A little headlight tinting on Mach-E

[Astraea]

Yeah. After sleeping on it, I‘m commited to peeling the tint off. Though I’d still like to take both cars out to the feild and see what the difference is in how far I can actually see with both regular headlights and brights. I’m not sure how many of those LUX are in the bright white spectrum, nor how far it changes the projection. ?

Could try it out on 81 and on some back roads for comparison. ?

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[Murse-In-Airy]

Could try it out on 81 and on some back roads for comparison. ?

Try spotlighting deer in the back field. How many sets of eyes can I see with her headlights versus mine. ?

 

[Woeo]

Happy to report that, as the guy from CKWraps showed, there was no decrease in the lighting available this morning on the drive to work.

Not how the laws of physics work

 

[jhalkias]

Not how the laws of physics work

Or the laws of common sense.

 

[Jimrpa]

@BMT1071 @Jimrpa See above folks ?? Got my light meter. ?

I’m sorry about the results. I wonder if there’s some kind of photochromatic film that would remain dark when the headlamps are off and turn transparent when they’re on? At work, we have special privacy windows for some of the rooms that can be adjusted to go from transparent to opaque by the room occupant or by staff.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

I’m sorry about the results. I wonder if there’s some kind of photochromatic film that would remain dark when the headlamps are off and turn transparent when they’re on? At work, we have special privacy windows for some of the rooms that can be adjusted to go from transparent to opaque by the room occupant or by staff.

You’re using Big words for this simple country boy Jim. But maybe worth looking into. I can Google with the best of them. ?

 

[Jimrpa]

By the way, color temperature is also important.

 

[Jimrpa]

You’re using Big words for this simple country boy Jim. But maybe worth looking into. I can Google with the best of them. ?

Sorry about that - I actually “get” what you’re trying to do (and normally black is my favorite color - just not in cars ?). I’m just grasping at straws for an answer.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

Sorry about that - I actually “get” what you’re trying to do (and normally black is my favorite color - just not in cars ?). I’m just grasping at straws for an answer.

I’m not married to the idea. Just thought it was cool if it didn’t compromise things much. It passed the eye test driving to work last week when it was still dark at 5:30 AM. But the light meter has me questioning myself. I like to putter and learn.
I did find photochromic tint exists, but I wonder if the LED headlights would darken it, or only the UV light of the sun. And it looks a little more expensive than I want to pay just to experiment with.

 

[THXDIAL]

MICHIGAN TINT LAW – LEGAL TINT LIMIT FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES

• Front Windshield: It is ILLEGAL to tint this window
• Front seat side windows: up to 35% tint darkness can be used 4″ inches from the top of the window
• Back seat side windows: up to 35% tint darkness allowed
• Rear window: up to 35% tint darkness allowed

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

MICHIGAN TINT LAW – LEGAL TINT LIMIT FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES

• Front Windshield: It is ILLEGAL to tint this window
• Front seat side windows: up to 35% tint darkness can be used 4″ inches from the top of the window
• Back seat side windows: up to 35% tint darkness allowed
• Rear window: up to 35% tint darkness allowed

Pretty much mirrors NY, except the write it as 70% visible light transmission. Neither addresses headlights at all.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Pretty much mirrors NY, except the write it as 70% visible light transmission. Neither addresses headlights at all.

I'll bet they never imagined that someone would actually want to reduce the effectiveness of such an important safety feature. That's like cutting part of the way through the seatbelt to allow it to flex for more comfort.

 

[jhalkias]

I'll bet they never imagined that someone would actually want to reduce the effectiveness of such an important safety feature. That's like cutting part of the way through the seatbelt to allow it to flex for more comfort.

In fact, the Mach E only missed the IIHS top safety rating because the headlights on the Select and Rt1 are not as good as the other trims.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-ford-mustang-mach-e-iihs-tsp-crash-test-rating/

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

I'll bet they never imagined that someone would actually want to reduce the effectiveness of such an important safety feature. That's like cutting part of the way through the seatbelt to allow it to flex for more comfort.

You’re probably correct. I’m not actually trying to reduce my headlights. I was led to believe that it let the light through. I was imagining kind of a “one way mirror” effect where it looked dark from the outside but still let the light shine through. Looks like I was wrong. I can admit that.
While I’ve got you here @ChasingCoral , did you see the Facebook Mach-e nation post from Anush Kumar. He striped his white MME with a grabber blue color. Maybe an opposite of what you wanted to accomplish. Looks niiiiice.

 

[ChasingCoral]

You’re probably correct. I’m not actually trying to reduce my headlights. I was led to believe that it let the light through. I was imagining kind of a “one way mirror” effect where it looked dark from the outside but still let the light shine through. Looks like I was wrong. I can admit that.

It's a cool idea if you can figure out a way to make them look dark but not reduce light. One-way mirrors actually reduce light significantly, so that won't work for you. The photo chromatic might work as Transitions brand lenses only darken when exposed to UV -- they don't darken while driving in most cars. The question is if there is much UV coming out of those LEDs. Once I have Marlin back from the body shop I may see if the headlights will darken transition lenses (or someone else can check).

While I’ve got you here @ChasingCoral , did you see the Facebook Mach-e nation post from Anush Kumar. He striped his white MME with a grabber blue color. Maybe an opposite of what you wanted to accomplish. Looks niiiiice.

Cool. Do you have a direct link? I tried finding the pictures and had no luck.

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