Ambers vs. Clears [Archive]

Rachel9731

07-12-2006, 08:05 PM

mfanatic325

07-12-2006, 08:10 PM

not taboo...everyone has their own opinion. It just so happens that most people like clears that's all =P...I don't think my ambers look that bad either :P it's your car, do whatever you wish :thumbup: no need to conform with society.

BMW Loe

07-12-2006, 08:14 PM

I like my ambers :)

sl0ppyshat

07-12-2006, 08:18 PM

i like my ambers too!

bluecougar

07-12-2006, 08:19 PM

see...there are some amber fans :clap:

bmwstephen

07-12-2006, 08:19 PM

moi too! plus my theory is that i think it keeps the cops away :shhh:

WGScales

07-12-2006, 08:22 PM

I've got clears on my black 325i, but my wife's white car looks much better with amber. To each their own. :)

SD 328I

07-12-2006, 08:27 PM

I like my ambers as well. I just don't like the way clears look on pre-facelift E46s, they look too "plastic/cheap" to me. But they do look good on the facelifted cars.

As for the tails, they look better clear on all E46 models.

IxNay

07-12-2006, 08:30 PM

I upgraded my wheels to type 68 staggered 17 inch (from the standard 16 inch wheels). But I have kept my ambers. If the car had clears, I would keep them. For me lens are just not worth messing with unless you have to.

How about an E46AmberFanatics.com site?

MixFlame

07-12-2006, 08:32 PM

i like my ambers...i also like my clears :eeps:

Rachel9731

07-12-2006, 08:50 PM

I'm glad there are more of you out there. I like how my ambers look on my car. Mine is Mystic Blue Metallic.

blp88

07-12-2006, 08:54 PM

On my jet black I think the ambers look best....:)

downtoearth

07-12-2006, 08:55 PM

drive up to one with clear. compare them side by side and see if you like it. i didn't clear is a big deal before but it does make a big difference on mine (black).

james2538

07-12-2006, 09:10 PM

Wooo! Ambersssss Wooo! Clearsssss

It really doesn't matter whatever floats your boat! I prefer clears, I think they look cleaner/sportier. It can depend on the color though. Ex: White- clears are essential, Black- either way. Can't really think of an amber only

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6902/1202096img6bk.jpghttp://img125.imageshack.us/img125/700/1202098img4hw.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/6520/1202099img4ps.jpghttp://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9996/1202100img6cs.jpg

e46-alias

07-12-2006, 09:12 PM

I liked my ambers, but I love my oem clears. (Jet Black)

bmorrell

07-12-2006, 09:20 PM

Navin323i

07-12-2006, 09:22 PM

I personally went a different route. My car originally came with amber lenses from the factory but prior to purchasing my car in 7/2000 I had the dealership take out the amber lenses and replaced with clear lenses, but eventually went with smoked lenses.

I was happy with the clear front corner lenses until I chose to go with a black carbon fiber theme for my car, therefore since my headlight trim, kidney grilles, hood roundel, and license plate frame are all black carbon fiber (plus my RDSport R35 front bumper has a black grid mesh), I decided that my OEM front clear corner lenses no longer went with my car's theme, therefore I replaced the OEM front clear corner lenses with smoked clear corners which look MUCH better with my black carbon fiber theme.

Here's a link to some pics (my old clear corner lenses are in my sig pic):

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=381720

Marlin311

07-12-2006, 09:23 PM

What about smoked?

Lugnut2683

07-12-2006, 09:24 PM

Haha james, hilarious sig.

I think people prefer clears because it gives the car a cleaner look. Orange tends to stick out like a sore thumb, whereas clear (white) blends in better and is less "noticeable".

It's interesting though, because the Euro rear tail lenses for Corvettes are a popular mod, and they include an orange turn signal within the red taillights. Maybe we just all want to be European? :rofl:

Ethioboy69

07-12-2006, 09:29 PM

i like my ambers too.

rsjean

07-12-2006, 09:32 PM

On my jet black I think the ambers look best....:)

Ambers didn't look that bad but do like the clears better on my Jet Black. Now on my wifes Hellrot 328i - amber clashes like sh*t.

Problem with my clears is that the amber bulb reflects in the inside of the fixture bringing it back to an amber look. I need some silvervisions...

james2538

07-12-2006, 09:52 PM

Your sig. is hilarious.

Haha james, hilarious sig.

haha, thanks! Glad people like it! :thanks:

MixFlame

07-12-2006, 10:18 PM

I'm glad there are more of you out there. I like how my ambers look on my car. Mine is Mystic Blue Metallic.

mine is mystic blue too. looks good both ways to me :thumbup:

MixFlame

07-12-2006, 10:20 PM

haha, thanks! Glad people like it! :thanks:

and yes...your sig is hilarious haha...rollin on snowflakes :lmao:

JCsE46

07-12-2006, 10:38 PM

I've used to like my amber lens on my jetblack but when I replaced with the clear lens. It looks more better than the amber. So I went for which one color looks best to my car. I'd say clear lens look way better that the original amber lens IMHO.

BMWPower06

07-12-2006, 10:41 PM

Clears for lifeeeeeee, on Topaz blue tho i think ambers look nice

djmatty

07-12-2006, 10:46 PM

What about smoked?
http://www.sonataspeed.com/djmatty/drop1.jpg

http://www.sonataspeed.com/djmatty/drop2.jpg

:clap:

I just need to get pics with the chrome bulbs I have up front now.

BMWPower06

07-12-2006, 10:49 PM

smoked looks hot

djmatty

07-12-2006, 10:50 PM

smoked looks hot
It looks even better with the chrome bulbs, those eyelids off, and Projector46s, like I have now. :thumbup:

djmatty

07-12-2006, 10:51 PM

Best pic I have of that setup so far:

http://sonataspeed.com/djmatty/ae5.jpg

Transporter99

07-12-2006, 10:57 PM

http://www.sonataspeed.com/djmatty/drop1.jpg

http://www.sonataspeed.com/djmatty/drop2.jpg

:clap:

I just need to get pics with the chrome bulbs I have up front now.

Hmm, not to hijack but why is your "328i" badge sitting up so much higher in the back?:hmm: I only say that because I've noticed that on a lot of BMW's here. I thought someone bought it and placed it on in the wrong spot...then I saw more bimmers with the badge in the same spot. Not hating, just curious thats all. :)

I think smoked are nice, if done correctly. Some look bad, others look very good. I'd go for a light smoke. I had planned on smoking my clears when I got them, but vetoed it for now. Too much "dark" on my car after I tinted the windows.

I still have my ambers and liked them, but wanted something different. :) I agree with BMWPower06 about clear/amber and certain color cars.

ianbiz

07-12-2006, 10:58 PM

Clears for lifeeeeeee, on Topaz blue tho i think ambers look nice
:werd:

my car loooks :ghey: because i have ambers and its white. I love the look of clears on cars, i dont know why.

ianbiz

07-12-2006, 11:00 PM

what do u guys think about white w/ smokes

djmatty

07-12-2006, 11:02 PM

Hmm, not to hijack but why is your "328i" badge sitting up so much higher in the back?:hmm: I only say that because I've noticed that on a lot of BMW's here. I thought someone bought it and placed it on in the wrong spot...then I saw more bimmers with the badge in the same spot. Not hating, just curious thats all. :)
I've been trying to find the answer to that, and I still don't know.

djmatty

07-12-2006, 11:03 PM

what do u guys think about white w/ smokes
I say white would look good with the clears that have the reflector pattern, not the completely clear ones.

PhillyKatBMW

07-12-2006, 11:04 PM

i like how TiAg contrasts with the amber...but Imma clears guy, so I'm clear all the way around...looks nice...I had a clear bulb up front for a while too...but it makes the corner look too white rather than clear, so I added an amber bulb back in...black cars def need clears...

bimmerchop

07-12-2006, 11:05 PM

ambers FTL :puke:

Transporter99

07-12-2006, 11:13 PM

For ianbiz, I think clears will look much better on a white car. From a far I've admired white cars like BMWPower06's with clears and they really pop. But, it depends on the "look" you are trying to achieve overall with the car too.:)

What do some of you think about adding the titanium trim (inside the headlights) to add contrast to the clears and black car? Here's the front of my car.

http://pic.funtigo.com/img/i201858303_31199.jpg

NJmike

07-12-2006, 11:16 PM

djmatty

07-12-2006, 11:19 PM

I liked the contrast of my ambers on my TiAg at first but then they started to get on my nerves, but I still wasnt a big fan of clear on silver-until I installed them. I think it makes a MUCH bigger difference and looks MUCH better in person then pictures do justice, kinda wierd
Yeah, your clears do stick out in your sig, but I bet there's less contrast in person, especially depending on the lighting.

BMWPower06

07-12-2006, 11:20 PM

get those DRLs switched off

djmatty

07-12-2006, 11:22 PM

get those DRLs switched off
Yeah, I know. :(

Cobra

07-12-2006, 11:48 PM

go with whatever you like better.

Dan04E46

07-13-2006, 09:57 AM

I've got clears on my black 325i, but my wife's white car looks much better with amber. To each their own. :)

i would have thought just the opposite.

The Cleaner

07-13-2006, 10:12 AM

OEM Amber for me, my X5 has clears from the factory so I left them. Back in the day the Porsche 911 owners spend big money to change out to amber because they were only available in europe. If the cars shipped with clear people would want Amber. In Australia they are buying Amber not clear these days.

hi its me alec

07-13-2006, 10:34 AM

captain bimmer

07-13-2006, 11:06 AM

Ambers are freaken fugly!

jstar41

07-13-2006, 11:33 AM

clears are nice when you have LED white bulbs or silvervisions to hide the amber reflection..

greydart

07-13-2006, 11:33 AM

Ambers are freaken fugly!
:werd:

clears or nothing......amber reflectors are the worst of all. Just my opinion.:thumbup:

curious_george

07-13-2006, 12:40 PM

... on Topaz blue tho i think ambers look nice

Agree.

e46myway

07-13-2006, 12:42 PM

On my jet black I think the ambers look best....:)

:werd:

3TARD

07-13-2006, 01:26 PM

smoke 'em like EuroGun's.......................:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :bow:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e133/Eurogun/EurogunSC011forum.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e133/Eurogun/EurogunSC009forum.jpg

warmasice

07-13-2006, 02:11 PM

god dam, that car looks evil!

E46NYBMW

07-13-2006, 02:15 PM

i would only change my ambers for some stock oem led and xenon lights haha. just put on new bulbs on the headlights and foglights. super white

E46NYBMW

07-13-2006, 02:15 PM

wow howd u do the exhaust

warmasice

07-13-2006, 02:30 PM

and wot polish/wax u use to get the shine on that?

coco savage

07-13-2006, 02:35 PM

escape goat

07-13-2006, 02:41 PM

i think i'd only replace my ambers with stock quality truly plug n play LED's that have the same connectors and backing as the stockers. to my knowledge, that does not exist . . . so, amber it is. for me, the difference between amber and clears regarding which looks better kinda varies by car color, but LED is the shizz no matter what color car.

mfanatic325

07-13-2006, 11:15 PM

Everyone who likes amber, post a picture of your car and I'll photoshop it clear. Tell me you like amber after that. I thought the same thing until I photoshopped it, and so did my dad, and mom, friends, and everyone else. It's rare, but I do agree that ambers look fine on a few colors.
can you photoshop my sig pic? I wanna see what clears look like on my car...so far I like my ambers (or at least I don't hate it :dunno: )...

D1AllTrac

07-14-2006, 02:03 AM

im kinda on the fence about it myself, i have rocked the ambers for almost 5 years but recently i have been getting tired of them and been considering smoked corners. my car is alpine btw.

see the thing is i actually like my ambers on the front but hate them on the rear, and since im not a r1cer i refuse to do just the rears.

idk ive been wanting to go with smoked corners and a kind of black on white theme but we'll see, maybe ill just get regular clears or maybe ill stick with the ambers for another 5 years :)

Boosted_ZHP

07-14-2006, 03:09 AM

I think if your Car is Blue, white, black, you could pull off ambers. Any other color it is ugly. Clears blend in better on a silver gunmetal car. i think smoked looks really good on white cars BTW

Navin323i

07-14-2006, 05:44 AM

Ya im trying to go for smoked corners/tails on my apline white. The smoked corners would go with the black housed headlights.... rather then clear corners.. imo.

where to buy some good smoked corners?

I got mine from Umnitza... I got them so that they match up with my carbon fiber headlight trim, carbon fiber full replacement kidney grilles, real carbon fiber roundels, carbon fiber license plate frame, and black grid mesh on my RDSport R35 front bumper... pics are below...

warmasice

07-14-2006, 05:52 AM

bmw in europe ship pretty much all new cars with clears. so im kinda used to that now, therefore ambers make the car look dated. but i guess you guys are used to seeing amber hey!

NightWolfe

07-14-2006, 08:40 AM

did some models come with Clears from the Factory ? I have an 02 330ci w/Sport, Premium/Cold Weather and it has clears on it .. I did buy it used but it was a lease turn in and I can't imagine the previous owner bought clears ...

van

07-14-2006, 09:08 AM

just did mine a week ago from clear to amber...

the OEM clear doenst really blend well with the Clear Headlight Cover

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c394/kalbo2go/BMW/clear.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c394/kalbo2go/BMW/amber.jpg

blksedan

07-14-2006, 09:25 AM

i like my ambers

mfanatic325

07-14-2006, 11:20 AM

I think all sport packages get clears right off the bat. Unless you got jipped =D

r3v1ls

08-15-2006, 09:53 PM

I just installed OEM Clear Sides and Front (waiting to get LED Rears) on my White 325i :craig:.
I think it looks great from the side but they do contrast somewhat with the black trim headlights. Still MUCH better than the ambers!
Also the orange bulbs reflect of the clear housing so it seems a lot more orange than I thought it would be. But I don't mind that much, I actually think a little bit of orange complements the car. Also gives it an OEM look which I'm going for.
The car is currently getting detailed by me. Tomorrow I should be done with the polishing and the interior and if I'm lucky I'll have time to get all the coats of Zaino on it. So pics are coming soon :thumbsup:.

jeyur

08-16-2006, 12:35 AM

the ambers are ok imo but i just want to make my car a little more personal and i prefer the clears which is why i plan to change them to clears

hi its me alec

08-16-2006, 12:46 AM

mfanatic here you go...

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1155/clears2si8.jpg

hi its me alec

08-16-2006, 12:53 AM

and here's my car with ambers: :ghey:

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9610/amber1fi6.jpg

and now with lightly smoked clears: :str8pimpi

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/665/img0963ew9.jpg

ianbiz

08-16-2006, 01:26 AM

alec sweet ride.. where did u get the front plate delete from?

hi its me alec

08-16-2006, 01:59 AM

alec sweet ride.. where did u get the front plate delete from?

straight from the dealership...$12.

mfanatic325

08-16-2006, 02:28 AM

would anyone know of any way to get clears all around for facelift coupe? I'll trade/buy if it's a reasonable price :idea:

Wes328i

09-09-2006, 09:14 PM

So since we all think clears are much better, where is the cheapest place to buy good quality clears. I've seen the front set for around $80, the rears for $220, but it was the kind with the clear in the middle, not at the top, which I would prefer. Anyone know of good stores?

Nick@Jlevi SW

09-09-2006, 10:35 PM

:hi: We have full clear sets in both clear and smoked on our website.

SLEEP3R

09-10-2006, 12:07 AM

ambers FTMFW.

mfanatic325

09-10-2006, 12:28 AM

mfanatic here you go...

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1155/clears2si8.jpg

:bawling: no money to get clears from stealership...don't want to hassle with aftermarket ones that don't fit as well as OEM (AND plus "aftermarket" ones are BIG bank too :censor: ) I recently heard that for facelift coupes, dealer sells the front (headlight) clear turn signal inserts for like $50+ PER...and $30+ PER for those small triangular sidemarkers...and $300+ PER rear LED tailight...that's a rip of a lifetime...:cry: can't find anyone that would want ambers :(

bluecougar

09-10-2006, 02:05 AM

dont go to the stealership...order from jlevi he sells oem parts without the retail price ;)

rg1bmw

09-10-2006, 02:33 AM

I just wanted to ask, why is there such animosity towards ambers? I just got my '04 sedan a month ago and it came with the original amber lights. I don't think it looks bad. Is it taboo among E46 enthusiasts to not want clears?

go with what you like Rachel9731. i am switching from smoke all around on my black sedan to clear corners and side marker lights next week. just added my red/clear/red tails. I like the clears-but will have to see them on my car.

mfanatic325

09-10-2006, 02:40 AM

dont go to the stealership...order from jlevi he sells oem parts without the retail price ;)

still too much bank :cry:

JmeC

09-10-2006, 03:24 AM

Ambers are just too common.

And remember there are Amber, Euro Clear and True clear.

The ones most people think of when they think clear is the reflector-plated housing (Euro-Clear). The clears I have take it a step further, and it is completely clear (Euro G3 True-Clear Lens) and the only reflector is the chrome plating that is plainly visible all the way to the bulb.

mfanatic325

09-10-2006, 02:43 PM

bluecougar

09-10-2006, 03:22 PM

Ambers are just too common

and fugly

mfanatic325

09-10-2006, 04:04 PM

and fugly

LOL stop rubbing it in Mel :cry:

bluecougar

09-10-2006, 04:19 PM

:eeps:

JmeC

09-10-2006, 04:22 PM

are these "true clears" OEM or aftermarket? Got pic of difference? I think I knwo what you're talking about, but want to make sure :P

These are the True-Clears. They are aftermarket but the fitment is BETTER than OEM (atleast on my car it's easier to swap these in and out compared to the oems and they contour to the edges nicely).

http://kinkmission.com/G3.jpg

mfanatic325

09-10-2006, 06:36 PM

These are the True-Clears. They are aftermarket but the fitment is BETTER than OEM (atleast on my car it's easier to swap these in and out compared to the oems and they contour to the edges nicely).

http://kinkmission.com/G3.jpg

ummmmmmm....what do they look like from the front? or like when they're installed? Got any pics? :hmm:

bluecougar

09-10-2006, 06:46 PM

eww

CAOSyAMOR

09-10-2006, 06:59 PM

I think all sport packages get clears right off the bat. Unless you got jipped =D

not so until 03/04 (in Canada anyways).. Man.. I should have just got a ZHP.. wait.. nope.. an M.. yeah..

bluecougar

09-10-2006, 07:00 PM

not so until 03/04 (in Canada anyways).. Man.. I should have just got a ZHP.. wait.. nope.. an M.. yeah..

:werd:

my car came with ambers and it has sports package

helgo

09-10-2006, 08:34 PM

if you are going for the blacked out look, then the amber really messes you up. otherwise, I guess it's personal taste.

JmeC

09-11-2006, 01:54 AM

ummmmmmm....what do they look like from the front? or like when they're installed? Got any pics? :hmm:

I'll take some pics tomorrow but you can sorta see it in my sig.