I'm about to place my order for my new '11 MCS. My '06 PW/B was totaled last week.
Anyway, I did chrome on the '06 so I decided on this new one I'm going in another direction and doing a lot more black. I don't know that I'll totally black everything out, but I'm ordering as much black stock as I can. The paint color will be Horizon Blue.
I really wanted to order the factory blackout headlamps but you can't order that if you also want the adaptive headlights, which I'm seriously considering.
Does anyone know if the factory blackout is the cover being tinted, or is it the housing itself that is black?
I found this product that I would like to do if I end up going with the adaptive headlamps. I would also like to do the tail lights at some point.
http://www.lamin-x.com/Mini-Cooper-S...-p/mn008-1.htm
Thanks all for any opinions,
Annette

 

It's a factory version of the original "joey mod."

Inside is black textured plastic, not tinted.

I have had Lamin-x on other cars and two times on my MINI. While the lightest tint looks great, it does
decrease your available distance of the headlights beam.

If you do much highway travel, as I do, it was not so good.

 

Oh Annette I'm so sorry to hear about your 06! At least you'll be back in a MINI soon.

For the headlamps, they make the internals of the lamp black, similar to a "Joey mod" I have a picture of it somewhere, but I'm having a hard time finding that picture right now.

PS I'm also gonna move this to 2nd Gen so maybe someone with Horizon blue and the black housing can put up a few photos.

 

Thanks, y'all. I think I'll go with the factory black housing, then, and skip the adaptive headlights.
On a side note, I keep seeing the term "joey mod", is this a standard mod term or does it relate to a MINI guy named Joe?
Annette

 

Gray, I was thinking of using 17% smoke Lamin-x on my tail lights mainly to kinda tone down the center clear/white part:



Any thoughts? Advice? I've never tinted anything other than my wheel well marker reflector/lights.

 

Melangell, looking good. Did you black out the tail light rings yourself? That's also on my list.
I'm planning on trying the tint on my rear lights, too. Post pics of yours if you decide to do it.

 

It's the term for the mod of baking your headlights opening them up painting the insides and resealing them. But that's a mouthful to say and the first guy that did it on VWs years ago and posted about it on their big community website VW vortex, his name was Joey and as it's spread the name has always stuck.

 

Nope, all of my blackness, except the grill surround, is from Lyle at Vinyl Styles.

http://www.vinylstyles.com/index2.php#/rgallery2/1/ (first car is mine! )

I am currently waiting for vinyl to black out my belt line and will eventually get a boot handle from him. The grill surround is OEM from the dealer and was installed by them. Lyle is great to work with and is readily available on the phone. He also has installation videos. He wraps whole door handles but they require more installation than I want to do so I will eventually order black plastic snap-ons from Aesthetic Creations.

http://www.aestheticreations.net/moldedparts.htm

Trust me, I'll continue to post pics. I love pics, wish more people had 'em. I'll shout out if and when I do the rear lights.

Jerry

 

Here is mine in Lamin-x gun smoke on a cloudy day if it helps

 

Hey Jcarlos914, many thanks! It seems that gun smoke is the way I would want to go. I really just want to take the edge off of the bright red and the center whiteness. Was the install as easy as their vids and did you take the bezels off first?

 

It was pretty easy. I did take the bezels off first just to make it easier and when the bezel goes back on you don't notice any edges.

 

That looks really fresh. I had tinted tail lights on my 02... Loved it!!!

 

Added that to my list. The Gunsmoke is nice, just enough. I just need to decide if I want to do the rings in black, carbon fiber or body color .

 

Just tried ordering but the website is getting in my way. I guess I'll have to call tomorrow. Shouldn't take too long to get them since they are in Georgia.

 

Psych!
Wonder if they are nearby...

Cool, just checked, they are just up in Blairsville. On the way to the dragon, no less .

 

Blairsville anywhere near Helen?

 

Blairsville is about 30-40 minutes north of Helen. Nice mountain drive.

 

I also have Horizon Blue and here are some pics of the anti chrome

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3533233109/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3533233109/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3758514255/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3758514255/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3758515003/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3758515003/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3759310870/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3759310870/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3758515581/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3758515581/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3759311560/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3759311560/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3759311860/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3759311860/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3802118704/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/3802118704/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/5087614600/http://www.flickr.com/photos/willsisti/5087614600/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/willsisti/, on Flickr

And damn! I need to joey mod my head lamps.

 

Flyinace2000, thanks for posting the pics. I've been trying to imagine the HzB with some of the blackouts you've done and it looks fantastic. I did the silver bonnet stripes so I may leave the chrome edge on the grill to tie it in, and I'm planning on a Black/white/silver Union Jack on the roof as well. But definitely want to black out the light rings and the gas cap like you've done. Did you get those from Vinyl Styles, too?
Annette

 

Nope, it was all PlastiDip. Impressive huh? Been on there now for 18 months and it is just starting to fade and show its age. For under $10 a can i can't complain.

 

what mud flaps do you have ?

 

I can't imagine that blue or yellow headlights would be legal in most states. Am I wrong about this?

 

Butrachaelsays21, they are factory.

Concerning tail lights, I went ahead and had them professionally tinted.



I'm all blacked out now (door handles are black, just no pic)

 

My car is PW, but I too have just managed to complete my blackout. Did this Beltline this weekend and waiting on my door handle covers.



I've done a combination of vinyl from Lyle and plastidip. I also painted my wheels myself with duplicolor wheel paint!!

Never been against chrome, but the blackout is sweet!!