Warning to anyone that is going to clear their tails, be prepared to either spend 400$ for new lenses or take your time. Since I couldn't find some plastic that matched the pattern of the original tails I decided to do the trunk and the tails so they match. After taking 2 hours to get the lights off the body (you will NEED a heat gun no hair dryer) I’m covered in black adhesive and so are the lenses. Next I took the heat gun to the trunk light, got most of it off then *crack* "F&UCK", it cracked into two pieces and the lens was still not coming out. Took the gun back to it and ended up warping the lens so now the pieces don’t even fit back into their own wholes ($200 for at least 1 new lens, unless someone has one for cheap, i just need the lens cover). Whipped out the epoxy and just glued it all together, hopefully I can just sand and buff it back to looking like normal, but right now it looks like hell. Moving on to the other trunk tail with lessons learned I managed to get it almost all the way off but it still cracked in the same place, this time i didn't warp the lens so there is a possibility to save this one. Now its getting on 11 pm and I start on the first corner. Managed to crack the tip off the edge because I’m a kluts. Removal was a bit smoother with this one, I heated it up longer and was gentler and used multiple screwdrivers to pry instead of one. The worst part of this is making the inserts. They are a real pain to make, from a distance it looks clean and nice but from about 2' away you can see how wonky they are.

I post this as a warning to anyone that is attempting to clear their tails, ITS NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS. BE SLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and if you have a girlfriend or wife, forget it all together because they will ***** your head off because you'll be up all night cursing about your cracked taillights. Hopefully my last intact corner light will turn out flawless like i wanted *cry cry*

-use a real heat gun, the glue is REALLY STRONG!
-Be really really slow REALLY slow
-Get more plastic for the inserts than you think you'll need, you’ll end up making 2 or 3 ones that don’t fit
-Use a soldering iron to cut the plastic, a rotary tool isn’t so good nor is a knife (believe me)
-Aim the heat gun at the BACK of the lights, there is a bulge that runs around the lens (where the screws were, that area) this is the area you need to heat
-Pray to god!

 

Step one don't take your taillights off of your car unless it's hot outside because you will either break them or you won't get them off.
Second the OEM tails are strong enough to withstand the oven at 200 degrees, so heat up the oven to 200 put the tails in for 10 minutes and start prying around the whole tail lens. It comes apart REALLY easy.

 

damn, i wish i knew that before hand, and i think ill just take the inserts right out and leave them clear horizontal

thanks hacim

 

I did mine with snow on the ground in December, all it takes is a heat gun and some patience. I'd say DIY Red/Clears have about the same difficulty as a CAI...

 

It took me about two hours to do mine. That included waiting for the paint to dry (DTM), removal, and install. 200 degrees and 10 minutes is wonderful! And you have to be patient. If it doesn't come off right away, take a look at it and see why. I had left the screws in on one of them and it wouldn't come out. Had I just kept pulling I would have broken it. BE PATIENT!

 

this is why i didnt even bother to DIM and ordered my red/clears for $112 shipped. glad i made the right decision. and it matches PERFECTLY !!!! dont be cheap, spend the cash on the real deal !

 

i believe it is actually better to remove the tail lamps from the vehical during cool weather. the gook that is attached to it is really sticky. you just need a lot of force to push it out. only push it out about an inch. then yank it out as fast as you can and the tar will not string out on the body. less messy also.

 

I kinda wish u guys posted this a while ago cause i just cracked mine when i did them but helpfull hints for the people that hasnt done the mod yet.

 

That is way too much to be spending on something as small as getting a clear lense in your tails. That $112 could have gone to something else.

I used a hairdryer and everything went smooth and fine...like tyrexx said its pretty easy.

 

i replaced a taillight in 45* weather, I just pulled like a ****. Of course it was already smashed to bejesus and back, but it was not too hard. When I did my DTM tails I used a hairdryer to get them off the car and it worked perfect. Also when taking apart the tails you dont use tools. Your hands work so much better. I didnt crack a single tail lights because i only used my hands, oh and the oven. But i feel your pain cuz it bites breaking things when you are modding them. I broke a freinds corner lights on both of his cars.....once being drunk ripping them apart and another not watching them; letting them melt in the oven. Check Ebay for a new set.

 

I now that I have finished all four lights the two trunk lights look like **** cavity. I need a set of new lenses so I can redo the mod, or just fix my mistakes. Is it possible to buy the lenses alone or do i have to buy the whole lens/housing thing. A source in Canada would be awesome or even a Nissan part # for the lenses ALONE not the whole assembly

 

if you buy them new they will be the whole assembly. Dealer price will be well over $200 for the 4. You can buy them new individually BTW. Your best bet is to buy used....salvage yard, a friend, ebay....good luck.

 

i still love my red/clears