[onehungevo]

I have seen a lot of the orange deflectors painted to match the color of the car. I have a white sport f30 and thinking about painting them black to go with the rest of the black accents. What do you think?

[bcl0328]

>.>

[ric124]

the black and white theme is a good theme to go with but I think thats an odd place to have black

[Ahmadhosmanbmw335i]

Yea paint it white not black it will look better and black will make your car look cheap

[TiAg330i]

The point of painting it white is so that you won't see it. Paint it white, not black!

[SCBimmerKid]

I don't think black would look bad. If you're like me, not having any sort of reflector there makes the car look naked for some reason. So a smoked reflector or black reflector would look nice.

[T_Bone]

This is obviously a matter of personal preference so the decision should be yours, but if it were me, I would go white instead of black... This is something that I would want to "disappear", not a feature I would want to draw attention to, especially since it serves no useful purpose after it's painted.

[1.fresh.f30.335]

If you think white is better could you please explain how you matched the white of the car to the white of the reflector, I hate mismatched paint so I am very interested in how to do it correctly.

I understand how to smoke the reflector so thats not an issue.

update: there's a website you could google, modification bargain should bring up the site. I gotcha white, installed (wrote the DIY) and love the white.

[Maz335i]

Originally Posted by TiAg330i

The point of painting it white is so that you won't see it. Paint it white, not black!

+1

[Maz335i]

But wouldn't the cops pull me over if I had painted reflectors? That's the reason I'm not painting my F30.

However my current E90 has painted reflectors!

[ric124]

Originally Posted by Maz335i

But wouldn't the cops pull me over if I had painted reflectors? That's the reason I'm not painting my F30.

However my current E90 has painted reflectors!

How would the cops know its there if you colour match?

[Red Bread]

To answer the thread topic, they're orange. Duh.

[ric124]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

To answer the thread topic, they're orange. Duh.

I am saying if you colour match them how would the cop know it was even there in the first place? Look at my pic in the signature find the reflector

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by ric124

I am saying if you colour match them how would the cop know it was even there in the first place? Look at my pic in the signature find the reflector

Technically, the US DOT requires side markers to be visible. Just like the two states I've lived in (CA and TX) require a front plate. I've never had a front plate and never had a ticket for not having it. If you're the kind of moron that likes to drink and drive, painted side markers might not be a good idea. If you're okay with running a slightly higher risk of getting pulled over, you should be fine.

[ric124]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Technically, the US DOT requires side markers to be visible. Just like the two states I've lived in (CA and TX) require a front plate. I've never had a front plate and never had a ticket for not having it. If you're the kind of moron that likes to drink and drive, painted side markers might not be a good idea. If you're okay with running a slightly higher risk of getting pulled over, you should be fine.

Dont think its an issue in FL, I had a gti with them and almost everyone at the VW/Audi car club had them done and never heard of anyone getting pulled over before. FL is a bit different from other states it seems like; No front plates used, no fitness or immersion test done, etc.

[Red Bread]

Yeah, like I said, unless a cop is just searching for reasons to pull you over, it's probably a near non-issue, like having window tint, etc.

As for the OP, color match certainly looks better than a contrasting color.

[soma4u]

Is there anyone selling painted inserts of these? Bought some via E90post back a few years ago and not sure if this is available out there somewhere...???

[SamS]

Forget the cops pulling you over... what about when someone runs into you, then their insurance refuses the pay the claim because your vehicle was modified out of DOT-specs?

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by SamS

Forget the cops pulling you over... what about when someone runs into you, then their insurance refuses the pay the claim because your vehicle was modified out of DOT-specs?

That's a pretty far fetched claim.

If you can claim that a bright white car was crashed into because a 3" reflective strip was missing on a police report it'd be pretty impressive.

"I was doing 60mph and blew that red light, but I couldn't see this car because the reflector was missing!"

If this were the case you'd hear about it more often...especially when tail light and headlight tints are illegal, but very very common.

On the black or white subject, I would say go with white since the markers are just reflectors, but my previous TL came from the factory with smoked side markers and they looked nice as well, though they stuck out from the bodywork so smoking worked better than trying to paint it as a speed bump.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

That's a pretty far fetched claim.

You've never dealt with insurance claim adjusters or lawyers, have ya?

[Tsuvoi]

I think the insurance thing is likely and I will think twice before doing that. Them and lawyers are bastards of the highest order.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by SamS

You've never dealt with insurance claim adjusters or lawyers, have ya?

I understand the concern, but I'd be more worried about getting HIV from a blood transfusion then that specific method of getting screwed.

I've watched people burn their cars to the ground with nitrous kits installed, wrapped cars around a tree while speeding and the insurance company didn't even flinch at the payout. Not that it's something to brag about, but I still see the small section of reflector being a tough sell. Tinted tail lights, headlights, windows, clear side markers are very common mods which break the law but I've never heard of claims denied and then never paid as such. (That includes me googling it for the past 15 minutes and trying to find something to not support that)