New Lightweight 3D Printed Tail Light Housings

[bmwphatpat]

Anyone tried these housing I came across on Ebay?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373131399011?_trkparms=aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSO NAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201018205123%26meid%3 Df7d2aa56610143a09590fada5864b158%26pid%3D101286%2 6rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone%26itm%3D373131399 011%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26algv%3DWa tchlistVariantWithMLR&_trksid=p2380057.c101286.m47999&_trkparms=pageci%3A73edb8bb-ad2b-11eb-a32b-6a797302c5a0%7Cparentrq%3A3995839f1790ab84e968b508 fff77c9e%7Ciid%3A1

They seem to have a few good things going for them:
- Lighter
- Brighter
- Corrosion resistant

Thoughts on price? Seems a bit high but then new tail light housings are $$

[Solamar]

Pretty cool! Looks like it includes LED bulbs and sockets, not a bad price IMO. Drops 6 lbs off the rear, very tempting.

That last picture of the sneakers confused me for a second

[reclino]

I am just waiting for scanner prices to come down a bit. It won't be long before the solid model or STL file is available online or I am able to make the model myself.

[RWebb]

huh - who do we know in Santa Cruz?

[Cory M]

Look well made. That blue car looks like the 934 being built at Canepa right now (Scott's Valley, next to Santa Cruz).

[aldente]

I wonder how well they hold up to exposure

[Long Nose]

I have been shopping for new tail light housings myself. They do take a beating back there, lots of mud and dirt kicked at them constantly. Looking at the OEM replacements (like the ones available on this website), they are chrome plated on the inside, which would certainly impact the brightness. Also, I am concerned about switching to LED's, I have heard some people have a problem because the current is lower (?). But mainly, they are pretty much the same price as the OEM replacements, so if I am going to spend that much, hard to justify getting some plastic knock offs for the same price. Maybe if they were 1/2 the price...

[Fubawu]

Originally Posted by Long Nose

I have been shopping for new tail light housings myself. They do take a beating back there, lots of mud and dirt kicked at them constantly. Looking at the OEM replacements (like the ones available on this website), they are chrome plated on the inside, which would certainly impact the brightness. Also, I am concerned about switching to LED's, I have heard some people have a problem because the current is lower (?). But mainly, they are pretty much the same price as the OEM replacements, so if I am going to spend that much, hard to justify getting some plastic knock offs for the same price. Maybe if they were 1/2 the price...

I think you are missing the lightweight factor? The key here is 3-4 lbs off the rear of the car.

[bmwphatpat]

No members that have purchased and installed these that can chime in? There seems to be a bunch of sets sold, surely one set sold to a member here...

[David]

I think it's a great idea (so great I've been working on my own using Spoke's LED panels), but I do wonder why they chose ABS rather than something with more longevity like ASA. I'd be surprised if the maker of this isn't a Pelican. If so, perhaps they'll chime in.

[reclino]

ABS and ASA are about the same strength. ASA is more resistant to UV light. In this application it's probably not a deal breaker. The print quality looks marginal, I have done better prints on my CR10 printer... This is well within the range of someone.who wants to spend the hours to develop a cad model and print it yourself.

[thsupernge]

Originally Posted by reclino

abs and asa are about the same strength. Asa is more resistant to uv light. In this application it's probably not a deal breaker. The print quality looks marginal, i have done better prints on my cr10 printer... This is well within the range of someone.who wants to spend the hours to develop a cad model and print it yourself.

+1

[geoff_k]

If you can 3D print then you really only need to ensure you can attach the reflector and mount the new part, besides wire connections. If you use LEDs then you redesign the housing completely.

[RNajarian]

I’ve got a 3D printer. . . I wonder where I can find that file and print a couple for myself.

EDIT: I wasn’t aware this was someone’s business venture. I withdraw my statement above. I’m 100% for Capitalist Endeavors. No stealing of intellectual property allowed.

[spoke]

The LED bulbs included are designed to be used with reflectors as many of the LED chips are pointing outward. The 3 LED chips on the tip of the bulbs most likely provide most of the emitted light. The white material used probably provides some glowing light from the side LEDs.

For the stress picture, they should have put on their good kicks instead of that beat-up pair.

[TopTuning]

Hello everyone!

I'm the guy making these tail lamp housings. I really appreciate all the interest and constructive comments.

I made these for my personal car, which the original tail lamp housings were in terrible shape. I figured why not let other people enjoy my hard work! These took 8-9 prototypes and tons of frustration.

New OEM housings are prohibitively expensive costing over double what my housings cost. That $450 gets you a complete set - not a single side with no bulbs etc.

The aftermarket plastic molded tail lamps available for about the same price... well I'll just say at Canepa we won't touch them. They are known for unfixable fitment issues. However I personally have no direct experience with them.

Material: ABS plastic is very strong and durable. The UV resistance is a bit less than ASA material, but these units are really exposed to much UV when installed.

I've had mine on my car that lives outside (for now ) for over a year. Another car has had 3dprinted wheel center caps on for almost two years in the sun, with no signs of sun or heat fatigue.

ASA also isn't available in larger rolls of material that I've seen yet. To make these cost effective I need to buy the larger rolls.

Speaking of cost, I wish I could actually make them cheaper. Between the printing material, high quality bulbs and sockets the parts aren't cheap. Then you have the finishing work, assembly and testing that's around an hour of my labor per side! I'm certainly not getting rich here, but the sets I've sold have earned me a bit more Porsche dollars. eBay takes a huge cut as well!

Again, I could increase the print "quality" (resolution) and make them take 2x as long to print, but that doesn't make them any stronger or lighter... thinner layer lines actually weaken prints it seems. They are printed at 0.3mm height which is a good blend of speed, quality and strength.

I reinforce any thin areas or areas rough from supports with ABS solvent glue. Then I spend a good amount of time hand sanding these and other rough areas... Like I said, it's a good amount of labor.

Oh and yeah... need some new shoes Maybe someone wants to be a foot model?


If anyone wants a set PM me.

Forum price is $400!

[TopTuning]

Originally Posted by spoke

The LED bulbs included are designed to be used with reflectors as many of the LED chips are pointing outward. The 3 LED chips on the tip of the bulbs most likely provide most of the emitted light. The white material used probably provides some glowing light from the side LEDs.

For the stress picture, they should have put on their good kicks instead of that beat-up pair.

The bulbs illuminate fantastically well, especially the reverse lamps. Far better than factory.

Remember the goal of a tail lamp isn't really to project light - just to be illuminated.

[Antonov]

PM sent,

Also, just noticed that the eBay ad states 69-86, I assume these will work for G50 (87-88) model years as well.

Can anyone tell what brand lenses are on the blue Canepa car in the listing? URO or Hella?

[TopTuning]

Originally Posted by Antonov

PM sent,

Also, just noticed that the eBay ad states 69-86, I assume these will work for G50 (87-88) model years as well.

Can anyone tell what brand lenses are on the blue Canepa car in the listing? URO or Hella?

Oops, I don't know how I entered that wrong. Should fit them fine.

The lens pictured is an OEM Bosch lens I believe. They all seem to be about the same anyway. We usually put new OEM lens on when we build cars here.

[thor66]

Originally Posted by TopTuning

The bulbs illuminate fantastically well, especially the reverse lamps. Far better than factory.

Remember the goal of a tail lamp isn't really to project light - just to be illuminated.

can you post photos of the light pattern?