MSM Headlamps

[GVfanatic]

Anyone know where i can purchase a set of mazdaspeed headlamps for my nb? i really want the dark eyes look like LB's.

[ben91]

You might want to try opening up yours and blacking out the chrome part. MSM lamps are usually really expensive.
Unless your pockets are deep, in that case they're for sale semi-regularly but you'll spend at minimum $600/set.

[RotorNutFD3S]

Yeah, I told him they are hard to find cheap. PartsGroup has a pair for $500...

[ben91]

That's a good price if they're clean.

[GVfanatic]

how hard to open them and paint?

[RotorNutFD3S]

They are actually in very nice condition.

Kris, I think we may be going the DIY route. Unless you get really lucky, which isn't unheard of.

[N3v]

just get some GV eyelids. they look badass.
http://www.rspeed.net/Garage_Vary_NB_99_00_Eyelid_p/nb10705210.htm

[GVfanatic]

just get some GV eyelids. they look badass.
http://www.rspeed.net/Garage_Vary_NB_99_00_Eyelid_p/nb10705210.htm

those are for the nb1. i've seen the ones for the nb2 abd i like them but i really want the dark eyes.

[GVfanatic]

They are actually in very nice condition.

Kris, I think we may be going the DIY route. Unless you get really lucky, which isn't unheard of.

DIY route?

[RotorNutFD3S]

Cracking the lamps open and painting them.

[GVfanatic]

Cracking the lamps open and painting them.

thats fine. how hard is it to do?

[RotorNutFD3S]

Not too hard. But you won't have headlamps for a bit. They take time to do properly.

[N3v]

those are for the nb1. i've seen the ones for the nb2 abd i like them but i really want the dark eyes.

dark eyes? what's dark about them if you paint match them white?

[GVfanatic]

dark eyes? what's dark about them if you paint match them white?

i'm not paint matching them. i want them dark like the white mazdaspeeds that were only made in japan. after i saw it i had to have mine like that. looks more agressive and mysterious.

[GVfanatic]

Not too hard. But you won't have headlamps for a bit. They take time to do properly.

ETA?

[RotorNutFD3S]

IDK when they'll arrive... :lol:

Anyway, Google is your friend. Hate to do this to ya, but it's time for you to do some good old research.

[LagunaRoadster]

+1 for black headlamps.

get gloves, as you dont want finger prints all inside when you have to bake and rip them apart.

[GVfanatic]

IDK when they'll arrive... :lol:

Anyway, Google is your friend. Hate to do this to ya, but it's time for you to do some good old research.

i have been man. :facepalm:why do you think i'm askin around here now. i think i might make my own eyelids after seein the price for a set from GV:

[RotorNutFD3S]

You :facepalm: me? How dare you?! :lol:

Basically it's a matter of lightly baking the housings so that they come apart, like at 200* for a minute, nothing much. Then prepping, painting, cleaning it all up from fingerprints, and resealing. That's basically. There's a walkthrough on one of the Miata websites...

[RotorNutFD3S]

First Google result: http://www.poweredbyzee.com/miata/headlight%20painting/index.html

[Doppelgänger]

IMO, the DIY black housings always "look" DIY. Also, the MSM headlights aren't even close to black, they're a black chrome that looks far better than black...to me. If you were to try to replicate the MSM look, and go DIY, i'd suggest the Metalcast "smoke" spray paint. It's a translucent paint the reflects the surface you paint over it. So by using the smoke over chrome, you'll end up with something close to the MSM lights. I've used the smoke, gree and blue over various surfaces and that is how I know how it looks. I painted my black shift knob with Metalcast blue and it came out a very dark midnight blue. I used the same paint on a very bright silver (almost polished) piece of aluminum and it came out almost like chrome-blue. Same with the green I used....and the smoke.

Now, if you were going for the black/white look (or as the gay so-cow krew calls "panda"), then doing black lights with a black hood and black windshield surround and black top....that would look pretty cool.

$500 for the MSM lights is pretty good too.

[DecoyOctopus]

picolanb on cr did a pretty nice write up on it.