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Modding like it's the early 2000's: DIY tail lights.
Back in 04 I did the DTM style lights on my 98. The red and black look was nice on a black car. The stock tails look awful on my 99, Stearling Mist (silver/grey). Aftermarket red clears look great, yet the quality and fit usually suffer.
A trip to the hardware store and a $5 light panel was all I needed to clear out the tail lights. After heating the lights in the oven to open them I cut the parts to shape with an oscillating multi tool. I used some hot glue, super glue and silver paint I already had. I did them differently than previous versions and retained the marker light and reflector. I will do the inner to match.
I kept the marker light and reflector for legal reasons. Also I don't like it cleared with a red bulb that looks mismatched. The way I painted around the reflector does look odd to me. That was a last second decision. The good thing is I have another set of tails to play with at some point.
Back in 04 I did the DTM style lights on my 98. The red and black look was nice on a black car. The stock tails look awful on my 99, Stearling Mist (silver/grey). Aftermarket red clears look great, yet the quality and fit usually suffer.
A trip to the hardware store and a $5 light panel was all I needed to clear out the tail lights. After heating the lights in the oven to open them I cut the parts to shape with an oscillating multi tool. I used some hot glue, super glue and silver paint I already had. I did them differently than previous versions and retained the marker light and reflector. I will do the inner to match.
How refreshing. A modification thread instead of a "Help me" thread.
Nice job on those tails.
The rectangle around the reflector appears white in these pictures. What was your reasoning for not leaving the border red?
It's silver, didn't think about it much. I don't really like it either. I should have only painted the 1/4" or so next to the cleared part. It looked strange all red. The orange lense has a lip/rim around that covers some of the red. Won't matter now anyway since that parts car has red clears. I'll be making a new set exactly how I want.
I kept the marker light and reflector for legal reasons. Also I don't like it cleared with a red bulb that looks mismatched. The way I painted around the reflector does look odd to me. That was a last second decision. The good thing is I have another set of tails to play with at some point.
The fix is one of those chrome 194 bulbs that glows red. Looks good parked, and being used.
I don't know if anyone noticed about the clear tales. Amerikaner83 noticed and had a thread about the new clear tales having fitment issues. The tales have to be flush mount and sanded down to fit the cars trunk. Not to hijack the thread, but we talking about clear tales. I know they still are making them new. The question here is has anyone figured out about the problem being resolved on the tales fitment.
I don't know if anyone noticed about the clear tales. Amerikaner83 noticed and had a thread about the new clear tales having fitment issues. The tales have to be flush mount and sanded down to fit the cars trunk. Not to hijack the thread, but we talking about clear tales. I know they still are making them new. The question here is has anyone figured out about the problem being resolved on the tales fitment.
I know what you mean. Nothing a dremel can't fix in 5 minutes. Fits perfect afterwards.
I'm not of any help with the inners not fitting. I've never messed with them myself.
Round 2 tail lights finished. This is what I wanted from the get go. I took the clear lenses out of after market lights and transferred them into OEM lights. Fitment was close, a bit of trimming with a razor blade helped.
04-10-2018, 12:28 PM
