NCSU_MAX

iTrader: (36)

anyone who has done the clear tail conversion on a 97-99 - was it worth it or should i just buy the clears from custom enterprise? check this link for clarification. thanks guys.

http://www.vqpower.com/v2/modules.ph...howpage&pid=34

MDeezy

iTrader: (27)

If I had 98 tails I'd do it. why spend ~$150 for something you can do yourself and loks almost exactly the same.

2 Da Max

iTrader: (2)

almost everyone on the org did it themselves, i did it for my neighbor

99SEL4ME

I'm stupid. I just bought mine and installed them in about 1/2 hour.

JSniper0

i did mine myself on my 98. they came out as good as anyone else's, but a week later i went to custommaxima and bought the 150 ones. much more pleased with the look. im not a fan of the diy look

quasidynamic

iTrader: (2)

I did mine myself, its a PITA to cut that florescent screen material just right, so it takes some time. Once you get it cut right, its all downhill. It's an easy mod, just time consuming. I recommend you do not try it without a heat gun tho...

To tell you the truth.. after I did it i was very happy with the results, but then i saw the DTM (Dallas Taillight Mod) which is similar in process but instead of adding screen material, you spray the inner silver material black and keep teh lenses out. It looks hella clean and i will probably end up redo-ing my tails with this mod. Then again my car is black. I dont think i would do the DTM on a beige max...

Save your money, take a couple hours and do it yourself.

Devin

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

It really is hard to cut the lense perfectly so I went with the DTM style lights. The aftermarket red clears are really the way to go. They look so much better.

NCSU_MAX

iTrader: (36)

well im getting mixed reviews here - im thinking of doing it myself but im concerned about several things. 1. the acryllic flourescent light cover doesnt look like it would match up well with the backing lights right next to it (the pattern that is) 2. i dont have a heat gun - ive heard of people using hair dryers; is this a good idea? 3. what do i cut the light cover with? - this looks like it would be the biggest pain of the whole project. thanks for the input guys

dukelubas

iTrader: (10)

I bought my red/clears used but they were apparently bought new from custommaxima.org... upon careful investigation of the DIY ones and these they look exactly the same which leads me to believe that custommaxima simply takes stock lenses and modifies them.

1NICEMAX

iTrader: (5)

custommaxima's look better and more professional looking including an insert for the 194 bulb in the corners. BUT I suggest you just take out the amber lenses out and glue them back together without a flourescent light cover. pattern match is better and although it is illegal, it doesn't blind people and make them swerve into a tree if you catch my drift. if you don't have heat gun just use your oven set at I think 200 degrees for 10 minutes and checking every 2 minutes after pulling them slowly.

quasidynamic

iTrader: (2)

I suggest you just try it yourself. Worst case, if you are unhappy with the results, THEN go buy teh aftermarkets.. what have you got to lose other than $10 and 2 hours?

to answer your questions:
1. It doesnt EXACTLY match but its damn close. If yer THAT picky about it you can also use teh same material for the inside lights, the procedure is the same.
2. Buy a heat gun for $25. its a handy tool. if you decide not to keep it, return it when yer done.
3. to cut teh light cover, i baught a cutting tool that was made for cutting teh light covers for $2.99. The procedure i found to work was the following:
A. on the smooth side, mark out where you want to cut based on the orange lens.
B. score the cover about 5 times on the smooth side.
C. flip the cover over, place a hard stright edged object right on teh line, then slowly bend the cover upward against the object. It shoudl snap right on your score line. If not, keep trying. took me a couple tries for each side... just make sure you score it very well.

Here's a pic of mine when i finished:


Anyway, good luck with your decision.

Devin

tavarish

iTrader: (27)

i bought my red/clears for $40 from an .org member....awesome condition....i love the .org..

i'm also not a fan of the diy look, mine look exactly like the inners.

1NICEMAX

iTrader: (5)

what do you mean by "score"??

1NICEMAX

iTrader: (5)

i should take pics of my red/clears (without reflectors) and make you decide lol if you really want let me know i'll take some pics over the weekend. left my camera back at home.

kbmaxima

iTrader: (11)

do it yourself, the feeling you get afterwards is great. I still check out my backend even after 6 months after I did it. just feels good I didn't spend $100, rather $5 for the light cover.

Use the oven method, I did, 250 degrees for 8 minutes [make sure none of the pointy edges arent resting right onto a surface in the oven, i have a little curl in mine] and cut the flourescent cover with a razor. Trace out the orange piece and just run the razor over 5-10 times to make a decent cut and then flip it over like the guy up a couple posts said and with a flat edge just bend it. if you go DIY, take your time! i rushed mine and it probably would've taken less time if I wasn't so hasty. Good luck.

ajcool2

iTrader: (43)

I say do it yourself. I did mine in about 45 min. Thats was my first and biggest mod i've done to my car so far. I would suggest using a heat gun instead of the oven simply because the lens has a better chance of melting in the oven. My brother cut the material believe it or not with a butter knife he heated up. That was the hardest part about it. But after it was done it looked perfect. Everytime I look at I cant believe I did it. So save your money and do it yourself.

|Bijan|

iTrader: (12)

mine were mint.....f8ck paying for taillights!


then i converted to athiesm

NCSU_MAX

iTrader: (36)

wow thanks for all the input guys! never would have thought of the oven not sure what im gonna do yet - ill post pics when im done tho - thanks again

maxgtr2000

iTrader: (29)

I don't know about the oven deal, seems like a risky scheme, I did mine twice( with a heat gun), the first time I did em, they weren't cut right, you had to look close to see imperfections and I still won at car shows with them, then I redid them to where they look way better, it's easier the second time so keep in mind if they don't come out they way you want just redo them. And about spending $150, not telling you what to do but $150 is pretty close to the cost of a y pipe, I would save up for that instead, just my 2 cents.

1NICEMAX

iTrader: (5)

hey bijangxe, think you can show me some pics of your DTM's at different angles during the day other than the ones in your homepage? I was thinking about doing them but what if I get bored of them and wanna convert? it'll be a ***** to do that

Big_Ham

iTrader: (1)

http://www.maximafreak.com/howto/tails.htm

Check my writeup there. Doing your own tails is EASY and you do NOT need a heat gun.

RicoSuave98

iTrader: (2)

has anyone done DTM style, but painted it white, on a white max?

ptatohed

iTrader: (12)

Uh..... none of the above. Do NOT give that rip-off, custommaxima, 170 freaken bucks (plus shipping). I paid $100 shipped from a group deal a month ago from sportcompactonly. And I think redlinemax has them for $125 shipped right now.

RicoSuave98

iTrader: (2)

oh yeah, and some advise on the DIY- watch out for that black stuff. it gets everywhere and its a b!tch to get off. def keep it out of your taillights, mine have some on the inside of the lense and it drives me nuts, i just haven't opened them up to clean em yet

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

Before the red clears were mass produced CM was making them with the cheap inserts. They also sold the inserts already cut and ready to install.

1NICEMAX

iTrader: (5)

i think that's frivolous don't you think?

1NICEMAX

iTrader: (5)

i think it's frivolous

RicoSuave98

iTrader: (2)

well im glad you think its frivolous. i think its pertinent. i want to know if anyone has done it. sorry to offend you

RicoSuave98

iTrader: (2)

this thread is kinda frivolous, since there are probably hundreds like it, don't you think?

1NICEMAX

iTrader: (5)

no offense, it's all love

HomerMAC

iTrader: (5)

i wanna darken my white part on the lights.. but the center piece is a pin int the ***... cause its one big peice.. = ( damm u maxers..