Author Topic: Anyone smoke the tailights DIY? (Read 11424 times)

kowalski · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2007, 10:18:22 PM »

Quote from: Shocker;18914

How about -22 actual air temp hopefully it'll warm up soon.

so NOT jealous.
if you pee outside does it freeze before it hits the ground?

Eurospec · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2007, 11:30:26 PM »

Quote from: asubimmer;18863

personally I would wait for a set of mhw's. I have them and I know someone w/ self smoked tails and there is no comparison. I wouldn't want to reduce the output of taillights, or headlights for that matter

Stick w/ it, they are worth the extra $

Agreed

However, if it were me, I'd go with the all red MHW's. They look quite tasty on alpine

Take a look (pineapplegti's car--r3v)

FL318is · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2007, 11:15:59 AM »

The red looks good. I have seen the DIY for that.

BTW is -22 legal? LOL

Tonyb · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2007, 12:08:02 PM »

Quote from: FL318is;18881

I love dis place. Being mechanically impaired the only thing left I can do is to mess with the cosmetics. Thanks for the help. Sounds like the easiest thing to do is get ASUBIMMER drunk and steal his.

I put the plate filler on and manipulated the tag up a 1/2 inch so it dosen't hang lower than the filler. I like the look but now the darker tails are needed. Also got the iS lip spoiler to put on. That will have to wait. Its too cold outside (54) to do anything. I ordered the carpet dye and will do that when its warmer.

Any pics of the rear?

FL318is · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2007, 06:39:06 PM »

I will take some pics this weekend. Also hope to have th iS lip spoiler on.

AL GReeNeRy · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2007, 01:19:20 AM »

i used tail light tint from rvinyl.com simple stuff to use.. the lights turned out pretty well, but you be the judge...

i think the euro plate filler really sets them off

kowalski · « **Reply #21 on:** February 08, 2007, 01:42:07 AM »

they look darker in the last pic. were u not using a flash for the last one?

FL318is · « **Reply #22 on:** February 08, 2007, 08:43:32 AM »

Very nice! I need to look them up.

FL318is · « **Reply #23 on:** February 08, 2007, 09:12:20 AM »

Quote from: AL GReeNeRy;19061

i used tail light tint from rvinyl.com simple stuff to use.. the lights turned out pretty well, but you be the judge.../QUOTE]

Do you have any close up pics? I was trying to invision how the vinyl would fill the gaps between the different surfaces. Is it similar to lamin-x? Did you cut seperate strips or just have 1 "sheet" per lenses?

Tonyb · « **Reply #24 on:** February 08, 2007, 10:27:07 AM »

How much $.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 08, 2007, 10:59:20 AM »

Quote from: AL GReeNeRy;19061

i used tail light tint from rvinyl.com simple stuff to use.. the lights turned out pretty well, but you be the judge...

I've tried that and the problem with all the vinyl headlight/taillights treatments is that the vinyl tends to be softer than fully cured paint and can be scratched pretty easily when you're cleaning your car. You can prevent this if you hose off the area first, before wiping it with a wash mitt or towel.

I found out the hard way when I was using some quick detailer to wipe off some light dirt in between washings and found scratch marks on the film. If done often, the scratch marks will accumulate and you'll have a dull looking light.

FL318is · « **Reply #26 on:** February 08, 2007, 02:32:22 PM »

Thanks.

Would a light waxing help? Also, does the vinyl sheet fill in the "channels" between the lense surface like a shrink wrap or are there opening/air pockets under the tint?

When I get home I will have a beir and explain more clearly.

AL GReeNeRy · « **Reply #27 on:** February 08, 2007, 06:25:46 PM »

the last picture looks darker cuz it was pretty dim out and i used a camera phone.

i had one big sheet of tint and tried to use separate whole sheets for each tail light but ended up cutting where the gaps are. you cant really notice it.

i used the tint because i wanted a different look and thats what i had at the time. they dont exactly shine like tail lights, but this is my DD anyway..

if i wanted the tail lights to be perfect, id tint them with that translucent paint, and then get them professionally clear coated. but this will have to do for now.

FL318is · « **Reply #28 on:** February 08, 2007, 07:33:34 PM »

Thanks, it looks great and I like the idea that it can be peeled off. What size sheet did you order?

Alpine003 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 09, 2007, 10:23:24 AM »

Quote from: FL318is;19140

Thanks, it looks great and I like the idea that it can be peeled off. What size sheet did you order?

They do have spray tint by some Japanese company that is semi-permanant and can be peeled off. You can find these at specialty automotive shops or online.
Never tried it but most of the ones I've seen on cars are more matte finish and less glossy. If this isn't a concern, then it might be a good alternative for you.