How do i "tint" the tail lights?

reded · 09-05-2007, 10:28 PM

hey everyone,

just wanting to do some exterior upgrades to my car one thw weekend in some spare time and was wondering how you guys "tint" your tail lights and your rear garnish?

i reckon it looks nice when its tinted

cheers troy

Sick EB · 09-05-2007, 10:32 PM

its called nite shade. got mine from autobarn. $16 for one can- (rip off). it is spray on stuff- like spray paint. but i have not tryed it yeat so im not much help.

crannersEL · 09-05-2007, 10:33 PM

You buy the can from Autobarn, i think its called Nightshade or something. Then you spray on the level of darkness you want, i'd also buy a can of clear to spray over the black once its dry, makes it look shiny rather than a flat black....

holmsy · 09-05-2007, 10:36 PM

also not exactly legal i beleive.
may be wrong?

reded · 09-05-2007, 10:39 PM

oh ok thanks for that guys

thats a lot easyer than i thought it would be,
(i thought it would involve removing them and dippin them in stuff)
will get myself a can or 2 when im in there gettinm y new shocks tomorow.

thanks for the quick reply too guys much apreciated,

cheers troy

LTDHO · 09-05-2007, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holmsy

also not exactly legal i beleive.
may be wrong?

You are right it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reded

oh ok thanks for that guys
thats a lot easyer than i thought it would be,
(i thought it would involve removing them and dippin them in stuff)

You still have to remove the light then sepparate the body from the lens.

reded · 09-05-2007, 11:00 PM

oh ok well im going to have some trouble with taking the lights out because i cant take them out without removing my sterio..

i'll have a think about how im going to do it...

thanks heaps for the help guys.

cheers troy

RUQ1KA · 10-05-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

You still have to remove the light then sepparate the body from the lens.

When i Tinted my old AU's lights all i did was mask around the lights and they turned out pretty good - just got a little greedy and they turned out very dark:(

Heres a pic

I had that flat black problem, but i just polished them and they looked alright

crannersEL · 10-05-2007, 12:21 PM

If you have an accident and are ran up the back of, i would think that the insurance company prob wouldn't cover your claim, hence the lights being darkened. Its just a thought!

Rmyers · 10-05-2007, 12:37 PM

To be a little more subtle just tint the indicator part. Looks heaps better IMO and is nowere near as standoutish

DEVL-XR · 10-05-2007, 02:09 PM

I'm sure you've seen pics of when I had tinted taillights and black garnish, if not check out my workshop builds thread.

Firstly it is illegal but I managed to drive around for a whole year without any hassles from cops, then I got a warning for them but that was only because I was in a No Standing zone after a certain time...another story...

Secondly you will have to take the taillights off the car, the tint is very light and runs very easily. You dont have to remove the lens from the taillight body, I'm not sure what Wayne was meaning there? When spraying do it in very light coats and allow 1 minute between coats. A clear is a good idea as it not only gives a glossy finish it helps protect the tint from fading and going white, mine did that without any clear. Just make sure you get a decent clear, some clears turn out crap.

If you have a Fairmont garnish tint that, otherwise I just sprayed my standard garnish matt black with a clear, but a gloss black with a clear would be better.

I love the look of this setup, too bad its illegal. Another idea is what steve said, that looks tops too.

RUQ1KA · 10-05-2007, 03:26 PM

could also just do the clear indicator mod, i think that looks pretty good on the eb/d's

crannersEL · 10-05-2007, 03:30 PM

Maybe just give them two light coats, keeping in mind that you need to wait about 1 mins between them like Braden mentioned above. Then apply the clear coat over the top. At leist this way they wont be too dark, but you will see a change from stock!

reded · 10-05-2007, 06:51 PM

ok thanks for all the help with this guys!
comes in very handy i'll just mask off the rear of the car beacaus im goin to have trouble romivng the lights from the car body,

RUQ1KA: the lights on that AU look damn nice bit i reckon will be too much attention for the cops.

i just like the darkend look of the back heaps better than it been stock,

thanks again for everything!! will post pics on the weekend when im finished.

cheers troy

Nikked · 10-05-2007, 07:08 PM

[QUOTE=BradensEBxr6]You dont have to remove the lens from the taillight body, I'm not sure what Wayne was meaning there?QUOTE]

You'll get a better finish if you spray the inside rather then the outside. It will be glossy andwont scrath/peel off

LOW_XR · 10-05-2007, 07:28 PM

I Tinted Mine But I Got Told To Put Max 2coats On So I Put 4 On Lol.then I Ran Over Em With The Buff And They Shine Up Ok.

toolchick01 · 10-05-2007, 07:52 PM

I have heard it is legal to tint your tail lights as long as you can still see the lights when on at 200m away.

Dezza · 10-05-2007, 08:31 PM

FC/FD LTDs had tinted taillights from the factory, so I don't see why they could be such a big issue. BTW this is a picture I found on carsales.

xrtonv · 10-05-2007, 09:24 PM

ive herd that it is legal as long as can be seen for a certin distance away not sure what it is though
sorry not much help

webby_191189 · 10-05-2007, 09:27 PM

read post 17. Hey your pic didnt work either ea_silver_ghia.

[Tonko] · 10-05-2007, 09:31 PM

Troy, dont worry about tinting your tail lights this weekend, lowering is on the cards...

Dezza · 10-05-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webby_191189

read post 17. Hey your pic didnt work either ea_silver_ghia.

That's weird. I can see it fine

Ah well. Here's a link to the page I got it from

Carsales link

**Polyal** · 10-05-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ea_silver_ghia

FC/FD LTDs had tinted taillights from the factory, so I don't see why they could be such a big issue. BTW this is a picture I found on carsales.

Yeah I never understood that...also you see HEAPS of Landcruisers (old style ones, but they are newish) with them. Actually you see heaps of cars with it these days and cops dont seem to mind.

As long as you can see the tail lights properly during the day then I dont have an issue with it, cops might though.

Here is a pic of my old ea, it never seemed this dark in person. Yes I sacrificed a Ghia garnish for that.

I miss that car.....well not really just the T5.

Dezza · 10-05-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Yeah I never understood that...also you see HEAPS of Landcruisers (old style ones, but they are newish) with them. Actually you see heaps of cars with it these days and cops dont seem to mind.

It sounds like the 75/78 series Landcruisers that you're talking about. They are different though, because I don't think those lights are connected in Australia. Due to Australian Design Rules, you must see both the taillights from a 45 degree angle. Because the Landcruisers have the spare wheel on the tailgate, that causes one of the lights to be partly concealed and therefore, they use a set of lights in the lower bumper, and have disconnected the standard taillights.

ilsautomotive · 10-05-2007, 11:00 PM

I recently used this tint spray on my car for the side indicators. It came up surprisingly well considering, but it does make a point of saying 'for off road use only'. Use it at your own risk, and I'd be particularly weary of doing brake lights.

Mickus · 10-05-2007, 11:10 PM

I tinted the orange part of my taillight, the indicator bit and Ive got a fairmont garnish. I think i went spray happy as its pitch black. Might have to take it off and redo it. Yes ive also been pulled over for it and its illegal.

DEVL-XR · 11-05-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reded

ok thanks for all the help with this guys!
comes in very handy i'll just mask off the rear of the car beacaus im goin to have trouble romivng the lights from the car body,
cheers troy

Expect runs, you cannot do it with the taillights vertical, I've tried it and it doesnt matter how light you do it, it will run.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikk O'lass

You'll get a better finish if you spray the inside rather then the outside. It will be glossy and wont scratch/peel off

Ah yeh that makes sense, actually that would look really good.

Sick EB · 11-05-2007, 12:27 PM

does it matter if you get any on the paint. would there be something to take it off. reason is i have my boot install and it is a pain to take out. secondly i have one light siliconed on because it was leeking water into the boot. im just going to mask and use lots of newspaper.

RUQ1KA · 11-05-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradensEBxr6

Expect runs, you cannot do it with the taillights vertical, I've tried it and it doesnt matter how light you do it, it will run.

I did it with the lights on the car and i got no runs..., You just have to do VERY light coats i think i did about 8 or so on the AU

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sick EB

does it matter if you get any on the paint. would there be something to take it off. reason is i have my boot install and it is a pain to take out. secondly i have one light siliconed on because it was leeking water into the boot. im just going to mask and use lots of newspaper.

When i get over spray on paint i just use paint thinner to get it off then rinse with water(i know its bad for the paint but MEH), you should test it on a hidden spot in case your it eats thru your paint first though

But none of my cars have ever had a problem.

Also when spraying nightshades i found it was deceiving, when i sprayed the AU the only reason i did so many coats was because it looked like it wasn't doing anything, then when it dried the lights turned out almost black...

RUKIDN · 11-05-2007, 08:18 PM

i had quite abit of trouble when i had them on the ea.. i had a few close encounters on sunny days because of the difficulty to see my lights through the black.. :S just a warning!