Where is everyone getting their clear lenses these days?

[paosgravity]

Looking for a set of clear markers for the front, '04 XLT.

 

[Lefty]

There are several good companies out there. You are sure to find one at the right price.

 

[Lefty]

I liked them so much I bought clear rear tail lights. The rear lights are well worth it. The ones I bought came with an extra socket. You can splice it in and add one more bulb, making them brighter than stock.

 

[Lefty]

A friend of mine bought tinted lenses for the front. They look great, all except the lights are much dimmer. Now he drives with his fog lights on.

 

[superj]

thats why i don't get tinted head or tail lights

 

[Lefty]

thats why i don't get tinted head or tail lights

Exactly

 

[cbxer55]

I bought my tinted front corners, tail lights and third brake light from CARiD. They have a decent selection. Crystal clear head lights came from there as well, but like ten years ago. May be opting for some tinted head lights as well, to make the entire front end black. Don't drive much at night, usually only from work home. And that's seven miles in the city, very well lit. There's also an Onyx Industries light bar under the tail gate. Does tail lights, turn signals and brake lights. The turn signals are amber and flash from center to the outside continuously. The brake lights do that once before going solid.

And btw, the front corners are bright enough, I can see them flashing on the ground from inside the vehicle. The actual corners have LED bulbs in them. The four in the horizontal parts are Sylvania Silver Stars. They're bright and white.

 

[cbxer55]

A friend of mine bought tinted lenses for the front. They look great, all except the lights are much dimmer. Now he drives with his fog lights on.

On my Lightning, I rewired the head light switch so the "fog" lights come on automatically when you turn anything on. I say "fog", because in the old days, real fog lights were amber. Today, everyone calls clear lower lights "fog" lights. In the old days, clear lower lights were called driving lights. That's what I still call them.

 

[sgtsandman]

One thing to keep in mind if you go aftermarket. Make sure they have the DOT certification and that they have some kind of amber reflector. The clear reflectors that shine white when hit with a light are not legal. Not many police officers are going to know or bother with them if they do know but if you get someone who does know and wants to nit pick, that will add another violation to the list.

 

[Vindictus]

On my Lightning, I rewired the head light switch so the "fog" lights come on automatically when you turn anything on. I say "fog", because in the old days, real fog lights were amber. Today, everyone calls clear lower lights "fog" lights. In the old days, clear lower lights were called driving lights. That's what I still call them.

Now that really show's your age.
My 89 had fog lights (amber lens) I added driving lights ( clear lens). I miss that truck

 

[sgtsandman]

On my Lightning, I rewired the head light switch so the "fog" lights come on automatically when you turn anything on. I say "fog", because in the old days, real fog lights were amber. Today, everyone calls clear lower lights "fog" lights. In the old days, clear lower lights were called driving lights. That's what I still call them.

I think it's how the reflector is designed that dictates whether they are fog or driving lights. I think the yellow light is supposed to cut through the fog better, thus why they were originally yellow. Why they switched is beyond me. Clear is probably cheaper to make. I had a vehicle or two with yellow fog lights. They weren't that great but they were cheap and in hind site, mounted and adjusted too low. So, user error in installation and use I suppose.

 

[paosgravity]

Thanks guys for being so helpful and hijacking the thread :/

I'd love some places you've gotten your clears from, I'm building a late '90's/'00's mini, would love some clear markers on the front.

 

[cbxer55]

Like I told you man, check out CARiD. Then enter the type of vehicle and the search will be limited to just that vehicle. Then you can pick what you're looking for, Lightning, Suspension, Exterior, Interior, Performance, etc .

 

[cbxer55]

One thing to keep in mind if you go aftermarket. Make sure they have the DOT certification and that they have some kind of amber reflector. The clear reflectors that shine white when hit with a light are not legal. Not many police officers are going to know or bother with them if they do know but if you get someone who does know and wants to nit pick, that will add another violation to the list.

In Oklahoma, they seem to not bother with it. My Lightning doesn't have a single reflector. Nor does my Ranger. Nor do any of my three motorcycles. My bikes don't even have license lights. I ride home from work at night during the warmer months. Never been bothered. Lived here 21 years.

We have a ten and under speeding ticket here. It's all I've ever gotten, and believe me, I was well over 10 and under when stopped. A ten and under doesn't go on your record.

You should see some of the heaps of junk that are on the roads here. It's scary at times. Saw a Mustang one day, the entire windshield was covered in clear tape. I couldn't see who was in it. So therefore ,how the hell did he see anything?

All five of my vehicles have loud exhaust. Both trucks have tinted windshields. The Lightning so dark, at unlit intersections, I have to roll down the side windows to see if anyone is there with their lights off. But, most of the police cars here have darkly tinted windows as well. So there's that.

 

[JoshT]

Thanks guys for being so helpful and hijacking the thread :/

I'd love some places you've gotten your clears from, I'm building a late '90's/'00's mini, would love some clear markers on the front.

Amazon, eBay, CarID, and almost anywhere else. Clear headlights, taillight, and market lights are not difficult to find for a '98+ Ranger. If you can't find them, its because you haven't looked. Doesn't matter where you buy them from the all come off the same few manufacturing lines overseas.

Now back to the regularly scheduled thread jacking.

Lights is one area I'm not sure about on the facelift for my 99. I'm going to go with newer style "factory" red teil lights since I don't like most of the clear options for the back and think the later stockers look good. Undecided on the third brake light, in a way I'd like LED for the brighter lighting, but like the third breake light, I like the factory stylind better. Might just pop some brighter LED bulbs in a new third brake housing.

I'm not sure on the headlights. My truck is the dark gray metallic color for the year. It's going to get a respray eventually, but stay the same color. With the '99 front end, the shiny stock style clear lens lights looked great with the chrome bumper and grille. I'm opting fopr a chrome delete with the facelift. The plan is to going 01-03 body color grille with a 2006+ body matched front bumper. I feel like black housings will be too dark, but the chrome housing might be too shiny. Either way I'm not going smoked lens, I drive at night and don't want them to work less.

Now the one I'd like to find clear lenses for is the first gen and maybe the F-100. Those used to be easy to get, but not any more. Clear lenses on a dark blue or silver first gen is a clean look. That's pretty low on the priority list though since I don;t at all mind the appearance of s set of stock lenses. If I found them it would probably be interchanged with stock lenses. Stock for regular driving and clear for showing off.