Lamin-X Fog Light Flim Install

Ordered and installed the Lamin-X film on my fogs last weekend. It was a little tougher than expected following the instructions to not remove the trim before install. I used a card to help get the film to lay down, and it came out okay, but I do have some portions around the edge of the lens that did not attach.
I reached out to Lamin-X and they said that was normal and I had done a fine job with the install. I just don't know... I mean, I don't think the film will last very long in it's current state, so reaching out to the TW crew to check in.

Did you install Lamin-X?
Did you remove the trim or no? If so, what was your install technique? I considered installing wet and using heat (I've done window tint and vinyl in the past) but as the instructions said not to, I figured don't second guess the manufacturer.
Curious if I got what's expected or if I could get the entire bit of film to adhere to the lens.

 

Removed trim. Heated up fog light with heat gun. Applied perfectly no bubbles or wrinkles that didn’t smooth out with minimal effort.

 

So better than this...

 

takes about 30 seconds to remove the light. Then you can do it inside on the kitchen table with a blow dryer to help the curve.

 

I had the same issue the first time I applied the Lamin-x (looked exactly like yours), it was like they cut it a tad bit too big so no matter what I tried it creased and wouldn't lay flat. They sent me a replacement set right away. The replacement set went on just fine and I had no gaps, creases, or air bubbles... but after a week it started bubbling up around the edges again. I took the bezels off both times, cleaned the fog light and everything. I gave up on it and figured if I want to do it again, I'll get the non pre-cut lamin-x instead.

 

Looks like a heat gun will fix those little bubbles.

 

I had those ridges too when I installed mine like you did, although I did mine in kind of cold weather so they were a pain to put on. When I got rid of the fogs, I took them off, and those ridges/bumps had hardened. Which means two things: if you cna live with it... they aren't coming off. But if you want to fix them, do them as soon as possible so the film is easier to work with.

My guess is gentle heat, remove the trim (and if possible, remove the fog light). I only put them on temporarily until I spent much more on amber LED fogs just to see if I liked the amber lighting (I did like it, and I bought BD sports). So I wasn't all that concerned with the ridges as it was a temporary experiment for me.

 

Yeah mine had those folds also and it was chilly outside when I did it. As usual, I was in a hurry and the only thing I did was pull off the bezels before installing the lamin-x. I used an extremely sharp new razor blade and cut the folds and then flattened what was there and that was good enough for me! Stand back 3-5 feet and I don't notice at all. Yours looks really good I don't think you will have a problem. Maybe try the razor blade technique?

 

How’s the beam pattern on the BD’s......do they still sweep the road low left to rights ptetty well?

And does the amber really work better in fog/dust?


The oem have a nice wide low pattern.

 

I think they are great left to right, and much better than OEM. To my eyes, yes... amber lights work better in fog, snowing and rain. Never experienced in dust. It's not so much about them cutting through the fog et al,. but in my opinion having yellow reflected back to me off fog/snow/rain is less annoying (for lack of a better word) than white light reflected back.

However, they are bright, and they likely are shining quite brightly into oncoming cars (I can clearly see oncoming drivers' faces light up yellow). I only use them in inclement weather, and even then sometimes briefly turn them off with oncoming traffic. They are not DOT compliant, so they are illegal (again.. not sure if that's the right word). There's a great thread in teh lighting forum here comparing DOT compliant foglights if you're interested.

All that being said.. I'd absolutely buy and install them again.

 

I did X-Pel (thickest film on the market) on the headlights and fogs. With the use of a heat gun and a lot of patience everything worked out fine. Fogs were super easy and only took me a few minutes.

 

I went with spray painting the lens itself. Turned out pretty good.



It's been a couple years now. It's pretty chipped now. I've debating on respraying them or buying the yellow vinyl. Most of what I've seen, the vinyl doesn't sit right on the edges of the fogs. I would think you would have to use a heat gun to get the edges to lay flat.

 

its because LAMIN X is thicker film and tougher to set down on a small curved surface, better off getting a uncut roll of yellow JDM PPF from EBAY and cut out your own its thinner and lays down on the surface better and far less expensive

 

Before/after



I got a sheet of uncut Lamin-x
I figured if I screwed it up I had plenty left over to make a new one.

I think it came out great.

1’x1’ sheet of Blue tint Lamin-x at a local graphic/tint shop
(A Lamin-x dealer)

$20 cash! No tax...

Had enough left over for at least 2 sets of fogs.
I gave the rest of it to a friend for his motorcycle and cars. He picked up a
xl large coffee and donuts from Dunkin’ Donuts for me. I think I’m ahead in this deal

Next up? Headlight tint. I’m probably going to order the laminx tint sheet and split it with a friend. Cut our own pattern again.


Application?
Easy to apply. I used rubbing alcohol to clean the lenses of any contaminates. Also a small rubber squeegee/scraper came in handy to tuck it under the bezels. A few minutes with the Fogs lights on heated it up nice. Took about 10 minutes for cleaning the lenses, cutting the pattern and placing it on the truck.

 

Is that a decal on your skid plate?

 

Well, that is a killer idea. I did that to some bulbs on my bike since finding replacement in amber was impossible. I just did the yellow Lamin-x after removing a not so good job with dark smoke. It came out way better the second time, but translucent yellow would straight up rock if I need to re-redo it.

Thanks!

FWIW, yellow nailed it in some fog that we had since the install. The light projected way further.

 

yes

Yep

 

I like it. I have the Devil horn Toyota theme for my truck. Good on you

 

Are those blue lights legal in your state?

 

It's been like two years since I did that and my fogs are pretty chipped, not badly chipped, just enough for my OCD to kick in. I want to redo it. It's not as yellow when the lights are on. I have white leds so it dulls the yellow a little bit. But I think it looks great. I've always been a fan of yellow fogs.