Official "What to do about the orange e92 reflectors" thread

foofighter · 08-28-2006, 11:11 PM

i painted my amber reflectors on my R32

stressdoc · 08-28-2006, 11:30 PM

Just get space grey and put duct tape over them...

mkoesel · 08-28-2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Just get space grey and put duct tape over them...

LOL.

Actually, I have decided to paint the car reflector orange when I get it, so they will just blend right in.

beauderek · 08-28-2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Wait, so they think it looks better to have the seperate amber reflector on the wheel-well than it does to have it integrated into the head-light? I guess looks are subjective, but man I like the integrated solution a lot more.

The headlight DOES look better with clear corners. It's great that they put the reflector on the bumper now. Now, for less than a hundred dollars it can be changed to the body color. That is much better than 1600 dollars to swap out the headlights. Way to go BMW!

stressdoc · 08-28-2006, 11:41 PM

It might be cool to get reflectors with colors that matched the car's paint color -- blue reflector on blue etc., might be a little more cryptic than clear, and more functional. I sense a new market here, one could even go for nationalistic flag colored reflectors. I would kill for a sisserou parrot colored reflector.

mkoesel · 08-28-2006, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beauderek

The headlight DOES look better with clear corners. It's great that they put the reflector on the bumper now. Now, for less than a hundred dollars it can be changed to the body color. That is much better than 1600 dollars to swap out the headlights. Way to go BMW!

Yeah, now instead of $1600 for lights, its $1000 for a bumper. Woo. hoo.

Honestly, I can't see myself ever painting a reflector and putting it back on my car. Admittedly I'm perfectionist, but I just think it will look like camel buttocks.

stressdoc · 08-28-2006, 11:52 PM

The reflectors are really tightly integrated, you would have a hard time sticking a knife blade in btw them and the fender. IMO you could hardly know that they were there if they were painted over. Much less noticeable than the nice job foofighter did on the R32.

victri · 08-29-2006, 04:53 AM

I'd just wait for the release of the euro M-pack bumper :rocks: or some aftermarket bumper. Otherwise it's easy to remove and paint, or bondo it smooth and respray (someone mentioned it's secured by 2 hex nuts).

Zeroday · 08-29-2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

LOL.

Actually, I have decided to paint the car reflector orange when I get it, so they will just blend right in.

beauderek · 08-29-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Yeah, now instead of $1600 for lights, its $1000 for a bumper. Woo. hoo.

Honestly, I can't see myself ever painting a reflector and putting it back on my car. Admittedly I'm perfectionist, but I just think it will look like camel buttocks.

It won't look bad. You can see how it looked when Foofighter did it to his car. For another example, the headlight washers on the e90 are little squares on the bumper. They are painted the body color and they look fine. It will look similar to that.

mkoesel · 08-29-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beauderek

It won't look bad. You can see how it looked when Foofighter did it to his car. For another example, the headlight washers on the e90 are little squares on the bumper. They are painted the body color and they look fine. It will look similar to that.

Agreed, I'm just being overdramatic for levity's sake. Like I say, I'm a prefectionist. Form follows function. No function = should not be there.

It may sound neurotic (probably is) but these traits are necessary for me to keep my gameful employment and be able to afford these cars in the first place.

Zeroday · 08-29-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Agreed, I'm just being overdramatic for levity's sake. Like I say, I'm a prefectionist. Form follows function. No function = should not be there.

It may sound neurotic (probably is) but these traits are necessary for me to keep my gameful employment and be able to afford these cars in the first place.

not to be neurotic but i think you mean gainful employment

mkoesel · 08-29-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeroday

not to be neurotic but i think you mean gainful employment

LOL, yep

beauderek · 08-29-2006, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Agreed, I'm just being overdramatic for levity's sake. Like I say, I'm a prefectionist. Form follows function. No function = should not be there.

It may sound neurotic (probably is) but these traits are necessary for me to keep my gameful employment and be able to afford these cars in the first place.

That's cool. What do you do for a living? By the way, I see you live in Canton. So do I. Small world, eh?

mkoesel · 08-29-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beauderek

That's cool. What do you do for a living? By the way, I see you live in Canton. So do I. Small world, eh?

Check your PM.

LEDZEP · 08-29-2006, 04:39 PM

Where is Canton MI? I'm from Ypsilanti and I was just there for a week... but actually I spent the time closer to the Jackson / Battle Creek area.

beauderek · 08-30-2006, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

Where is Canton MI? I'm from Ypsilanti and I was just there for a week... but actually I spent the time closer to the Jackson / Battle Creek area.

From Ypsi, take Michigan Avenue and go east for about 20 minutes and you're in Canton. It's before you get to Wayne.

ahmpower · 08-30-2006, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Just get space grey and put duct tape over them...

just smear some mud over it, an no one will notice

mkoesel · 08-30-2006, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beauderek

From Ypsi, take Michigan Avenue and go east for about 20 minutes and you're in Canton. It's before you get to Wayne.

Yep. In fact the two actually share a small part of their borders. Or, at least the townships do. I am on the southwest side of Canton and I could practically throw a stone into Ypsi. Although I guess that would be somewhat mean spirited.

NuovoTech · 09-19-2006, 02:03 PM

I was wrong before when I said they're bolted on, they just snap in & out. I was told by a BMW CA(who dislikes them also) that BMW parts already sells clear reflectors for the E46 & Z4. The CA said white reflectors are legal & BMW intends to stock them for the E92. They should sell for less than $20/pair, as the E46 ones cost ~$14.

sbkim · 09-19-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsarge

My thoughts on your solutions....

-remove and paint the reflectors body color- Best real time choice. Quick and easy.
-tint them with vinyl overlays- Nope
-look for clear aftermarket replacements- Maybe in a year
-bondo them and repaint the entire bumper (eek)- Nope
-remove them and leave the indentation and the 2 holes and call it a day. - That's just crazy talk.

Is there a reason why you wouldn't recommend doing a tint or vinyl overlay? I am getting Jet Black so I thought about tinting it very dark and hope that it still reflects some light...

09-19-2006, 03:19 PM

paint them

08-28-2006, 11:11 PM	#45
foofighter Captain 72 Rep 840 Posts Drives: 2017 TRD Off Road 4r - 2018 M3 Join Date: May 2006 Location: The OC iTrader: (1)	i painted my amber reflectors on my R32
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2006, 11:30 PM	#46
stressdoc Moderator 668 Rep 10,866 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	Just get space grey and put duct tape over them...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2006, 11:41 PM	#49
stressdoc Moderator 668 Rep 10,866 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	It might be cool to get reflectors with colors that matched the car's paint color -- blue reflector on blue etc., might be a little more cryptic than clear, and more functional. I sense a new market here, one could even go for nationalistic flag colored reflectors. I would kill for a sisserou parrot colored reflector.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2006, 11:52 PM	#51
stressdoc Moderator 668 Rep 10,866 Posts Drives: BMW i8; Toy 4runner TRD pro Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Waco TX iTrader: (0)	The reflectors are really tightly integrated, you would have a hard time sticking a knife blade in btw them and the fender. IMO you could hardly know that they were there if they were painted over. Much less noticeable than the nice job foofighter did on the R32.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-29-2006, 04:53 AM	#52
victri Enlisted Member 0 Rep 36 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	I'd just wait for the release of the euro M-pack bumper :rocks: or some aftermarket bumper. Otherwise it's easy to remove and paint, or bondo it smooth and respray (someone mentioned it's secured by 2 hex nuts). __________________ - Vic
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-29-2006, 04:39 PM	#60
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 443 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	Where is Canton MI? I'm from Ypsilanti and I was just there for a week... but actually I spent the time closer to the Jackson / Battle Creek area. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-19-2006, 02:03 PM	#64
NuovoTech Private First Class 1 Rep 125 Posts Drives: 1996 318ti Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	I was wrong before when I said they're bolted on, they just snap in & out. I was told by a BMW CA(who dislikes them also) that BMW parts already sells clear reflectors for the E46 & Z4. The CA said white reflectors are legal & BMW intends to stock them for the E92. They should sell for less than $20/pair, as the E46 ones cost ~$14.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-19-2006, 03:19 PM	#66
DTDREW Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	paint them
	Appreciate 0 Quote