I want this look!!!!

[QX4dahuneys]

I would definitely love to have this look, love how Nick has done his front end making them clears.

I would like if anyone can help get instructions on how to do this or if Nick could help me out on getting this job done correctly, I notice a big difference with those amber pieces gone, looks euro and clean, with amber pieces gone, I can actually replace the parking bulbs to a nice led white which would match perfectly with my stock HID.

[fitzx4]

I would definitely love to have this look, love how Nick has done his front end making them clears.

I would like if anyone can help get instructions on how to do this or if Nick could help me out on getting this job done correctly, I notice a big difference with those amber pieces gone, looks euro and clean, with amber pieces gone, I can actually replace the parking bulbs to a nice led white which would match perfectly with my stock HID.

i personally like the clears but the two tone with that grill is pretty nasty

[QxMan01]

I have this look as well; to do the headlights you have to do the oven bake method. You can search the forums there are numerous threads for how to do this. For the fogs, there are two ways to do it. You can do the oven bake method as well, or, you can take a screwdriver and hammer and break the actual orange piece and shake the pieces out. Hope this helps!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Are the QX4 fog light lenses plastic or glass?

[korbeano89]

i personally like the clears but the two tone with that grill is pretty nasty

i kinda really like the two tone grill, it would be sick if it was carbon fiber

[KyooX4]

Are the QX4 fog light lenses plastic or glass?

Plastic.

[K03sport]

i kinda really like the two tone grill, it would be sick if it was carbon fiber

There is a dry weave carbon fiber "vinyl" stick on. Some guys in the MINI circles have done the overlay on their entire roof.

Let me get the link to that thread on another zeroforum...

Link

Enjoy. This guy also put carbon cloth on his interior too. Looks pretty good.

[NickD85]

as soon as I get around to it, I'm painting the grill back to stock... need to order some paint first. I liked it at first, but too many people have told me it looks like I got in an accident and fixed it with parts from a black Q. I could cover it in a layer of carbon fiber, like korbeano said, but I think Im just gonna go back to gold and put a stainless mesh grill behind it.

Now back on topic...The idea of heating up the entire headlight in an oven is ridiculous to me. What you are trying to do with both the fogs and the headlights is heat up the sealant holding the clear plastic to the black plastic housing. It is absolutely necessary to first remove the light you're working on. I then worked slowly with a heat gun and a wide, flat head screwdriver, separating the two halves. Once inside, be careful not to break any of the little plastic pieces and snaps that hold everything in there together. Take your time, and be careful- I set up a very clean workspace and wore latex gloves to avoid getting any dirt or grease on the inside of the assembly. After removing the amber piece in each light, I then reassembled them by once again heating the edges and forcing things back together with C clamps. I think It's a great look, like you said very clean and "euro"... a big difference

[NickD85]

There is a dry weave carbon fiber "vinyl" stick on. Some guys in the MINI circles have done the overlay on their entire roof.

that looks like cool stuff but why not just do it with real carbon fiber cloth and epoxy? much more durable

[fitzx4]

i kinda really like the two tone grill, it would be sick if it was carbon fiber

i meant nasty as in sick

[korbeano89]

oooooo sorry haha yea id do it to mine but my car is bronze color and i dont think that would mix well

[QX4dahuneys]

I then reassembled them by once again heating the edges and forcing things back together with C clamps. I think It's a great look, like you said very clean and "euro"... a big difference

So when you assembled the lamp back on, you used the existing adhesive that was already on the lamp? You didn't have to buy new adhesive to glue it back together? My scare is having to break anything or being succesful and then a couple of days later having fog buildup. Like many folks have said around here, those lamps aint' cheap!

[NickD85]

yeah... the way I look at it, if you're careful, the adhesive sealant didn't go anywhere. You still have the same amount of the same stuff, in the same place as was originally present. All that needs to be done is to thoroughly reheat and soften up the glue, and force the halves back together. If you're really worried you'd either have to somehow remove all the adhesive and replace it with something like 5200 (marine adhesive sealant) or find something compatible with the existing sealant to add. I haven't had any problems though... but we'll see what happens come winter

[volp]

You don't have to heat it up until its runny too, just until its tacky. I changed out the lenses on my 99 to clear. But when I resealed them I put new silicone on just to be sure.

[QX4dahuneys]

Nick, I might just end up sending them to you so that you can work on them for me.

[slickroger]

i also like the two tone

[K03sport]

Nick...if you aren't going to stay with the black, why not try some of the metallic paints and go for a brushed aluminum or steel look?

Brushed metal look with a black Infiniti emblem, maybe???

[NickD85]

hmmmm... the wheels are turning. (sorry for the hijack)should I a) paint it back to stockb) cover it in carbon fiber http://www.jamestowndistributo...Weave c) paint it with this "chrome" paint from duplicolor http://www.duplicolor.com/prod....html

I think the carbon fiber idea has real potential. It would be the most expensive and time consuming, but still not incredibly difficult. If I "chrome" it I might want to black the emblem ... but I don't want things to start looking too busy up there. I think the most clean and classy solution might be just painting it back to stock gold and throwing a nice mesh grill behind everything

[slickroger]

i like K03sport's idea.

but you never know until you see it

[Qxxx4]

chrome would be interesting, but yea, its hard to tell! i have seen a strut grille on a qx4 and it looked good.

[K03sport]

someone has to have photoshop lying around to help Nick out...

If I did, I would, but I don't have a real need for PS. It's a shame really.

There should be a sticky photoshop thread in the PF/Q forum. That way, those with requests, can have the result posted there and everyone can benefit.