What JDM rear LED reflector should I get?

Some comments led me to thinking I would get aftermarket JDM rear LED reflector lamps. 

Unfortunately in California modders can get picked apart by Cops for anything and everything. I am not sure if this would get picked out too easy and I would get stopped over the usual mods cause of it's nature. 

The car now with the stock red reflectors. Only the sides have light at all. The rear only is a red reflector.
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/305742_10150768095975092_657240091_20485989_2586092_n.jpg[/IMG]

Front is pretty even color wise.
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/184126_10150752063845092_657240091_20291427_4069318_n.jpg[/IMG]

Rear kind of has that distracting OEM cheap, out dated looking reflector.
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262587_10150752063950092_657240091_20291428_6677511_n.jpg[/IMG]

Even WALD never changed it lol
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/37289_10150198942780092_657240091_13306496_4402650_n.jpg[/IMG]

Every car seems to have them to some extent.
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/167207_10150380437380092_657240091_17152559_5603289_n.jpg[/IMG]


oK so here are the ones I am thinking about:

These are the Red ones:
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/155173_10150327684085092_657240091_16178919_2887111_n.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/155067_10150327684070092_657240091_16178918_2526928_n.jpg[/IMG]

The clear ones that light up Red but a obviously NOT reflectors anymore.
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/303834_10150785826200092_657240091_20687677_1861851_n.jpg[/IMG]

Maybe they are much brighter in person or at night I dunno. Kind of fear getting stopped over this and then getting a shit load of other fix it tickets. Thus ruining my year....

The 'rules' can be different from state to state, so what goes in my state might not go in your state or vice versa. In my state (Hawaii), you can actually look up the laws and read what is legal and illegal, so you could probably find the info specific to California on google. When I looked up info for my state, it was stated that there needs to be reflectors of certain colors on certain sides of the vehicle, and even got down to details regarding how much reflector surface there needs to be (in inches). I researched this to see how illegal my President conversion would be (and turns out its way illegal hahaha). Again, it could be different in your state, but I believe those reflectors are required on your ride because the taillights are completely clear with no reflector. The JDM Led kit appears to still have a reflector, so I imagine you would be OK. I would only be worried about doing the completely clear ones with no reflectors, then you would have no reflectors on the rear / back half of your car. But if you're really worried about it, and you really want to make sure, I would look up the laws and go from there.

go custom

[QUOTE=CrazyHawaiian;409609]The 'rules' can be different from state to state, so what goes in my state might not go in your state or vice versa. In my state (Hawaii), you can actually look up the laws and read what is legal and illegal, so you could probably find the info specific to California on google. When I looked up info for my state, it was stated that there needs to be reflectors of certain colors on certain sides of the vehicle, and even got down to details regarding how much reflector surface there needs to be (in inches). I researched this to see how illegal my President conversion would be (and turns out its way illegal hahaha). Again, it could be different in your state, but I believe those reflectors are required on your ride because the taillights are completely clear with no reflector. The JDM Led kit appears to still have a reflector, so I imagine you would be OK. I would only be worried about doing the completely clear ones with no reflectors, then you would have no reflectors on the rear / back half of your car. But if you're really worried about it, and you really want to make sure, I would look up the laws and go from there.[/QUOTE]


Yeah it would be like asking for it I think getting the clears. I think I can get away with the Red ones and at least it would look better.  I will ask the seller if there is any reflector at all on it. Also this is SUCH a common car out here that mine gets allot of attention. Having clear ones I think would be nice looking but like wearing black to a toga party. 

I am positive it's illegal in Cali lol! Smoked tails actually are not, even though people get tickets for it here. As long as the cop can see the rear lights at like 3-500ft. it's fine. Gotta know the letter of the law and how NOT to piss off the officer when stating that you know :) 

Thanks for the info :thelaw:

If you wanted to go custom you could have those rear reflectors shaved for a smooth rear bumper, and then mod your taillights, taking them apart and  adding a small strip of red reflector along the bottom or edges of the tails to satisfy John Law. Similar to the placement of the yellow reflectors in your headlights. Unless of course Cali laws call for specific placement of reflectors. Just an idea 

:biggthumpup:

An idea for sure. I think it would cost more than buying the Jdm ones and allot less time consuming lol. 

Might retrofit the headlights at some point though.

[COLOR=White]Ok I heard back from the seller: 
[COLOR=LemonChiffon]
[/COLOR][/COLOR][COLOR=LemonChiffon][FONT=arial]In regards of the lamps, it is RED LENSE inside of LED.
There are no reflectors to the lamp unit.

[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=White][/COLOR]I think I would be ok with this as I saw an RX tonight on the highway and think I would have no issues at night and it the day prob. not too. Still a risk but since it's red all around I think it would pass.

unless its really bad in socal, i cant imagine you being pulled over for this..even if you shaved em.

I agree with addy it would take the most observant cop ive never seen to pick up on this.  You have the stock reflectors in the tail lights so i think that covers you legally, the clears look alot better and I would go for it!  If anything take them apart and add a reflector so your butt is completely covered.

I hear you. But I am not sure I agree. The RX is so common and the reflectors are there because the rear tails do NOT have them from what I know (at least red). Could be wrong. 

I would notice it cause it's already different than the usual forgettable RX. It would be a rear end with NO red at all in the day but for the break lights. 

Input welcome. I have not made any purchases yes so no harm dune. Maybe you guys are right. In SoCal it is pretty bad depending on the time of day in the right town.

The clear LEDs to match the tails would be my vote. :biggthumpup: shouldn't be an issue with lighting. I roll with my rear bumper  led foglight on all the time and never had an issues

^^ didn't we go to Cafe Lu and hang with Charles once? Got any pics of what your talking about???

[QUOTE=infini;409853]^^ didn't we go to Cafe Lu and hang with Charles once? Got any pics of what your talking about???[/QUOTE]
 
Yup its Miguel, ill shoot you a pic later. I have the single one that came installed on the passenger side of the bumper when i got the aero kit shipped over. Its been about a year and all good =)

shine a light on your tails at night to see if there truly are reflectors?  Are there only those clear tails or are red tail lights an option for your rx?

[url]http://articles.dashzracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/04-09-2004-2005-2006-2007-2008-2009-Lexus-RX330-LED-Tail-Lights-1.jpg[/url]

^a quick google query got that, i would prefer clears but maybe there are some better options out there.

[QUOTE=Brandicus;409910]shine a light on your tails at night to see if there truly are reflectors?  Are there only those clear tails or are red tail lights an option for your rx?

[URL]http://articles.dashzracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/04-09-2004-2005-2006-2007-2008-2009-Lexus-RX330-LED-Tail-Lights-1.jpg[/URL]

^a quick google query got that, i would prefer clears but maybe there are some better options out there.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I have seen those. Good quality but I like the fact my tails are the way they are. Those are not reflectors though just color and the same with the aftermarket lower lamp replacements I posted. I think adding more red would even offset the them more and not work with the blue. But some might like it.

Yesterday I was actually looking at them and yes they are actually reflectors. Not as obvious as I would think they should be but there never the less.

I think the clear would be the logical design choice but the reds the safer choice. Only other one is half red on top and clear on the bottom part. looks horrible to me from the photo :). Might look good on the car though.

This is what the RED with Red light lamp looks like at night. I htink it would be the strongest red out of the bunch.
[IMG]http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/311110_10150791625745092_657240091_20746482_813653700_n.jpg[/IMG]

This is the half red/half clear
[IMG]http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/301050_10150791625800092_657240091_20746483_388923394_n.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=Y34-619;409906]Yup its Miguel, ill shoot you a pic later. I have the single one that came installed on the passenger side of the bumper when i got the aero kit shipped over. Its been about a year and all good =)[/QUOTE]
  no pic??? :shrug:

Well I ended up following my gut and got the red ones. It's gonna look way nicer than the stock day or night and it will make me feel a little better about myself while I drive. I am already pretty paranoid driving past cops with my new custom exhaust.

Be your own judge of it but I think it  really adds some detail and looks very nice compared to the boring USDM  OEM reflectors with also a MUCH richer red. Maybe I will do the clear at some point but for now it's the red.

[IMG]http://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/rx-second-generation/224200d1317712462-the-official-what-have-you-done-to-your-rx-today-thread-img_1226-4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/rx-second-generation/224201d1317712462-the-official-what-have-you-done-to-your-rx-today-thread-img_1228-5.jpg[/IMG]

I think you made the right choice.

They look really cool

how's it look at night compared to OEM.

I have not installed them yet. So much to do before the SEMA show this has kind of taken the back burner. I do plan to have it on before the show though.