[s4nye]

How do you safely remove these side markers?

Thanks

Brian

[Spydeputy]

Push the housing towards the rear, and pop it out from the front.

[Blindside_137]

^^ ummm no.

Go search YouTube for a video by bimmian about the removal.

Slide the sidemarker to the rear of the vehicle then pry out the front while still applying pressure holding it back. The front of the marker will pop out then the rest is cake.

[s4nye]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

^^ ummm no.

Go search YouTube for a video by bimmian about the removal.

Slide the sidemarker to the rear of the vehicle then pry out the front while still applying pressure holding it back. The front of the marker will pop out then the rest is cake.

Thanks for the info, it was very easy!

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by s4nye

Thanks for the info, it was very easy!

Easy is an understatement! haha. Tinting my sidemarkers made me realize how easy it would be to have these stolen..

Glad you got it

[s4nye]

What did you tint yours with?

[Blindside_137]

I used VHT Nite shades.

I don't recommend that shit at all on a BMW. I sanded and prepped very carefully. But the first coat I freaked out. Instead of an even layer the crap was literally spitting out of the can onto the sidemarker. It made a very blotchy and "dotted" look that only became uniform at about 8 light coats.

They look great from about 4 feet away and you won't notice unless you insepcted them.. but the finished product up close looks like it doesn't belong on a BMW.

I'll try to upload some pics.

I've heard hobby store paint might work better than VHT. You could look in to that. Or a tint shop would be able to wrap them in a film of any darkness, and much more reversible than the Nite Shades.

Here's some pics

One light coat, horrendous coverage.



About 6-7 light coats, terrible look in the right angles



After some clear coats, looks much better because they're still wet (but imperfections still visible up close)



Mounted



Illuminated

[Reketjr]

I plastidipped my side markers. Light still illuminates just as much as yours with the VHT and its a lot smoother.

[s4nye]

Thanks for the info. I'm thinking of ordering a set of smoked led from bimmian.com, I tried smoke lamin-x and it wouldn't stay to the shape of the lens, even after heating it up with hair dryer.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

I used VHT Nite shades.

I don't recommend that shit at all on a BMW. I sanded and prepped very carefully. But the first coat I freaked out. Instead of an even layer the crap was literally spitting out of the can onto the sidemarker. It made a very blotchy and "dotted" look that only became uniform at about 8 light coats.

They look great from about 4 feet away and you won't notice unless you insepcted them.. but the finished product up close looks like it doesn't belong on a BMW.

I'll try to upload some pics.

I've heard hobby store paint might work better than VHT. You could look in to that. Or a tint shop would be able to wrap them in a film of any darkness, and much more reversible than the Nite Shades.

Here's some pics

One light coat, horrendous coverage.



About 6-7 light coats, terrible look in the right angles



After some clear coats, looks much better because they're still wet (but imperfections still visible up close)



Mounted



Illuminated

Not sure what happened with yours.

Sanding is not really necessary but what is important is using rubbing alcohol and water 50/50 to get rid of any contaminants on the housing.

Also the conditions of painting need to be good, I.E. 70 degrees and no more then 90 degrees.

Also you need to spray a good 12 inches or more away from the housing when you paint. If you go to close you get a lot of splatter.

The VHT nightshade is hard to work with for some people, especially if conditions are not right. Some people may just want to pick up some tint and cut accordingly.

Hope this helps anyone else trying it out.

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by Jeff@topgearsolutions

Not sure what happened with yours.

Sanding is not really necessary but what is important is using rubbing alcohol and water 50/50 to get rid of any contaminants on the housing.

Also the conditions of painting need to be good, I.E. 70 degrees and no more then 90 degrees.

Also you need to spray a good 12 inches or more away from the housing when you paint. If you go to close you get a lot of splatter.

The VHT nightshade is hard to work with for some people, especially if conditions are not right. Some people may just want to pick up some tint and cut accordingly.

Hope this helps anyone else trying it out.

All good info, and yes the sanding I think isn't necessary but also wasn't harmful either.

I did everything you mentioned though, I used alcohol to clean them after sanding. Let Dry. Temperature was about 60 F or so, and I was definitely atleast 8-12 inches away. Shook the can for a while too before spraying.

Followed it all to the T, just didn't work out.

I did notice my can wasn't sealed shut so I wonder if it had been used and then returned for the very problem I was having... Who knows, it is fine for now, may try to clean it up sometime in the future and change out the bulb for an LED. Live and learn..

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

All good info, and yes the sanding I think isn't necessary but also wasn't harmful either.

I did everything you mentioned though, I used alcohol to clean them after sanding. Let Dry. Temperature was about 60 F or so, and I was definitely atleast 8-12 inches away. Shook the can for a while too before spraying.

Followed it all to the T, just didn't work out.

I did notice my can wasn't sealed shut so I wonder if it had been used and then returned for the very problem I was having... Who knows, it is fine for now, may try to clean it up sometime in the future and change out the bulb for an LED. Live and learn..

That 60F could make all the difference just so you know. Ideally, you should put the can in some warm water and get the can up to temp. They are really sensitive to cold temps, and even when apply to cold materials (under 70F).

[Blindside_137]

Well damn. If that was it then I'm really pissed. Lol. So much prep and the only one that mattered was some warm water hahaha

Thanks for that.