997 Headlight restoration and Lamin-X installation DIY
#16
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
#17
Instructor
That really did turn out beautiful...great another thing to add to my project list Having a Meteor Grey car I think the slight tint would look nice. Thanks for the great write up!
#18
I did this a while back to the DRLs and the side markers. I think it looks better on a dark car, as they looked a bit too purple on my Carrara White car. Took mine off after about a week. Just have the clear Xpel and Lamin-X on them now.
They look really nice on your car, and the slight purple tint works with the overall tones of your car. You should do the side markers! Do you think the (very light) tint affects headlight performance at all?
#19
I did Lamin-X front and back a while ago (black car, "lightest" tint) and I am totally happy with the way this has transformed the entire appearance of the car.
The descriptions in this thread were very helpful. The only thing I would add is that things get much easier if you have a helper, especially the front.
All the bubbles cleared up nicely within the first few days with the exception of one at the inner margin (see pic). It would stay down for a few days if pushed down, but now it just stays like this. I would like to inject some form of adhesive under the bubble and try to get it to stick. Does anybody have any recommendations regarding what kind of adhesive to use? I guess Gorilla glue might not be optimal ;-)
#20
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
What's the Lamin-x p/n for the lighter tint? On Amazon, I see several P019 parts with a letter suffix. The "T" only says "tint."
From another thread, I am pointed to Amazon for P011T, which Amazon says does not fit my 2012 GTS, P019T does. However, the Lamin-x site says P011T is good.
From another thread, I am pointed to Amazon for P011T, which Amazon says does not fit my 2012 GTS, P019T does. However, the Lamin-x site says P011T is good.
Last edited by ltcjmramos; 03-27-2016 at 02:24 PM.
#21
Racer
Thanks for the comments and feedback.
Regarding the "orange peel" effect on the film; good observation gota911.
This is certainly visible under certain lighting conditions, just as with paint orange peel. However in most outdoor lighting, the orange peel is very difficult to see.
The aesthetic gain from the very slight tint and the protection added by the film, for my personal needs, outweighs the orange peel issue. For reference, I am extremely fussy about my cars and detailing them and I say that to try and put into context the relevance/significance of the orange peel. I realize this is very subjective, and opinions will obviously vary. There is no right or wrong
So if you are on the fence about trying this out, I hope this info helps.
Finally, the film can be removed if you don't like it so it's not a huge gamble for a $60 kit.
Below is a great comparison pic borrowed from a post by nwGTS showing his car on the left (hope you don't mind nwGTS ):
Regarding the "orange peel" effect on the film; good observation gota911.
This is certainly visible under certain lighting conditions, just as with paint orange peel. However in most outdoor lighting, the orange peel is very difficult to see.
The aesthetic gain from the very slight tint and the protection added by the film, for my personal needs, outweighs the orange peel issue. For reference, I am extremely fussy about my cars and detailing them and I say that to try and put into context the relevance/significance of the orange peel. I realize this is very subjective, and opinions will obviously vary. There is no right or wrong
So if you are on the fence about trying this out, I hope this info helps.
Finally, the film can be removed if you don't like it so it's not a huge gamble for a $60 kit.
Below is a great comparison pic borrowed from a post by nwGTS showing his car on the left (hope you don't mind nwGTS ):
#22
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
What's the Lamin-x p/n for the lighter tint? On Amazon, I see several P019 parts with a letter suffix. The "T" only says "tint."
From another thread, I am pointed to Amazon for P011T, which Amazon says does not fit my 2012 GTS, P019T does. However, the Lamin-x site says P011T is good.
From another thread, I am pointed to Amazon for P011T, which Amazon says does not fit my 2012 GTS, P019T does. However, the Lamin-x site says P011T is good.
The following users liked this post:
eddy_911 (06-07-2021)
#25
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Trouble installing
I've been very busy tending to some family affairs. Bought a kit for my GTS last April, and only now getting around to installing it. Started with the side markers, and they don't fit. The issue is on the back end of the marker (circled). The film does not cover the upper right corner at all, probably, about an inch lower, and it reaches beyond the end of the marker.
Anyone else have this issue? Did you just cut the film at the edge where the marker dips down at that end? Did I get a wrong part? (I have just contacted Lamin-X, so, haven't heard back from the yet.)
Anyone else have this issue? Did you just cut the film at the edge where the marker dips down at that end? Did I get a wrong part? (I have just contacted Lamin-X, so, haven't heard back from the yet.)
Last edited by ltcjmramos; 09-08-2016 at 08:53 PM.
#26
Rennlist Member
Can you post the kit you bought? The one I bought from AMZN fit my car including the side indicators. I recall it was maybe a tad short on one edge but only a mm or two.
#28
Rennlist Member
Just got done late last night doing this modification. I had done this using a different film on my old 350z so I was somewhat familiar with the process. I also am use to installing decals and sticker kits as i often install them on my Karts.
That being said, this was MUCH harder than I expected. The difficult part is that since the light is a bulbous shape and the material is very thick and doesn't stretch very easy the top edges of the light were a total PITA. I kept using the squeegee and my hand to try and flatten in out but you end up with a lot of big wrinkles along the edge. I almost gave up on the first one. I decided to use some heat from a hairdryer. I noticed quickly that too much heat is bad as it melts the material and become too pliable and stretchy which is actually not what you want on the edge since it already has wrinkles.
I found that if you use just a little heat and keep working the area and just keep at it that the material eventually sort of stretches in the areas it needs to stretch and kind of shrinks or at least becomes more pliable and sticky and starts to lay down better. It really just takes a lot of time and work and repetition.
Right now I have some of the foggy spots and some bubbles. I know in the past that this goes away in a few days but it is still hard to be patient.
Couple quick pics
That being said, this was MUCH harder than I expected. The difficult part is that since the light is a bulbous shape and the material is very thick and doesn't stretch very easy the top edges of the light were a total PITA. I kept using the squeegee and my hand to try and flatten in out but you end up with a lot of big wrinkles along the edge. I almost gave up on the first one. I decided to use some heat from a hairdryer. I noticed quickly that too much heat is bad as it melts the material and become too pliable and stretchy which is actually not what you want on the edge since it already has wrinkles.
I found that if you use just a little heat and keep working the area and just keep at it that the material eventually sort of stretches in the areas it needs to stretch and kind of shrinks or at least becomes more pliable and sticky and starts to lay down better. It really just takes a lot of time and work and repetition.
Right now I have some of the foggy spots and some bubbles. I know in the past that this goes away in a few days but it is still hard to be patient.
Couple quick pics
#29
Headlight removal necessary?
Is there a real risk of damaging the frunk actuator if you polish the headlight while in the car? Other threads have made mention to this being an issue.
#30