Headlight/Tail light Kits

[MF007]

Hey guys, I'm new to the site and I'm not sure if any of this was covered previously. I'm sorry if it was. I'm not huge on modifications, but there are some small ones i want to do. Most I've done so far was change the dome lights to red. Probably going to switch to blue so it will match dash lights and stuff....

But Has anyone Changed their headlights? I'm looking to make mine brighter. Are there bulbs i can buy that will fit in the current housings? And, I was online and fell in love with the oracle Halo HID lights, but a little bit out of my budget right now.

And I'm not a huge fan of the stock taillights. Any suggestions for that?

thanks for the help!!!

 

[KartRacer]

There are tons of options. Direct replacement to whiter bulbs are the easiest and least expensive.
Low beams are H11
High beams 9005
Fogs H8
There are high wattage options but would like to hear from someone who has run 100 Watt bulbs with success. Afraid that there will be too much heat and melt lenses.
One thing for sure the stock bulbs are terribly yellow!
KartRacer

 

[BKamp613]

My headlights have been retrofitted with HID Projectors. SOF Member Beastlick did mine (he has a set also). There are no aftermarket housings available. Cost for retrofitting runs from $400-$700 depending on options.

You can buy different halogen bulbs (Silvania, PIAA,etc...) but watch wattage. 55w is stock. Go higher and you risk melting.

Some put HIDs in their halogen reflectors (no projectors) but that's considered a bad idea by 95% of the modding community. It causes too much glare for other drivers. It's been covered a bunch on here (search).

No aftermarket tails either. Tinting and changing bulbs is the only option right now. Adding LEDs can be expensive and time consuming ($200+).

Check my build thread and the exterior section for ideas. Or search.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

As for aftermarket tail lights assemblys there are none to be found... I have contacted all of the main most popular aftermarket tail light companys and all of them have returned my messages with "At this time we currently do not have any plans to make any assemblys for the Chevrolet Sonic"... This was just last month. So i dont forsee this car getting anything for the aftermarket Tail Lights anytime soon.

Your only option is to find LED kits and or buy LED Bulbs to change the look of the tail lights. Thats what i did. I Bought me a set of Star Shaped LED Tail Light Bulbs and Installed Them into my Assembly and Love Them. I went to Auto Accessories � Car Accessories | K2 Motor for my Bulbs...

 

[savegejon123]

As for aftermarket tail lights assemblys there are none to be found... I have contacted all of the main most popular aftermarket tail light companys and all of them have returned my messages with "At this time we currently do not have any plans to make any assemblys for the Chevrolet Sonic"... This was just last month. So i dont forsee this car getting anything for the aftermarket Tail Lights anytime soon.

Your only option is to find LED kits and or buy LED Bulbs to change the look of the tail lights. Thats what i did. I Bought me a set of Star Shaped LED Tail Light Bulbs and Installed Them into my Assembly and Love Them. I went to Auto Accessories � Car Accessories | K2 Motor for my Bulbs...

How easy was it to replace those bulbs in the rear, also whatd you use to tint?

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

How easy was it to replace those bulbs in the rear, also whatd you use to tint?

Very easy. If you have the sedan, you just pop open the trunk, Hatch pop the hatch... Sure its the same roughly...

There will be 2-3 screws, simply undo the screws, pop the tail assembly out towards you being careful not to break the tabs on the unit. unplug the bulb from the lens. Swap in the new bulb, Done. Re-install the tail assembly popping it back into the inserts, screw it back onto the car and done.

For the tail light (Brake Light) no load resistor is needed to use LED Bulbs, a load resistor is only needed when you change out to a LED for the Turn Signals. Be it front or rear.

 

[savegejon123]

I found your initial post. Did you end up keeping them or did you find them too dim?

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

I still have them in. no complaints yet from anyone, that including the local police to which ive had plenty behind me at one point or another since they love to ride peoples rear ends in this town lol. Forgot to answer a question you asked me... The tint on the tail lights is a VHT Tint from a spray can. I did 2 light coats to give it a nice black cherry look instead of cheap red plastic. The lights still show up just fine. Obviously not as bright as a non-tinted lense but still function as needed.

 

[savegejon123]

They look great. I'm afraid to use vht cause I've never worked with it before and don't want to destroy my lights. If you have a chance could u link me to those lights. I've looked them
Up and there's tons. If those are working out for you I might be interested one day.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

They look great. I'm afraid to use vht cause I've never worked with it before and don't want to destroy my lights. If you have a chance could u link me to those lights. I've looked them
Up and there's tons. If those are working out for you I might be interested one day.

ive had experience with VHT so its nothing for me. But I understand your concern with it. Your best bet is to just buy the pre-cut film overlays if you want to tint the lense any. Many sites sell these.

TINT FOR TAILS::
Chevy Sonic Sedan (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Tail Light Tint Smoked Film Covers

BULB CHART FOR LIGHT SIZES::
Lamp Replacement Guide View All Bulbs

LED BULBS FOR BRAKE LIGHTS::
Red Spider LED Tail Lights SMD Bulbs (2PC)

Multiple Tint levels available for the tint film to tint the Lenses. So you could go light, or go dark. But the darker you go, the less you will see the bulbs. Keep that in mind.

 

[savegejon123]

My problem with those laminx sheets is that it would just tint the two circles correct. Non of the red would be covered? I already have my tail lights dipped smoked and have the circles removed. I light the effect the dip smoke gives over the red, but it looked terrible covering the clear circles, so maybe I could find a laminx that is a similar tint and integrate the two.

Also a note to those lights, did you end up using the red one or white. Im afraid red would be even less visible, though I know little about lights and if it would make a difference. Thanks for all your help. Dont feel like you need to respond to all my questions.

 

[SonicBoy24]

They look great. I'm afraid to use vht cause I've never worked with it before and don't want to destroy my lights. If you have a chance could u link me to those lights. I've looked them
Up and there's tons. If those are working out for you I might be interested one day.

Don't be afraid of nite shade, if you put it on uneven or if you want to take it off, let it dry and then you can use hi-solv or some other solvent and spray it on a rag, that rub the tint off. be sure to rinse the lights afterwards and before doing more tint.

 

[savegejon123]

And that can restore it to normal. Nothing left v

 

[SonicBoy24]

And that can restore it to normal. Nothing left v

correct.

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Get some covers and use the Lamin-X, been surprised no one else has given em a shot yet.

 

[SonicBoy24]

Get some covers a

-_-


sorry, I just disapprove, just personal to me.

 

[savegejon123]

Those covers only look good how you've done them. Chrome they'd look terrible IMO

 

[SouthFLSonic]

-_-


sorry, I just disapprove, just personal to me.

What do you disapprove of?

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Yes the chrome they come in is bad but painting then is easier than you would think and I used just plastic paint in a rattle can.

 

[SonicBoy24]

What do you disapprove of?

I just prefer using niteshade.

I'm sure they stay on fine, but I just feel like they would fall off or rattle or peel or whatever.

I've just used nite shade on all my cars and all the cars I've done for work with great results. I guess its the "if it aint broke dont fix it" approach.