DTM'ing the CE Tails
 

Hey, I need some input from those who have DTM'd their 97+ red/clear modded tails. Hope you guys can help me.

I was closely looking at the CE red/clear tails I've received and notice one big difference in the innards. The innards are all covered with a very shiny reflective finish (see pic below). This is why the tails appear bright, similar to a Lexus or Infinity tails.
http://img262.echo.cx/img262/9748/tail6pq.jpg


Now the innards of the 97+ tails have some sort of reflective finish on it or perhaps just a silvery finish (see pics below) but its not nearly as shiny as the CE tails.
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i.../321712_25.jpg
http://images.cardomain.com/member_i.../321712_26.jpg

Now the DTM mod is basically for the clear lenses only. The innards behind the clear lenses are painted black to give it that blacked out look. And the final outcome is really nice. But here's the question, since the innards of the CE tails are way more reflective (shiny), would painting (blacking-out) just the innards behind the clear lenses give the tails an uneven look making the red lense section stand out because of the shiny reflector behind it? If so, I could try painting the entire innards (behind the red and clear sections) of the tails. This is where I need help in, I'm looking for suggetions from all you DTM'd guys.

Please leave out all personal opinions on whether you like or hate the tails. That is not the response I'm looking for. I'm looking for inputs on what way would be best to DTM these tails.

Thanks.

Why not paint the innards a dull silver (for the red part) and then black out the clear section innards as in the regular DTM mod?

Sounds like a good idea. I was worried about blacking-out the red part because that could affect the way it illuminates when brakes are applied.

Thanks. Anymore?

not interested in just tinting the entire outside lens?

Nope, because those kinds of tints fade out after a while and need to be re-touched every so often. Also, it is more obvious to cops which can write you up a citation for tinted tails. Also California law states that it is illegal to have dimmed tail lights. Tail lights have to be visible up to a certain feet. If the tails are too dim, it becomes unsafe. I just don't want to start messing with local laws just because I want to black-out the tails. DTM doesn't alter the lenses at all so I figured that it's a safe way to black-out the tails.

Dude the inners of the CE tails are just like the inside of a 97 headlight. You can paint over it no problem. I bet it will look HOT.

Well not exactly....

I have thoroughly inspected the inners of the CE tails and they are different. The biggest difference is how the inners are coated by a shiney chrome-like reflector. Also, the CE red and clear parts are partitioned. I will take photos of its inners once I opened mine up to show how different it is. When you open the 97+ tails, you'll see one partition that divides the red from the clear/amber section. Like I have mentioned before, I fear that painting over the reflector behind the red lense will affect its ability to reflect light when the break lamps come on.

I do agree, the CE tails will look hot once DTM'd. I just gotta figure out how to do this right.

But you dont NEED to paint the reflector behind the red....clear ONLY. Unless you were thinking og doing it differently.

I didnt paint behind the red on mine....I dont see why you'd need to on the CE tails either :gotme:

Check out the photos below:

The red and clear sections of the CE tails is shiny due to the chrome-like reflectors. The red and clear sections of the 97+ reflector is a dull silver. When you painted the inners of the clear section on the 97+ tails, the finish still matches the unpainted (red) section. With the CE, the painted section (clear) will be dull since I'm using the same graphite enamel that I used on the AE mod. The remaining unpainted section (red) will remain shiny. This is the uneveness that I'm talking about. Perhaps the only way to really find out is to try it out and see what happens. :nervous:

In addition, I have heard from some who have the CE tails that the red lense illuminte some type of purplish hue instead of just plain red. Perhaps its because of the shiny chrome finish. Maybe painting that red section would fix that as well.

well, i don't have a set in front of me and i am unfamiliar with the 97-99 DTM mod, but however you do this, I would be very interested to see it when done! especially on your beige car, DR-MAX! :)

I was at a local SoCal meet last weekend. Saw the CE tails on someone's emerald black maxima with the taillights on. The reflector lines really bother me and it is more noticeable when the lights are on. I'm hoping that DTM'ing the tails will somewhat resolve this. If I don't like the end-result, I might sell them and just red-out the amber lense on my stock tails and niteshade the whole thing.

thats what my buddy did dr max. it looks ballsy :)

Cool.....i just thought of a better idea. I will post pics when done but I'm still waiting on the new tails.

really looking forward to see the DTM'd CE red/clears

Since I didn't like the way the new tails dispurse lighting within the housing, I might take the lense from the CE tails and put it on the oem tail housing. Hopefully everything will line up. If not, I will black out the inside of the CE and see what happens. If I don't like the end result, I'll use my oem tails and red-out the ambers and niteshade the whole thing, then sell the CE tails. Those sloppy lines really annoy me.