Stealth bulbs from Khoalty - pictures

[tkundhi]

Make your own stealthy bulbs.

1. Start with a yellow/orange bulb.
2. Put painters/masking tape on the bulb base.
3. Lightly spray silver paint over bulb. Lightly. Meaning almost nothing. You will be surprised how little paint you need.
4. Let dry (10 min)
5. Install
6. Go buy beer with the cash you saved.

I've had these home made stealth bulbs in my cars for 10+ years without issue. Just don't go crazy with the paint.

t.

[az3579]

Make your own stealthy bulbs.

1. Start with a yellow/orange bulb.
2. Put painters/masking tape on the bulb base.
3. Lightly spray silver paint over bulb. Lightly. Meaning almost nothing. You will be surprised how little paint you need.
4. Let dry (10 min)
5. Install
6. Go buy beer with the cash you saved.

I've had these home made stealth bulbs in my cars for 10+ years without issue. Just don't go crazy with the paint.

t.

Nice solution! It's impressive that the paint has held up.

[stephenkirsh]

Pft, can of spray paint + bulbs will be more than $10!

[stephenkirsh]

I've seen it firsthand on a couple of cars. The bulb ran so hot it melted the plastic socket.
I've also seen some threads about it on various BMW sites.

Here's a few:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=643660

-- ok this one was another "I heard this might happen." Didn't actually happen. The responses all said "if you have the correct bulb fitment and wattage, it's fine."



http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...057#post207057 <-- this one just mentions it, didn't happen to him

-- again, only heard of stories, as pointed out.


http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=105494

-- only heard of stories. This guy bought chrome bulbs for his HEADLIGHTS... So... Yea, probably not a good idea.

Seeing these stories is part of the reason I went to a full LED bulb setup for the brake lights and turn signals. Running lights are still halogen bulbs.

I still don't see any evidence of chrome bulbs in blinker lights causing melting issues.

[az3579]

I still don't see any evidence of chrome bulbs in blinker lights causing melting issues.

You mean other than the ones I've personally seen firsthand, right?
Replacing the bulbs and sockets with regular ones in those cars resolved the issue.

There is a reason it is circulating around the internet. It has happened. Okay, I found bad examples; it doesn't mean it hasn't happened to folks.

One thing that remains to be seen is whether the brand or the source has an effect on it.


Edit:
In the first link, the guy talks about posts he has seen from people that have had this issue.
Second link: He has also read the stories on how this has happened to other people.
OH, and by the way, that last one; the bulbs were not for the headlight. Read further down; there is someone claiming that it melted his in his turn signals.

While these may not be directly linking to the people who have had the issues, I didn't have time to go around searching the internet for better examples. These were quick searches.