Opinions on painting headlight bezel

[rkl84]

OK, here's the deal. I'm going to clear my corners, and while I'm at it, paint the headlight bezel. I'm just wondering if it would look good painted black, colour match, or leave it chrome. I like the idea of the black, but I don't know how it would look with the red.

Any suggestions? Ideas? Criticism? All are appreciated. Thanks!

[jhubbz]

I say be different and color match. I did it on my ex's g6 and it looked awesome

[Ttop191]

red + front of vehicle = impersonating safety official = big fine and jail time

[03Sleepr]

red + front of vehicle = impersonating safety official = big fine and jail time

thats with lights...the bezels arent going to be illegal, thats like getting arrested for having a red bumper or red license plate..

[kwhauck]

i say color match.....

[Fuzzyspudkiss]

red + front of vehicle = impersonating safety official = big fine and jail time

isn't the front of your vehicle red :wtf2: :p

Edit: oh and i like the idea of a color match...although my car is silver...so it already kinda is color matched....

[Ttop191]

http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29707


^^^ when i thought of doing something similar

[Fuzzyspudkiss]

woah...totally different responses in 1 years time lol

[Vella's Alero]

How can it be illegal when the new Corvettes sometimes have the bezel in chrome OR body colour and the body colour might be red? I think it's only illegal if it is lighted in that way but not if it is a body component.

[Oldsnut]

i say color match.....
I agree. I have a Red Alero that I color matched and am very happy. Headlights are generally Fugly and color matching them makes them stand out less, especially on dark colored cars.

It is illegal if you put blue or red lights in the front or rear of your car. Painting bezels is not illegal. As stated above the Vette has them.

[Lucalare]

I agree. I have a Red Alero that I color matched and am very happy.

It is illegal if you put blue or red lights in the front or rear of your car. Painting bezels is not illegal. As stated above the Vette has them.

Actually you could probably do blue lights as long as they don't flash (such as HID high beams), but I'm not sure about red, and of course red is the only option for brake lights, and some old cars it's popular to put blue LEDs in that light up with the brake or reverse light, not sure which.

[tw0123]

I found these pictures of Guiguilandry's car... he has done the red lights...
http://www.monchar.com/image.php?id=564283&f=564300/
http://www.monchar.com/image.php?id=564286&f=564300/
http://www.monchar.com/image.php?id=564282&f=564300/
Looks good IMO...

[Oldsnut]

Actually you could probably do blue lights as long as they don't flash (such as HID high beams), but I'm not sure about red, and of course red is the only option for brake lights, and some old cars it's popular to put blue LEDs in that light up with the brake or reverse light, not sure which.
The Blue from HID's is not even remotely close to the darker Blue on emergency vehicles.

[rkl84]

First off, thanks everyone for the great responses! It's appreciated!

As far as it being illegal to have a coloured headlight bezel here in Ontario, I don't believe it is. There's a family friend that was a cop for over 25 years, so I think I'll run that by him before/if I paint it red.

tw0123, thank you for the pictures. That car looks great, but it's red looks darker than mine. I don't know if my car would look as good! lol

Oldsnut, do you happen to have pics of your red alero with the colour-matched bezel? I'd be interested in seeing it.

I was personally leaning towards black, but I wanted input from the members here. I figured you've all been doing it longer, why not take an experienced opinion.

If it matters, I'm going to do the mesh on the front bumper, and keep that chrome. But if the bezel is painted black, perhaps painting the mesh black to match would look good too. I'm unsure of red bezel/red mesh, or red bezel and chrome mesh.

[Vella's Alero]

Personally keep the mesh chrome and then bezel wise I would go in this order

1: painted
2: Chrome
3: Black

I'm not so sure black bezels would look good on a Red car.

[rkl84]

Personally keep the mesh chrome and then bezel wise I would go in this order

1: painted
2: Chrome
3: Black

I'm not so sure black bezels would look good on a Red car.


I agree, I don't know how the black bezel would look with a red car. I'm going to do the mesh now, and I'll see how it looks with the chrome (still not cleared, but I'll have an idea of how it looks). Thanks for your input Vella, much appreciated.

[Lucalare]

Don't do red mesh, it screams rice. I know a guy who has a 2000 bonneville with an orange grille and no muffler and it's about the dumbest thing ever. Which sucks, because otherwise it's a very nice car.

[rkl84]

Lucalare, I agree. The more I think about it, it does scream rice. I'm proud of my North American car, and want to keep it looking like a North American car! Thanks!!

[Lucalare]

Lucalare, I agree. The more I think about it, it does scream rice. I'm proud of my North American car, and want to keep it looking like a North American car! Thanks!!

Good sense FTW :lol:

[whiterider00]

chrome grill mesh, red light bezels.

[jawa]

I found these pictures of Guiguilandry's car... he has done the red lights...
http://www.monchar.com/image.php?id=564283&f=564300/
http://www.monchar.com/image.php?id=564286&f=564300/
http://www.monchar.com/image.php?id=564282&f=564300/
Looks good IMO...

not to thread jack but that looks to be a 3.8 in that car :)

[Ttop191]

^^^ because it is :coolio:

[robalero]

that red car with the black hood has an amazing paint job I wonder what it is ( the type ) and what cleaning products he used!

[jawa]

i bet that thing is a rocketship

[Lucalare]

that red car with the black hood has an amazing paint job I wonder what it is ( the type ) and what cleaning products he used!

It's Guiguilandry's Alero with the L67 S/C.

[pjwallington]

OK, here's the deal. I'm going to clear my corners, and while I'm at it, paint the headlight bezel. I'm just wondering if it would look good painted black, colour match, or leave it chrome. I like the idea of the black, but I don't know how it would look with the red.

Any suggestions? Ideas? Criticism? All are appreciated. Thanks!

I like the tinted look.. But then again my car is black > http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i359/pjwallington/th_P080511_1218.jpg?t=1306155225

[sleepyalero]

jhubzz and i both have ours painted black.

[sleepyalero]

yeah i agree

[Redog]

OK Thread cleaned up. Let's keep it that way ;)

[Redog]

I test fitted a painted white bezel in mine and I didn't like the way it looked at all. Looked like total crap. Way too ricey, but would probably look decent on a white car.

I did paint one red once. Never installed it (actually it was the one that is now painted white) and I thought it would be illegal, but I noticed as well as the Vettes, that the red Honda Fit that is sometimes in my apartment complex's lot has red bezels and it doesn't look too bad, IMHO

[pjwallington]

:) haha, and Good luck with the lights

[bshatney]

heres a pic of my headlights painted and cleared, i did it differently and didnt do the entire bezel, but taped around and just did the front. not the best pic of it, but its an option for you to check out since ur cars the same color
http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33963&highlight=work+progress