Pretty soon will be putting the RE Sleek headlights on my car. I'm pretty sure what I'm gonna do.. but figured I'd ask a question and get some input.

Car is VR. Will be getting re-painted VR. I have the RE AD9 Carbon Fiber hood that I'm 99.9% sure I'm going to leave Carbon Fiber.

Should I paint the headlight buckets to match the car, or just do black? Or even a step further and paint them VR and then wrap them in Carbon Fiber to match the hood (assuming I keep it CF)?

While on the topic of the hood.. the guy doing the work highly recommends not painting it. What are the thoughts there? If anyone has experience painting CF hoods did it hold up well at all?

 

Paint sticks just fine to carbon fiber assuming normal prep work is performed.

If leaving it plain. At least make sure it has a UV protective clear coat.

 

The problem for your painter is probably the amount of prep and detail required to do a nice job on such a complex and featured surface, as that hood. To do a nice job you'll need to prep, primer, prep again, paint, and finish. Paint sticks to epoxy resin OK, but primer sticks better and is easier to finish nicely for paint. And, any not-so-nice paint job is going to reveal itself in short order on a hood in the sun and wind.

Though, I would be interested to hear your painters explanation of thier reservations.

 

Thanks for the reply. What would be your opinion on the RE headlights? Match the car color? Black?

 

Reservation is that ultimately the fibers soak in the paint and at some point you'll be able to see the fibers through it. Which is what I don't want (cause I've seen it and it looks like ***) but he gave me that rec and explanation w/o me giving him my reasons for reservations.

 

I'll add this question on it. Have you had CF painted and had no issues?

The car is 1000% garage kept of course. Not like it is soaking in sun other than being driven.

 

Yes. Lots of cars have carbon fiber that's painted as well as aircraft.

My CF hood is painted (over 5 years without issue.

Properly laid carbon fiber has the right amount of resin to encase the carbon fibers, preventing it from soaking in paint over time (which should happen anyway. The paint cures, meaning it's not going to leach into the material it's applied to over time. And it should have quality primer as per of the prep work which would seal the hood.

 

I haven't had any CF painted for me. I've got a CF project ongoing, and I've just been researching a lot lately, and watching stuff here over the years. It's like @TwinCharged RX7 said, there should be a layer of resin you're working with. Ideally, you're not painting directly on fiber. And surface sealing and prep is why you would want primer before paint.

 

To put those headlights in, you're gonna be cutting up the car that most collectible car experts are telling people to buy now. I'm all for modding your car to your tastes, but I'm also all for being able to take it back to stock.

Here's this: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-vid...cles-fall-2018

Also, if those are EVO-R headlights you're installing, save yourself a nightmare and Google that name before sending money.

 

Not the EVO-Rs. I've had these RE-Amemiya ones for about 2 years going back and forth on installing them.

 

I heard you will always see the weave under paint. At least with the CF hoods available today. I would leave it cf if it was me for awhile and see how you like it. As for the headlights I would color match with car. Or paint the hood and leave lights black. Just my opinion of course.
I will be getting a siebon cf hood same style as yours and leave it cf, but my car is satin black so I don't' think it will stand out as much as red.

Nice ride btw.