Clear vs Painted Side Markers

Beartato · 02-15-2016, 12:25 AM

Hiya,

So there seems to be a lot of buzz about installing painted side markers on our cars. Has anyone installed clear ones instead?

I can't find anything about them but ECS Tuning has a set on their website: https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-F22-M2....0L/ES2877758/

Just curious if anyone has. There's definitely value added in front side reflectors but the amber color is just kind of nasty on Glacier Silver.

If no one has I guess I can be the first here.

Xenny · 02-15-2016, 01:21 AM

definitely interested in how they end up looking! might look pretty good on my alpine white, who knows.

louielouie · 02-15-2016, 10:33 AM

I purchased smoke reflectors for my AW and it just didn't look good at all. I ended up just removing them. I really don't think the clear ones would look much better. The amber is definitely ugly but best way to go really is the body paint.

pikcachu · 02-15-2016, 11:56 AM

you mean this ?

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...&highlight=ind

jaboyd · 02-15-2016, 11:57 AM

I have a BSM and the smoked lens look great and since they still reflect when a headlight shines on them I think they're a good alternative on BSM or even gray.

chemh0ser · 02-16-2016, 07:22 AM

I have the smoked lenses and they look great on Mineral Grey.

Beartato · 02-16-2016, 10:50 AM

Do you have a picture? I'm curious.

Frankly to me the painted covers kinda look funny up close.

jaboyd · 02-16-2016, 12:35 PM

http://adobe.ly/1T770bo

BSM w/smoke reflectors

Ferdelious · 02-16-2016, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaboyd

http://adobe.ly/1T770bo

BSM w/smoke reflectors

Those look great. Can I ask where you got them?

Xenny · 02-16-2016, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferdelious

Those look great. Can I ask where you got them?

these are probably them, same place as the clear ones OP linked

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-F22-M2...rch/Reflector/

those smoked reflectors on the BSM look great

Beartato · 02-16-2016, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaboyd

http://adobe.ly/1T770bo

BSM w/smoke reflectors

Looks good. I think smoked might look better on GSM than clear.

Thanks for the link.

CanadianGatorBacon · 02-16-2016, 05:47 PM

not exactly the right pics, but close enough? Pulled these off other posts.

jaboyd · 02-16-2016, 05:48 PM

I got mine on eBay.

M235guy · 02-16-2016, 06:40 PM

I had mine wrapped in tint. Cost me $10 at a shop to have done.

Bad picture but you can see them in there. Still let's light reflect at night.

jaboyd · 02-16-2016, 09:54 PM

Here are the ones I bought.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-BMW-F22...lWKSlS&vxp=mtr

BentZero · 02-17-2016, 12:29 AM

Hmmm, this could look good on my MW.

chemh0ser · 02-17-2016, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beartato

Do you have a picture? I'm curious.

Frankly to me the painted covers kinda look funny up close.

Tough to see because they blend so well but here you go:

Beartato · 02-17-2016, 08:29 AM

Looks sweet guys. Definitely gonna go for the smoked reflectors over the painted ones. I'll post pictures too when I pick up my car and install the other reflectors.

skidplate · 02-17-2016, 06:04 PM

I have the clear reflectors from ECS on my MW. I find they match the pattern in the headlights, and blend much better than orange. I only have the photo below, I'll try to get a better one tomorrow.

BentZero · 02-17-2016, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidplate

I have the clear reflectors from ECS on my MW. I find they match the pattern in the headlights, and blend much better than orange. I only have the photo below, I'll try to get a better one tomorrow.

That does look good. So jealous of your ED front plate. I originally planned on doing ED, but my wife got a new job and didn't have the vacation days.

BEM-S4 · 02-18-2016, 10:07 AM

We are just lucky that the reflector is not in the headlamp assembly. Those are a bitch to remove. The Audi guys do all kinds of crazy shit like baking their lamps, spending $$$$ on EU-spec parts, etc.

BentZero · 02-18-2016, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

We are just lucky that the reflector is not in the headlamp assembly. Those are a bitch to remove. The Audi guys do all kinds of crazy shit like baking their lamps, spending $$$$ on EU-spec parts, etc.

On my Honda prelude I used a heated butter knife to cut and remove the amber plastic piece from my housing haha.

02-15-2016, 12:25 AM	#1
Beartato Major 882 Rep 1,202 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Utah iTrader: (0)	Clear vs Painted Side Markers Hiya, So there seems to be a lot of buzz about installing painted side markers on our cars. Has anyone installed clear ones instead? I can't find anything about them but ECS Tuning has a set on their website: https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-F22-M2....0L/ES2877758/ Just curious if anyone has. There's definitely value added in front side reflectors but the amber color is just kind of nasty on Glacier Silver. If no one has I guess I can be the first here.
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02-15-2016, 01:21 AM	#2
Xenny Private First Class 39 Rep 103 Posts Drives: m235i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: seattle iTrader: (0)	definitely interested in how they end up looking! might look pretty good on my alpine white, who knows.
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02-15-2016, 10:33 AM	#3
louielouie Major 538 Rep 1,047 Posts Drives: '18 F80 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (13)	I purchased smoke reflectors for my AW and it just didn't look good at all. I ended up just removing them. I really don't think the clear ones would look much better. The amber is definitely ugly but best way to go really is the body paint.
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02-15-2016, 11:56 AM	#4
pikcachu Major General 1400 Rep 5,262 Posts Drives: M235i (F22 Red angel) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: undisclosed iTrader: (1)	you mean this ? http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showt...&highlight=ind
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02-15-2016, 11:57 AM	#5
jaboyd Private First Class 39 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i black/black Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	I have a BSM and the smoked lens look great and since they still reflect when a headlight shines on them I think they're a good alternative on BSM or even gray.
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02-16-2016, 07:22 AM	#6
chemh0ser Private First Class 42 Rep 146 Posts Drives: M235ix Mineral Grey Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I have the smoked lenses and they look great on Mineral Grey. __________________ 2015 ///M235iX \| Mineral Grey \| Dakota Black \| Premium \| Tech \| Cold \| Driver Ast \| HK Sound \| Black Kidney Grilles \| M-Performance Exhaust \| Front Splitter \| Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps, Rear Spoiler and Exhaust Finishers
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02-16-2016, 10:50 AM	#7
Beartato Major 882 Rep 1,202 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Utah iTrader: (0)	Do you have a picture? I'm curious. Frankly to me the painted covers kinda look funny up close.
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02-16-2016, 12:35 PM	#8
jaboyd Private First Class 39 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i black/black Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	http://adobe.ly/1T770bo BSM w/smoke reflectors
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02-16-2016, 05:47 PM	#12
CanadianGatorBacon Lieutenant 232 Rep 417 Posts Drives: M235i (holy crap!) Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: D.C. iTrader: (0)	not exactly the right pics, but close enough? Pulled these off other posts. __________________ Current: 2016 BMW M235i \| 2013 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wife's) Gone but not forgotten: 1992 Buick LeSaber Limited \| 1999 Acura CL 3.0 \| 2003 Volvo S60 2.4T \| 2006 BMW x3 3.0i \| 2009 Honda Fit Sport
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02-16-2016, 05:48 PM	#13
jaboyd Private First Class 39 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i black/black Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	I got mine on eBay.
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02-16-2016, 06:40 PM	#14
M235guy Second Lieutenant 76 Rep 248 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: DFW Texas iTrader: (1)	I had mine wrapped in tint. Cost me $10 at a shop to have done. Bad picture but you can see them in there. Still let's light reflect at night. Attached Images
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02-16-2016, 09:54 PM	#15
jaboyd Private First Class 39 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i black/black Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	Here are the ones I bought. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-BMW-F22...lWKSlS&vxp=mtr
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02-17-2016, 12:29 AM	#16
BentZero Lieutenant Colonel 625 Rep 1,753 Posts Drives: 6MT Mineral White M235i Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (2)	Hmmm, this could look good on my MW. __________________ I rev-match from neutral to first 6MT Mineral White on black M235i coupe Build thread
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02-17-2016, 08:29 AM	#18
Beartato Major 882 Rep 1,202 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Utah iTrader: (0)	Looks sweet guys. Definitely gonna go for the smoked reflectors over the painted ones. I'll post pictures too when I pick up my car and install the other reflectors.
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02-17-2016, 06:04 PM	#19
skidplate Enlisted Member 21 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2016 M235iX; 2020 X3 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	I have the clear reflectors from ECS on my MW. I find they match the pattern in the headlights, and blend much better than orange. I only have the photo below, I'll try to get a better one tomorrow.
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02-18-2016, 10:07 AM	#21
BEM-S4 Major General 4516 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	We are just lucky that the reflector is not in the headlamp assembly. Those are a bitch to remove. The Audi guys do all kinds of crazy shit like baking their lamps, spending $$$$ on EU-spec parts, etc.
	Appreciate 0 Quote