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

You could but different bulbs if for some reason it didn't work. Sounds like a great idea. Try it. Go with light coats to test. If you screw up, tails are cheap on eBay.

I have already replaced all of my lights back there with LED's, so maybe I don't use the reflection part much anyway... Maybe I will try it out and be a pioneer for once....

Jon

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.

Thanks KC, but I was talking about painting the inside of the lights, not the outside. Similar to what a lot of us have done to our headlights...

Im aware of that. I think it would look great.

hahaahahahaha

ok ok. I will do it and post pics. Probably not till next week...

what about Overlays?

Bat

He explained that in the first post... Seems to be a common problem.

Jon, are you located in SoCal? I have a guy that can install for you.

Bat™

Had black chrome Altezza's on my IS300 (stock). Looked really nice.

Joshua

I used to be in SoCal, but now I live in North Carolina, so I am on my own. Thanks, though Bat!

Jon

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.

Which LED's did you use? If you are using the ones that point only straight back I'd have to assume they aren't very bright. I replaced all mine with LED's as well and the reflection is a key element in them looking so damn good! (I used the light towers)



It could look cool but might also be risky to get good light output...we'll never know until you pioneer it though!!!

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

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.

What we need is a highly reflective black paint, like a black chrome spray paint. However, I haven't been able to find any. Chrome spray yes, black chrome, no.

Joshua

myer,
Let me know how it goes. I won't be able to get to this until next week, but I had the same thought - looks like most of it can be blacked out....

jon

DO IT GUYS....

Go with lite shades and clear for the reflection?

I have a super gloss black that I think I am going to use... If it doesn't come out good, I can always go chrome over it again...

What does blackening the INSIDE of the taillights do? Does it make the red lense look darker?

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....

U dont like the overlay I have on my tail light Cyclops?

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

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)

If you do it, show before and after in same pic so the difference is more apparent.

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.

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Myer -

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

Cyclops,

Can you tell me were you got your buldbs from and how much?

Thanks

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

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...

Did you bake it at 250 for 20 min?

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...

Same here bro. I baked them for about 15 min at 220 and nothing. it seems like the whole thing is glued. I also broke off a piece, but I was lucky to break it off from the side that's covered by the color plastic piece. I guess I will do the night shades as well and clear coat it.

When my lights were taken apart, the guys at Customlightz.com used a heat gun and flat blade screwdriver and heated and pried, heated and pried...

It must be a different kind of glue than the headlights. I wonder why?

It really looks like some kind of glue. looking at the seems it actually looks as if the two plastic pieces were welded together. I didn't see the same kind of sealant liek the one on the headlights

I agree. I tried really hard. Well, Myer, we will just have to go to nightshade, I guess Can't say we didn't try it, though!