14' IS350 Full LED Headlights - opened it, did some custom paint & LED work.
01-27-14, 08:55 AM
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14' IS350 Full LED Headlights - opened it, did some custom paint & LED work.
Has anyone tried to crack open the 3rd gen headlights? If you did, which ones?
I was doing a set for a friend, he has a 2014 IS350 F-Sport w/ LED headlights... First things first, I have a ton of experience with opening headlights, did over 500 sets throughout the last 6 years doing custom headlight work for people.
Headlights are typically sealed in 2 different ways from the factory. The easy way, which is a soft glue that gets softer after placing it in the oven for 10 min and its pretty simple to open. The second way is a seal we like to call "Perma-Seal", its a headlight that is permanently sealed by the factory to assure the seal is tight, and doesn't cause any condensation. To permanently seal the headlights, they use a high temperature silicone that only melts above the temperature a headlight CANNOT withstand. I learned to open them with a ton of elbow grease, several hours in the oven, and then a several hours to prep each headlight so it can be resealed. Typically these lights have the same type of silicone, so depending on the shape, some are harder than others.
NOW, for the new Lexus IS350... this silicone is not only extreme high temperature, but it is also has almost no elasticity, it bonds so well that its almost impossible to even penetrate. These headlights are by far the HARDEST headlights I ever tried to open.
I've gotten my fair share of battle wounds from headlights, some were deep, some left scars... and this headlight, after 6 years, left me with the biggest wound. I had to put so much pressure on the tool I was using that it slipped, went right through my tough mechanics gloves, and put a 2 1/2" gash on my palm.
After about 7 hours of my labor, I got them opened.
The shrouds were painted Starfire Pearl, the chrome trim around the side reflector was done in Matte Black. I left the turn signal chrome so it still remains fully functional. The amber parking light was replaced with a pure white LED. Installed red "Demon-Eye" style for the projectors, and added 2 5000K Pure white LED rings.
On to the pics: Sorry I didn't get any disassembled photos because I was in the middle of doing other work that was time sensitive.
My wound, its not so wide, but ended up being really deep... now it's scabbing on the inside of the wound by my finger, hurts like a *****
This is the headlight:
]
It was pretty difficult to mount the rings because the edge of the shroud isn't flat, has a curve... I shaped the rings and secured them pretty flush though.
iPhone photos: I'll have some pics from my DSLR in about an hour or so...
What do you think?
I was doing a set for a friend, he has a 2014 IS350 F-Sport w/ LED headlights... First things first, I have a ton of experience with opening headlights, did over 500 sets throughout the last 6 years doing custom headlight work for people.
Headlights are typically sealed in 2 different ways from the factory. The easy way, which is a soft glue that gets softer after placing it in the oven for 10 min and its pretty simple to open. The second way is a seal we like to call "Perma-Seal", its a headlight that is permanently sealed by the factory to assure the seal is tight, and doesn't cause any condensation. To permanently seal the headlights, they use a high temperature silicone that only melts above the temperature a headlight CANNOT withstand. I learned to open them with a ton of elbow grease, several hours in the oven, and then a several hours to prep each headlight so it can be resealed. Typically these lights have the same type of silicone, so depending on the shape, some are harder than others.
NOW, for the new Lexus IS350... this silicone is not only extreme high temperature, but it is also has almost no elasticity, it bonds so well that its almost impossible to even penetrate. These headlights are by far the HARDEST headlights I ever tried to open.
I've gotten my fair share of battle wounds from headlights, some were deep, some left scars... and this headlight, after 6 years, left me with the biggest wound. I had to put so much pressure on the tool I was using that it slipped, went right through my tough mechanics gloves, and put a 2 1/2" gash on my palm.
After about 7 hours of my labor, I got them opened.
The shrouds were painted Starfire Pearl, the chrome trim around the side reflector was done in Matte Black. I left the turn signal chrome so it still remains fully functional. The amber parking light was replaced with a pure white LED. Installed red "Demon-Eye" style for the projectors, and added 2 5000K Pure white LED rings.
On to the pics: Sorry I didn't get any disassembled photos because I was in the middle of doing other work that was time sensitive.
My wound, its not so wide, but ended up being really deep... now it's scabbing on the inside of the wound by my finger, hurts like a *****
This is the headlight:
]
It was pretty difficult to mount the rings because the edge of the shroud isn't flat, has a curve... I shaped the rings and secured them pretty flush though.
iPhone photos: I'll have some pics from my DSLR in about an hour or so...
What do you think?
Last edited by DaveGS4; 01-29-14 at 09:55 PM. Reason: Check pm
01-27-14, 09:22 AM
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The is by far the best first post that I have seen so far. and wow you did a great job! It looks awesome! I hate to say that it reminds me a bit bmw headlights but hey it is even sweeter 
01-27-14, 10:02 AM
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Looks surreal... kudos to you sir. Ive been baking headlights for years now too but wow i believe u when you say it was difficult. Everytime i did one, i never wanted to do it again. So this time, i wont even attempt. Lol but man that headlight made a big difference! Good job 
01-27-14, 10:10 AM
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What an amazing job on the modifications! Looks very cool. You'll have a nice battle scar to show for it as well. Nicely done.
Quick question for you, since you've removed and replaced the entire fixture: Are there separate height adjustment screws for both the low and the high beams, and if so, can you tell us the location of the high beam adjustment screw? With the headlight fixture still mounted in my car, I only see one adjustment screw.
Thanks!
Quick question for you, since you've removed and replaced the entire fixture: Are there separate height adjustment screws for both the low and the high beams, and if so, can you tell us the location of the high beam adjustment screw? With the headlight fixture still mounted in my car, I only see one adjustment screw.
Thanks!
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01-27-14, 10:35 AM
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What an amazing job on the modifications! Looks very cool. You'll have a nice battle scar to show for it as well. Nicely done.
Quick question for you, since you've removed and replaced the entire fixture: Are there separate height adjustment screws for both the low and the high beams, and if so, can you tell us the location of the high beam adjustment screw? With the headlight fixture still mounted in my car, I only see one adjustment screw.
Thanks!
Quick question for you, since you've removed and replaced the entire fixture: Are there separate height adjustment screws for both the low and the high beams, and if so, can you tell us the location of the high beam adjustment screw? With the headlight fixture still mounted in my car, I only see one adjustment screw.
Thanks!
Is there a reason why you want to re-aim the headlights?
01-27-14, 11:35 AM
#14
first and foremost, i hope your hand is okay and that it'll heal up fast. it looks like a terrible gash, i cut my finger before half inch wide but just as deep and it hurt like a *****! till this day i still get small tingles around that area if i push it softly.
anyways, i'm not sure how i feel about this...at first, i didn't like the 3IS headlights but then it grew on me, mostly because i realized how different they were--especially apart from the double halo bimmer headlights. it seems every aftermarket headlight company always tries to copy bmw's halo rings and it just looks plain tacky and rice IMHO. i'm glad lexus went a different direction to set the trend, but ya kinda took it back. however, i will give you major props for this effort/work, and the amazing craftsman ship in the painting--looks great.
anyways, i'm not sure how i feel about this...at first, i didn't like the 3IS headlights but then it grew on me, mostly because i realized how different they were--especially apart from the double halo bimmer headlights. it seems every aftermarket headlight company always tries to copy bmw's halo rings and it just looks plain tacky and rice IMHO. i'm glad lexus went a different direction to set the trend, but ya kinda took it back. however, i will give you major props for this effort/work, and the amazing craftsman ship in the painting--looks great.
01-27-14, 12:06 PM
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They need to be raised, as they are too low after changing springs to lower the car.