Painted Taillights?
10-10-2007, 12:00 PM
#1
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Painted Taillights?
Hey everyone. Just got done painting my headlights, which was waaaaaaay easier than I ever imagined (once I got past the horror of baking my headlight assembly). Anyway, they came out awesome, and it gives a tinted appearance to the headlights.
Soooooooooooooo. My question is, has anyone tried to do this to the taillights? Just looking from the outside, I am not sure how much of the chrome could be blacked out. Does all of it need to be chrome for reflective purposes, or could you get in there and go to town with gloss black if you wanted to? This is only an issue as I just failed for the 3rd time to get tinted overlays to go on those stupid lights (can't seem to get it smooth), and I am worried about my ability to paint them evenly with tinting paint.
Jon
Soooooooooooooo. My question is, has anyone tried to do this to the taillights? Just looking from the outside, I am not sure how much of the chrome could be blacked out. Does all of it need to be chrome for reflective purposes, or could you get in there and go to town with gloss black if you wanted to? This is only an issue as I just failed for the 3rd time to get tinted overlays to go on those stupid lights (can't seem to get it smooth), and I am worried about my ability to paint them evenly with tinting paint.
Jon
10-11-2007, 03:21 PM
#4
I support you 100%...
I would try the Niteshades before I tried regular paint. That way you can put it on in coats and maker is as dark as you want instead of straight black. I think just a few light coats of spray tint would set if off nicely.
I would try the Niteshades before I tried regular paint. That way you can put it on in coats and maker is as dark as you want instead of straight black. I think just a few light coats of spray tint would set if off nicely.
10-13-2007, 08:04 AM
#11
Bat™
10-14-2007, 10:27 PM
#14
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yo guys, I got a question that might be off topic and it has to do with headlight moisture. I recently got some HIDS installed and the past few days my headlights have been getting a large amount of moisture inside the housing overnight. Is there anyway other way I can get rid of that by avoiding cracking the headlights open and baking them? sorry cyclopsmd for borrowing your thread for a bit, i'm not allowed to do all the cool things just yet. Thanks for the help in advance guys any help with this situation would be great as this is starting to really annoy me every time I see my car.
10-15-2007, 12:22 AM
#15
It could look cool but might also be risky to get good light output...we'll never know until you pioneer it though!!!
10-15-2007, 04:09 AM
#16
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I used the eagle eye towers back there. The light output is pretty bright at night, and decent during the day. I am not too worried because I have the 07 spoiler with leds across the top of the trunk. I have scoped this out pretty well, and think I have it all planned as to what to paint, etc. Will be doing this in about 2 weeks (that is the next time that I can spare/take apart my car for a couple days...)
Jon
Jon
10-19-2007, 06:53 AM
#17
I love the idea. I was looking at mine yesterday and it seems like most of the chrome can be painted, so I decided that tomorrow (Sat) I will throw those suckers in the oven and open them up and see what can be painted and what can't.
10-19-2007, 04:19 PM
#23
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I don't think anyone knows for sure. That is what happened when I painted my headlights, so I am hoping it will make the lenses on the taillights look darker/tinted. I have had a hard time trying to apply tinting to the outside, so just looking for another idea....
10-19-2007, 07:50 PM
#25
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Dude, I love your car. The problem is that I suck at installing overlays. I have bought 3 different types from 3 different people, and just end up cussing and frustrated! I think I can get close to the same look as your car with paint... The only question is whether or not you will be able to see it through the red lenses back there...
Jon
Jon
10-19-2007, 09:23 PM
#26
Dude, I love your car. The problem is that I suck at installing overlays. I have bought 3 different types from 3 different people, and just end up cussing and frustrated! I think I can get close to the same look as your car with paint... The only question is whether or not you will be able to see it through the red lenses back there...
Jon
Jon
I think this will look 10x better than "stick on" overlays. It should make it look smoked but stock. Im anxious to see the outcome. I've been watching this since day 1.
It may look something like this..? (Lens color)
10-20-2007, 04:31 PM
#28
Hey Guys,
I wont be able to do anything this weekend, but for sure next Sat I will open the tail lights and paint them. I was looking at them and will most likely mask the round area were the lights reflect and paint the rest black. If it all fails then I will buy the L.E.D bulbs in case I loose brightness.
I wont be able to do anything this weekend, but for sure next Sat I will open the tail lights and paint them. I was looking at them and will most likely mask the round area were the lights reflect and paint the rest black. If it all fails then I will buy the L.E.D bulbs in case I loose brightness.
Last edited by myer84; 10-20-2007 at 04:34 PM.
10-20-2007, 08:46 PM
#30
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Hey Guys,
I wont be able to do anything this weekend, but for sure next Sat I will open the tail lights and paint them. I was looking at them and will most likely mask the round area were the lights reflect and paint the rest black. If it all fails then I will buy the L.E.D bulbs in case I loose brightness.
I wont be able to do anything this weekend, but for sure next Sat I will open the tail lights and paint them. I was looking at them and will most likely mask the round area were the lights reflect and paint the rest black. If it all fails then I will buy the L.E.D bulbs in case I loose brightness.
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking! ahahahhahahahaha. I already have LED's back there, so brightness shouldn't be a problem for me...
Jon
10-22-2007, 05:36 AM
#31
10-22-2007, 09:39 AM
#32
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Myer,
I bought all my LED's from autolumination.com. The lights I have in the back are eagle eye towers and are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy brighter than the Sylvania LL bulbs that were there before. They don't come cheap, though. They were about $25 each.
Jon
I bought all my LED's from autolumination.com. The lights I have in the back are eagle eye towers and are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy brighter than the Sylvania LL bulbs that were there before. They don't come cheap, though. They were about $25 each.
Jon
10-28-2007, 05:53 PM
#33
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Well everybody. My attempt to become a pioneer failed. I was taking pictures and everything. However, after baking the darn thing twice, I still could not get the stupid light open. I guess it will be nightshade for me...
10-29-2007, 04:36 AM
#35
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twice. It wouldn't budge. I even snapped a corner off my stupid light cover, so I need to tint anyway now to cover up my glue job 
I was warm enough to make the stupid plastic malleable in my hands, which was also annoying - had to be careful what I was prying against...
Oh well. I like the look of tint. I will just use nightshade or maybe pay a tint shop to do it for me, if they will...
I was warm enough to make the stupid plastic malleable in my hands, which was also annoying - had to be careful what I was prying against...
Oh well. I like the look of tint. I will just use nightshade or maybe pay a tint shop to do it for me, if they will...
10-29-2007, 06:05 AM
#36
twice. It wouldn't budge. I even snapped a corner off my stupid light cover, so I need to tint anyway now to cover up my glue job
I was warm enough to make the stupid plastic malleable in my hands, which was also annoying - had to be careful what I was prying against...
Oh well. I like the look of tint. I will just use nightshade or maybe pay a tint shop to do it for me, if they will...
I was warm enough to make the stupid plastic malleable in my hands, which was also annoying - had to be careful what I was prying against...
Oh well. I like the look of tint. I will just use nightshade or maybe pay a tint shop to do it for me, if they will...
Can't say we didn't try it, though!