BMW 330ci

ksneubec

I read about the idea of covering your lights in LEDs to decrease their visibilty. I finally got the courage to go buy a pair (of pantyhose, that is), and the results are below.

I think it worked very well. I think they are less visible than what you see in the picture, and they only lose a little bit of brightness through the hose (video below).

The passenger grill light is "naked," the driver's light has the pantyhose on it:

Close up: (again, I think in "real" life the light is less visible than shown in the photo)

Front of car before pantyhose:

Front of car with all 4 LEDs covered:

Video with passenger light without pantyhouse, driver's with:

http://media.putfile.com/video-with-grill-light-drivers-side-behind-pantyhose

For the install, all I did was cut a small section of pantyhose and stretch it over the light. They seem to stay on better on the grill lights; the pantyhose actually seemed a bit loose on the inside lights by the RVM.

Long term questions are this: How will the outside grill light pantyhose hold up? Will bits of dirt and stuff get caught in it?
Will it fall off on the inside light? (If so, I could probably secure it better with tape or something, but the stretch method seems so easy, I hope it works).

Rob K

I did this a long time ago with my tail lights. I had "blackouts" on my headlights but the ones for the taillights were very expensive. I put 2 pairs over each taillight and achieved the same affect as the headlights.

It worked great except it faded in the sun. Your lights are shielded behind the grill so I don't think fading will be a problem. It is also a much smaller surface area than the taillights I was working with. They held up ok to the rain and dirt but I didn't keep them on long term because of the fading.

I think these should hold up ok for you but if they don't, it is pretty cheap to repair!

Nice work.

[EDIT]
Your next lighting upgrade should be like mine: Very Happy

MikeyGoebel

I love the car, and the setup......but......I don't think there's anyway I could use a BMW for POV responses. I'd never make a truck, I'd always be to busy babying it lol

rover

fantastic, I'm sold.. I am going the pantyhose route Smile

C17LVFD

ksneubec,

I actually did the EXACT same thing this weekend on my TL... and WHAT a difference... Pantyhose are going to be part of all future stealth installs for me... I have yet to get pictures... but your right the pictures don't due to lights justice and VERY minimal reduction in light output...

Car looks sweet!! What'z next?? Intersection warning?? Twisted Evil

Seth

MEVS06

that looks cool, i have been thinking about trying this and now i know for sure it will work

joe

ksneubec

Thanks for the comments, Gang.

Rob- I can remember when the Olympic Torch passed through CT back in 1996 when the Games were in Atlanta. BMW donated a bunch of 325s to the Georgia State Police, who escorted them through the entire US leg of the run. It looked similar to what you are suggesting I do with mine Smile

Nah, no intersection warning for me. I usually take my truck to calls anyway, and that has plenty of lights. I like the subtley of my car Smile

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