these self righteous buggers out there.
Keep up the good work!

Charles, you have done some excellent work on here, not everyone figured life out back in Kindergarten, that is, if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything! It's too bad some feel that their opinion is the only one that counts. By the way, "mods" are really nothing but after manufacture options. Not everything Porsche comes up with is agreeable to everyone either. When I see a car driving down the street with some crazy wheels, exhaust, what have you, I may not like what they did, but I always remember that some guy came up with an idea, saved some cash, put in some labor, stood back and said "damn, that is cool!" Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.:cheers:

Might be the same member who recently PM me his longgggg vision RE the bad/wrong effects "Flipping Cars" had on today's societies. A "Car Story" lol.

Charles, remember "MadMods" ?!

A member here went as far as registering (read buying) a dot com, put up a live webpage with links to each and single of Madmods posts/threads and commented on almost each and every single one of them - generously only highlighting the ridicules of them (still up today, but most posts have been trashed). Doesn't stop there.... he registered a dummy account here, flooded MadMods' PM inbox, found out where he was working and happily sent death threat to his employer enquiry inbox. All that just for ONE thread about "a poor man's porsche".

You just never know theses days. Just shacking off a headlight a little too much on the left side can wake up some of the weirdest dude. If it is that same MadMods magnet guy then I think you are in big (BIG) trouble lollllllll

Still subscribed.

I want to see that amber thing disappearing. Get that #100 out NOW

Still here

I'm sending a public non-pm to say don't think too long and keep sanding, I have a pair of beat up burned inner lenses victim of the "bad" hid conversion with super gunky seals ambers I will donate to the cause.

Keep sanding!! And retrofitting!

Steve

That car flipping thread got a little crazy, but I can't believe someone actually felt the need to send you a lengthy pm on the topic, especially since it was being debated so vehemently in the open forum. I mean, what could anyone add to what had already been said? Well, I hope you feel properly admonished and have now seen the error of your ways! :D (I still think it has a funny side to it, and I don't care who thinks less of me for that!)

6 more weeks until Montreal - woohoo!

Particlewave! Its not like you're pasting eyelashes on them, right?

Right?!?!

Life's to short to listen to wankers... Keep up the good work!

Hahaha! Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I'm not all tore up about it, just was a little taken aback. I do need a vaca, though.
TOO MANY HEADLIGHTS, LOL!!!

I'll give this another shot soon and post results. The problem is that power tools burn, melt, and warp the plastic and can also quickly make a hole.
Hand sanding would take days, so...

Pics added back to post #1 for those who follow my insanity! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Finally! I was hoping you'd bring this back up. Aside from taking a dremel to the orange part of the lens, do you think it's possible to sand away at it?