Dimming car headlights - how to do it and is it legal?

We have bad news for all detail lovers interested in dimming lamps - this optical setting is illegal. It doesn't matter if you make it your front, or rear lights. You can not have such modifications in the car and move around the streets. So what is the popularity of such tuning? When can it be useful, if not in traffic jams? How to dim the lamps step by step? Read on and find out the answers!

Is it legal to dim the lights?

As we mentioned, dimming lamps is illegal. To be precise, such a modification in combination with driving on public roads is illegal. In addition to them, you can wrap almost everything in your car and, for example, drive around the race track. Why is it so? Vehicle lighting elements have the appropriate approvals and approvals. Any manipulation of the elements of the design or change in the original color or light intensity affects their drop. If you want to drive on public roads with taped headlights, you will have to reckon with a fine.

However, the dimming of the lamps is of interest.

However, in this text we will not discuss the validity of the provisions. There are times when dimming the lamps is almost necessary, such as for a rally, race or photo shoot. In addition, auto detailing companies are also willing to perform such modifications. However, they stipulate that such tinting is prohibited on the roads and may result in a fine. Are you afraid it? If you don't want to take advantage of third party offers, you can tape the bulbs yourself in the privacy of your garage. How to do it effectively?

Dimming the rear and front lights - ways

How to dim the lights? There are several proposals, and each of them has its own staunch supporters. Dimming lamps in a car is mainly done using:

• aerosol film;
• dry film;
• wet film.

Especially the last method is worth knowing if you want to do such tuning yourself. Its advantage is the ease of removing air bubbles. However, nothing prevents you from using the other two methods.

Tint film spray for lamps - how to use?

Currently, there are no major problems with the availability of such products. They are usually offered in popular children's stores or at auctions and online stores. Dimming lamps with spray film requires the least amount of skill, but the effect can be unsatisfactory if you don't have the patience and a bit of desire. So how do you make these modifications so that everything looks neat?

1. The first step is to thoroughly degrease the lampshade. Suitable means for this would be isopropyl alcohol or window cleaner. Be careful with the concentration of alcohol in the liquid so that spider veins do not form on the reflector. 
2. After thorough degreasing and evaporation of the product, a base coat should be applied. It must be thin to ensure adhesion for the following.
3. The next portion of spraying should be more abundant. 
4. Continue layering until the desired level of darkness is reached.

Covering lamps with film

Dimming the front and rear lights gives the best results when using foil. This can be tricky because you will need a heat gun or an IR lamp (it emits infrared light). Just filling bubbles isn't easy either. Regardless of which method you choose, you still need to have at your disposal:

• squeegee;
• fabric (preferably microfiber);
• sprayer with water;
• protective tape;
• isopropyl alcohol or window cleaner;
• person to help.

Dimming lamps step by step

Dimming headlights consists of several stages. 

1. Start by thoroughly degreasing the surface. 
2. Also, do not forget about the gaps between the lampshade and the car body. To do this, wrap the mop with a cloth soaked in liquid and run it over each slit.
3. Further dimming of lamps depends on the chosen method. When using the dry method, carefully protect the areas around the luminaire with paper masking tape. When wet, this tape must be foil-coated so that it does not peel off when exposed to water.

Dimming the front and rear headlights of the car - the following steps

At this stage, you will need the help of another person. If you are wrapping lamps when wet, spray them with water. In the case of the dry method, this will not be necessary. What to do next? 

1. Immediately before sticking, the foil must be warmed up well with a heat gun or an IR lamp, then stretched and glued quickly enough. 
2. Remember to smooth the surface immediately after gluing and remove air bubbles with a squeegee. 
3. It is also worth removing excess foil around the gaps of the lampshade. 
4. Finally, it must be well heated and glued all the edges. Thanks to this, the dimming of the rear lights (as well as the front ones) will be long.

Is it worth making these modifications? As for the issue of legality, we have already discussed it. The law does not allow such changes. Aesthetic issues are a matter of taste and difficult to solve. For the proponents of dimming the lamps, the key point is that after such changes the car looks much better. You already have a recipe for how to make these modifications. Whether you use it is up to you.