Clear rear lights?
Discussion
Probably one of the most common mods I see being talked about here are changing the rear lights to clear lenses.
I'm I the only one to think this doesn't look good?
To me it's natural to have clear lights on the front of a car, and reds at the back.
I cringe when I see clear lenses on the back of a car, kinda in a boy racer way when you see these aftermarket clear lenses on a BMW 3 series.
I think Aston Martin have nailed it with the original design, keeping them all red (hiding the yellow indicators and reverse lights), smooth and uncluttered.
I think they've got it wrong with the clear DBS. Is this why people change, to be the same as the DBS?
I'm I the only one to think this doesn't look good?
To me it's natural to have clear lights on the front of a car, and reds at the back.
I cringe when I see clear lenses on the back of a car, kinda in a boy racer way when you see these aftermarket clear lenses on a BMW 3 series.
I think Aston Martin have nailed it with the original design, keeping them all red (hiding the yellow indicators and reverse lights), smooth and uncluttered.
I think they've got it wrong with the clear DBS. Is this why people change, to be the same as the DBS?
George H said:
I think it looks better on a dark car.
Plus it's sort of inkeeping with the rest of the details being chrome, matches better.
They aren't really the chav clear lights you're thinking of, those are Lexus style ones - i.e. clear with red dots.
Just a matter of personal taste. I think the clear lenses look good on a light coloured car such as lightning silver, mako blue, morning frost white and the red lenses look good on a dark colour such as carbon black, quantum, hammerhead and so on.Plus it's sort of inkeeping with the rest of the details being chrome, matches better.
They aren't really the chav clear lights you're thinking of, those are Lexus style ones - i.e. clear with red dots.
Still, if you don't like them, I am sure you will find someone on here to accept your clear lenses in a swapsies deal for a red set (although you have to check the part numbers as they change for different model years - somewhere on here Rick @ DMS posted the details).
all depends on the external colour of your car but also the small items of trim. If I had red calipers and red stitching then I would without doubt have red rear lights. If however, like my first V8V you have a black car with silver calipers and silver stitching then the clear lights look lots better than red ones and I opted to have them fitted from new.
Clear leneses are pretty much standard fit now on all the high end / facelifted cars so I think most people who retro fit them to old cars want to do it just to make their car look fresher and newer. I do agree however its not something that will always look better.
Clear leneses are pretty much standard fit now on all the high end / facelifted cars so I think most people who retro fit them to old cars want to do it just to make their car look fresher and newer. I do agree however its not something that will always look better.
I fitted them to my 2006 DB9 because I think they look better, not because I wanted the car to appear to be newer than it is. The red ones look old fashioned to me and the clear lenses freshen the back end up, but each to their own.
It is very much colour dependent - I know someone with a Fern green/Aston Racing Green tried them and they looked wrong. On my Chiltern (greyish) green they suit very well.
It is very much colour dependent - I know someone with a Fern green/Aston Racing Green tried them and they looked wrong. On my Chiltern (greyish) green they suit very well.
JohnG1 said:
Still, if you don't like them, I am sure you will find someone on here to accept your clear lenses in a swapsies deal for a red set (although you have to check the part numbers as they change for different model years - somewhere on here Rick @ DMS posted the details).
Still got the red set sat in my workshop. I probably should sell them.EpsomJames said:
I prefer the original red rear lights on grey and black cars. It all looks a bit monochrome otherwise.
Clear light look good on the coloured cars, greens, blues, reds IMO.
Comes down to personal preference and all that.
I used to think that, until I was picking my car up from a dealers for service and saw another Meteroite with them on. Looked really good.Clear light look good on the coloured cars, greens, blues, reds IMO.
Comes down to personal preference and all that.
Then I found out how much it was to swap them, so didn't!
They look awful with the clear rear lights imo. Can they be replaced by a body coloured panel?EpsomJames said:
I prefer the original red rear lights on grey and black cars. It all looks a bit monochrome otherwise.
Clear light look good on the coloured cars, greens, blues, reds IMO.
Comes down to personal preference and all that.
I'm thinking the opposite. I think the clears match well with the whites, greys, and blacks and that they can clash with "colored" cars. I had clears on my Lightning Silver V8 and I now have them on my Quantum Silver (charcoal grey) V12. I think they look great in both applications. Like you said though, it's all about personal preference. Clear light look good on the coloured cars, greens, blues, reds IMO.
Comes down to personal preference and all that.
Neil1300R said:
Someone on here has his sprayed, and posted the pictures. Can't remember who though.
Would still need a red rear reflector to be legal / pass MoT IIRC.
Yep, on a V8 Vantage. I think the reflectors are a lot less noticable on the DB9, people are generally too busy admiring the classic, flowing lines and perfect proportions, coupled with effortless, epic performance and creamy but hard-edged V12 soundtrack. Would still need a red rear reflector to be legal / pass MoT IIRC.
Rather than a cross-eyed, overweight track day car for ex-TVR owners with bad backs
The surround of the clear lights is grey which, imho, goes well with white and black and all variants between those colours, ie. silver to grey, but I personally wouldn't change the standard lights on any other colour.
Oh.. and that's from someone who likes ticking the option boxes
It's all about personal taste like so many things you can add/change to your AM.
Oh.. and that's from someone who likes ticking the option boxes
It's all about personal taste like so many things you can add/change to your AM.
yeti said:
Yep, on a V8 Vantage. I think the reflectors are a lot less noticable on the DB9, people are generally too busy admiring the classic, flowing lines and perfect proportions, coupled with effortless, epic performance and creamy but hard-edged V12 soundtrack.
Rather than a cross-eyed, overweight track day car for ex-TVR owners with bad backs
Good solid, balanced analysis, Yeti.Rather than a cross-eyed, overweight track day car for ex-TVR owners with bad backs
I have to disagree with those who say it is about personal taste. As far as I can see, the only reasons NOT to have the clears are...
1. You have absolutely zero taste.
2. You're poor.
3. Your name's Quinny.
4. You're living in a bygone era.
5. Your wife rules the roost.
6. You're a Mummy's boy.
7. You feel unfulfilled in your job.
8. You still believe in Santa.
9. You live in Wales.
10. You are working class.
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