I searched and it doesn't seem anyone has tried this. Seeing as how the side marker lights aren't neccessary, the newer LS's don't even have them, I came up with this: paint the lens with chrome spray paint. I did a quick photochop of what I mean.

It seems almost nobody likes the chrome bumper trim. I do though, I kinda like the idea of painting them to match the chrome. What do you think? Honestly? Here is a "before" and "after" pic.

2nd gen are integrated in the head lamp/turn signal, you risk a ticket not have them.

I thought about painting mine the body color, but only because I have a sport. I say if it matches the other chrome... go for it!

i have thought about doing this as well. im just concernced about how well the chrome will actually match the "chrome" painted sidemarkers. if you could pull it off i think its a great look. Mine are just painted body color.

that looks good IMHO. my side markers are blacked out and i don't even have bulbs behind them and i haven't got pulled over for them. i think it has to do that in the assembly itself it has turn signals.

That looks good but chroming something with some rattle cans sucks! It don't look right and from what I remember from my past it don't hold up well at all.


I always hated the non sport bumper but if you could pull that off I think it makes the chrome bumpers look pretty nice!

You know, you could ust paint the bumper chrome at the same time you do the side markers. That way it'd all match perfectly :D

Why stop there?

http://blog.monty.de/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/bmw_fullbodychrome.jpg

i knew that pik would pop up as soon as pete said "you can just paint the bumper chrome"

Wow! I once seen a chrome Chevelle with a black top and it was sick! That M is ugly!

You know, you could ust paint the bumper chrome at the same time you do the side markers. That way it'd all match perfectly :D

:rolleyes: I knew someone was going to say something like that :) .

I'm not sure why, but it seems the non sport look, with the "wood" inside and the chrome outside, is not very popular around here. Thats alright though. To each thier own. I've never actually used the chrome spray paint, but I did spray paint my headlight bezels and those look pretty darn good. I don't know, I'd like to try it on a spare set if I had one.

As far as the law goes, I guess I'll have to check into that. Already with no front plate and 30% window tint, I dont need more reasons to get pulled over :eek: .

I didn't mean the whole bumper... just the chrome strip. Repaint the chrome piece the same color as the lenses. That way they match.

I knew what you meant. I think they were just having fun.

As a fellow MN driver, I've been pulled over recently for no front plate. But it was up on the dash. The cop didn't see it there, and felt like a moron when I pointed to it. Now, I just keep it on the floor. If a cop whips around, I throw it up on the dash. There when I want it, not there when I don't :D

:rolleyes: I knew someone was going to say something like that :) .

I'm not sure why, but it seems the non sport look, with the "wood" inside and the chrome outside, is not very popular around here. Thats alright though. To each thier own. I've never actually used the chrome spray paint, but I did spray paint my headlight bezels and those look pretty darn good. I don't know, I'd like to try it on a spare set if I had one.

As far as the law goes, I guess I'll have to check into that. Already with no front plate and 30% window tint, I dont need more reasons to get pulled over :eek: .

It is a way cleaner look, but I have the sport with the wood and I love it! I am working on a wood steering wheel next. I'm going to try to do the black plastic around the inside door handles in wood if I can match it and stop at that. IMO some wood kits take it to far, to much wood reduces contrast IMO.


God luck painting it. I see some newer paints out that are chrome but I still would not get my hopes up in a quality finish.


If a cop whips around, I throw it up on the dash. There when I want it, not there when I don't


Thats funny but be careful, you don't want the video tape picking up the fact it was not there. That would suck.

I knew what you meant. I think they were just having fun.


I figured so... I just wanted to make sure :D

Thats funny but be careful, you don't want the video tape picking up the fact it was not there. That would suck.

Yeah it would suck, but I know for a fact that - at least around here - the camera doesn't turn on until the lights come on. So I have a good stretch of time to put it up :D

As a fellow MN driver, I've been pulled over recently for no front plate. But it was up on the dash. The cop didn't see it there, and felt like a moron when I pointed to it. Now, I just keep it on the floor. If a cop whips around, I throw it up on the dash. There when I want it, not there when I don't :D

Two things. I had a firebird about 5 years ago, took the plate off and stuck it in the windshield. I got several tickets for that. Something to do with the plate obstructing my view out and that it had to be on the front of the car. I don't know if that is still the law. Or maybe they are just bigger sticklers down here in the cities.

Second, I got a parking meter violation a few weeks back in St Paul. I work really close to the courthouse, so on my lunch break drove over there, parked, went in and paid the 25 dollar fine, come back to my car 10 min later...there was a ticket on my windsheid! It wasnt a meter violation this time, $108 ticket for no plate. I was pissed! I deserve it I guess, but it still sucks ass.

The price we pay for vanity...

Maybe in a firebird (or with the view slits in the charger), but an LS has a pretty good sized windshield. If a license plate is obstructing the view, so is the rear view mirror. The plate just has to be visible from the front, nothing says it has to be bolted to the front bumper.

the only problem with the all-chrome idea is that there is a slight gap between the strip and the side markers so it would not look perfect in terms of it being all one piece. well maybe you could fill in that gap with extra chrome but i'm not sure it would work. personally i think the only way to go is the clear markers, or painting the entire strip to match body color. btw i have the chrome strip as well and i'm waiting for the clear markers.

I agree with the clear markers being maybe the best way to go. I would like to get those, but I really can't spend that kind of money on something so little. I've spent way too much on the looks of the car recently anyway :) .

I'm going to keep looking into doing this, somehow someway. Also find out if it would be against the law somehow. I just cant imagine why it would be. They dont blink, they dont do anything during the day. At night, I have the turn signals/running lights that are amber and blink. So I dont know why it would be a legal issue, but I'll try and find out for sure.

Thanks for all the responses and thoughts.

In the past, people would use the drop ceiling tile. You know the textured panel... don't have any idea how it looks, or how to attach it though.

: I'd like to try it on a spare set if I had one..

I have a spare driver side marker PM me if you want it.

Also find out if it would be against the law somehow. I just cant imagine why it would be. They dont blink, they dont do anything during the day. At night, I have the turn signals/running lights that are amber and blink. So I dont know why it would be a legal issue, but I'll try and find out for sure.


It is a DOT compliant thing you must keep amber on the front sides.
The 00-02 does it with the bumper; the 03-04 does it with the headlight, depends where you live if they chose to enforce the compliance.

I thought red was the only color that must have a reflector of the same color. From what I have just read a few days ago as long as a amber bulb is present you could use a clear reflector.

They consider all red bulbs to date to not be bright enough. If anyone ever comes out with red bulbs that give out the appropriate amount of light they then could be used under a clear reflector.


BUT, if the car has side markers in general they must be present. Most cops don't know the difference and wont hold it to you if you decide to get rid of it all together and fill it in. I cant see it as something they would just sit around and look for but they might bring it up if they get you over for something else.

FYI ( cause I know this will come up sooner or later ) the DOT does not approve anything nore do they have that right. They only set standards in which these companies must comply with.

Just as a point of information: The federal laws on side markers are on the MFG end of the scale. That is why you can get away with removing them in MOST states. But, every state has slightly differing laws on things like side reflectors/lights. Same on front license plates. Some states have no front plate and others specify "front plate" without specifying the mounting point. Other states are very specific, right down to minimum and maximum height above the roadway. Generally, you can "get away" with removing side markers without too much danger of a ticket. But stand by if you are ever struck in the side by someone at night, even if you are not at fault the other Insurance Company will make a big deal out of your removal of what they will claim is a piece of safety equipment that "would have prevented the accident". This is the same legal argument that makes the DUI driver at fault when a driver plows into the rear of his car while he is stopped at a stop sign. The argument goes, [If the DUI driver had not been breaking the law by driving his car, he and the car would not have been stopped at the stop sign and therefore would never have been hit]

Thanks GWL for chiming in on some of these legal issues and sharing your expertise, it is good to know.

If the chrome comes out good, it's gonna look very nice.

Wow, thanks for all the comments. I didnt think this many people would have opinions on this issue. I did go down to the local city hall/police station and asked them the question about removing the reflectors and not having any color on the front end. They said it would be just fine, said the laws (in MN anyway) only say you must have 2 headlights, turn signals, amber running lights, and a license plate. So he was very confident that if I removed them I wouldn't have any problems.

jk52781 told me he has his old stock reflectors from when he put in the clear corners, and that I could have them. So I'm going to take him up on that, and use them as the project pieces. So thanks John. I'll let you guys know how they come out when I do it.

man I just took some VHT niteshade and tinted them along with my taillights so they are still functional and not just paint...it took me all of 15 minutes to pull the lights off and tint them with the spray. I am about to do my headlights next

Good luck with visibility once you tint your headlights...

if it only took 15 minutes it is not going to last and I cant imagine it looking very good. theres alot more to making VHT nightshade look decent besides just spraying it on things.

Wow, thanks for all the comments. I didnt think this many people would have opinions on this issue. I did go down to the local city hall/police station and asked them the question about removing the reflectors and not having any color on the front end. They said it would be just fine, said the laws (in MN anyway) only say you must have 2 headlights, turn signals, amber running lights, and a license plate. So he was very confident that if I removed them I wouldn't have any problems.

jk52781 told me he has his old stock reflectors from when he put in the clear corners, and that I could have them. So I'm going to take him up on that, and use them as the project pieces. So thanks John. I'll let you guys know how they come out when I do it.

But John has a Sport package LS and the side markers from that one won't work on yours. They are cheap on ebay, you can get a set from there.

Good luck with visibility once you tint your headlights...

I have a dual HID setup on my car so it is very bright anyways. We did my roommates mustang headlights with a HID conversion and it was still brighter than his factory setup with the high beams on and he didn't even have HID foglights like I do so I know visibility is going to be better than factory and look 10 times better than the factory lenses

if it only took 15 minutes it is not going to last and I cant imagine it looking very good. theres alot more to making VHT nightshade look decent besides just spraying it on things.

Sorry to burst your bubble but it looks better or just as good as them done by jonstintedtails. I am a painter so I can lay paint evenly whether its out of a gun or a can. It took me 15 minutes just to do the front corners not the tails too. VHT niteshade is an easy product to use and serves it purpose. Alot of people just put the niteshade on there lense and they don't realize that you have to clear coat them also. It took me about 2 hour from start to finish on my taillights. Not hard to do if you know what you are doing.

True...Same done with mine with very light coats workin it's way in and make
sure there's no runs because amatures tends to rush trying to get it done as
soon as possible and give it runs plus my side markers somehow soaks in the
VHT good because I didn't use clear coat and they don't even chip or fade...
Been 6 months with constant car wash and they still looks the same as when
they were first tinted

I don't understand how everyone can do as good of a job as the guy from Johns tinted tails but yet he is making money off of it and no one else is. I also don't understand how everyone thinks that you can get a lighter shade out of the stuff in the can when you cant. What is one purpose ( out of a few ) in layering paint? To make sure the coats are even. It takes at least 2-3 coats of VHT to get a good even look and it tells you that everywhere they explain on how to use it.

EDIT:Even with just 2 or 3 of those LIGHT RECOMENDED COATS it still turns out dark.


VHT is only meant for one shade and that is dark! Johns tinted tails not only does dark but he does a crap load of other stages. He obviously does something different.


They are not smoked lens's, they are to dark to be a smoked lens, they are BLACK!.


If you wan black and are good enough with painting to use VHT then go for it but if you want a lighter smoked look then don't use VHT.

I have used about 4 other brands of clear plastic spray tint and they all are dark except for one brand and that was testors and it still was very thin. They have a few shades, I think about 3 shades from what I remember.


Since everyone is tossing out opinions I don't see why I am not entitled to mine so here it is.


The VHT blacked out look is terrible with the LS especially on lighter color cars. It might look OK on black and other dark colors like that dark blue but on lighter cars, especially with the bumper lens it looks like you have something missing. It looks like something fell out of the bumper while driving. That is not appealing to my eyes. The smoked look still creates that effect as if something is there and helps build some mild contrast as to not be over doing it by going so dark.

But that is just my opinion.

blacked out...and by the way, I love my chrome strips:)

An example of someone using the proper terminology and making it look nice.

An example of someone using the proper terminology and making it look nice.

appreciate that.......