Public Enemy No 1
07-30-2006, 05:12 AM
Before applying VEIL, I read up on the forum and noticed a few people warning others not to apply VEIL to the plates. I figured that because I was using flat, clear plastic plates (just like VEIL recommends) I'd be OK. I was ready to accept a result that looked like a thin, oily layer on my plate.
This is what it came out like:
http://www.uberlevel.com/homepages/pen1/E90PlateVeilRear.JPG
Bear in mind that I have experience painting, I applied it during perfect climatic conditions and I followed the instructions. I may as well have slapped black paint on.
So, I'll have to go without VEIL on my plates. Unfortunately, I beleive this will remove almost all of the product's effectiveness.
Why? Look at the image below:
http://www.uberlevel.com/homepages/pen1/E90NoVeilBack.jpg
This is an un-veiled BMW E90 with 'sparkling graphite' paint.
The picture was taken by a Sony videocamera in IR (nightshot) mode, under low abmient light conditions. Like the image above, the numbers have been erased. It shows that the only significantly IR-reflective parts of the car are the plates and the reflectors. The lights themselves are not reflective.
The reflectors account for less than one fith of total light reflected. Remember that the LEO will be targeting the plate area, so the difference between a car with veiled lights and no veiled plate vs. a car with no veil at all is negligable.
What about the front of the car?
http://www.uberlevel.com/homepages/pen1/E90NoVeilFront.JPG
Well, as you can see, despite the chrome, and the large headlights, there's not a lot of reflection, except from the plate. The headlights, and especially the headlight surround are very dark indeed. There has been a lot of discussion about VEIL drastically cutting light output and some people have suggested wiping the VEIL off in front of the HID unit. Well, in this case, that would cancel out all apparent benefit.
In conclusion, the VEIL's coming off and I can write off another hundred bucks wasted on my latest obsession.
Anyone want to buy a 95% full pot of VEIL? It's only ever done half a coat.
This is what it came out like:
http://www.uberlevel.com/homepages/pen1/E90PlateVeilRear.JPG
Bear in mind that I have experience painting, I applied it during perfect climatic conditions and I followed the instructions. I may as well have slapped black paint on.
So, I'll have to go without VEIL on my plates. Unfortunately, I beleive this will remove almost all of the product's effectiveness.
Why? Look at the image below:
http://www.uberlevel.com/homepages/pen1/E90NoVeilBack.jpg
This is an un-veiled BMW E90 with 'sparkling graphite' paint.
The picture was taken by a Sony videocamera in IR (nightshot) mode, under low abmient light conditions. Like the image above, the numbers have been erased. It shows that the only significantly IR-reflective parts of the car are the plates and the reflectors. The lights themselves are not reflective.
The reflectors account for less than one fith of total light reflected. Remember that the LEO will be targeting the plate area, so the difference between a car with veiled lights and no veiled plate vs. a car with no veil at all is negligable.
What about the front of the car?
http://www.uberlevel.com/homepages/pen1/E90NoVeilFront.JPG
Well, as you can see, despite the chrome, and the large headlights, there's not a lot of reflection, except from the plate. The headlights, and especially the headlight surround are very dark indeed. There has been a lot of discussion about VEIL drastically cutting light output and some people have suggested wiping the VEIL off in front of the HID unit. Well, in this case, that would cancel out all apparent benefit.
In conclusion, the VEIL's coming off and I can write off another hundred bucks wasted on my latest obsession.
Anyone want to buy a 95% full pot of VEIL? It's only ever done half a coat.