Window tint on the tail?

1988 Views 13 Replies 11 Participants Last post by IDversusEGO, Oct 30, 2003

wellborn

Discussion Starter · Oct 23, 2003

Has anyone ever used window-tint to tint their taillights?

I've heard of it and it seems to be a cheap way to achieve the smoked look... Otherwise I'll use nightshades to smoke them

How about headlights? I'm thinking about using a faint (5%) tint.

Does the light shine through? Will I get in trouble with the cops?

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wht-zx3

· #2 · Oct 23, 2003

I would think if you used the window tint film it would scratch pretty easily. you'd have to clear coat it or find some way to protect the film.

Just use nightshades, its easier.

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IDversusEGO

· #3 · Oct 23, 2003

I was actually thinking about trying the window tint idea. I did nightshades but am only marginally satisfied. it was hard for me to get an even coat without going real dark. plus, the finish is not glossy, it's a flat matte look.

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DisrupTer911

· #4 · Oct 23, 2003

5% tint is as dark a limo windows...the lower the # the darker the tint. Is there anyway you can open the tail lights up so you can get to the red plastic? If you could, you should put the tint on the inside and do the same on the fronts.

I was actually thinking about trying the window tint idea. I did nightshades but am only marginally satisfied. it was hard for me to get an even coat without going real dark. plus, the finish is not glossy, it's a flat matte look.

I think you need to do a clear coat for it to be glossy when your done.

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wellborn

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 23, 2003

Oops, meant 5% the other way, so make that 95% tint

I haven't looked yet, but most head/tail lights are sealed to prevent condensation.

I've heard of people using a hair dryer around the seams to seperate the pieces, either that or baking it on 200 degrees for 5-10 minutes?!!

That's supposed to warm up the sealant, and then afterwards you'll have to reseal them to prevent condensation.

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EggYolk

· #6 · Oct 23, 2003

Tinting the tails on a ZX3 is very very hard. If you notice the tails curve in two directions. If it was only one, it wouldn't be bad at all, but since its two curves it will require alot of heat shrinking. Since it takes alot of heat to shrink it, you run the possiblilty of melting your tails. I have approached with various professionals and bet them $50 bucks that they can't do it successfully. I have yet to dish out $50.
As for clear coating NiteShades, good luck. The NiteShades leaves a very very coarse surface which makes it nearly impossible to clear coat.
One possiblity I have seen was on the VWVortex forum and some of the guys got their laminated. It looked very good, but I have yet to research it.

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DisrupTer911

· #7 · Oct 23, 2003

Oops, meant 5% the other way, so make that 95% tint

95% would be clear...I think the higest it goes is 55% or 45%...waht you'd want to do is get 20%, i've got it on my windows...when the dome light coms on, you can see just fine, but when its off, you can barely see in it(at night of course) during the day, its dark too but not so much that you can't see in.

You can clear coat nite-shades, I thought thats what your supposed to do to keep the finish safe. If you nite-shade like 20-25 coats and (lightly sand if needed) u can clear coat it just fine...so i've read.

Try a search on blacked out tails...or go and buy a set of the blacked out tails from that site...

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StickShifter

· #8 · Oct 24, 2003

As for clear coating NiteShades, good luck. The NiteShades leaves a very very coarse surface which makes it nearly impossible to clear coat.

Gonna have to argue this one...If prepped correctly (paint and the surface you are painting), NightShades itself is very smooth, and semi-glossy...Clearcoat goes on with no problems...My sidemarkers blend right in with my car, and my tails, even though they were a rush-job, took the clear coat no problem...

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focusgrl205

· #9 · Oct 28, 2003

I used niteshades on my taillights, and i have to agree with everyone.....they do leave a matte looking finish and feel. BUT.....if you clear coat them, they look much better. just make sure you dont go overboard and get too impatient with either the niteshades or clear coat. patience is the key. aftr mine were done, i slapped a few coats of wax on 'em and shined 'em right up and they look great! i also noticed after a few washes they get smoother. good luck whatever you do!!

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Jobin

· #10 · Oct 28, 2003

i did they spray tint thing and they were perfect for about 3 weeks and now they are a dark red

oh well

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ZtsFucus

· #11 · Oct 28, 2003

I did a "custom" nightshade look on my Zts tails. it came out glossy with no clear coat.... i dont know why this happened but im very happy with it

looks like the 3-d tails but flat

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MMI-ZX3

· #12 · Oct 28, 2003

One possiblity I have seen was on the VWVortex forum and some of the guys got their laminated. It looked very good, but I have yet to research it.

I just came across another option on the evo forum. Clear gelcoat with pigment. I've been researching that a little to see how hard it is to work with and where to buy what I would need. It would probably only work on clear lenses though. This should be the result. Kinda looks like the tails on the Chevy Trailblazer.

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AIRICCC

· #13 · Oct 29, 2003

im too lazy to read the whole post to see if someone has answered this or not but here is my .02... when i did my taillights, i gave them many many many THIN coats.... they turned out to be semi gloss yet it was bumpy and such and felt like a piece of construction paper... i sanded it /w wet 1000 grit for a while and it came out shiney then i put about 3 coats of clearcoat on and buffed the hell out of them... they look like they came from the factory that way... i was parked somewhere talking to my friends and a cop pulled up and started talking to us... he said "i wanna take a look at that focus." i about had a heart attack because i had a longtube header on /w practically nothing else and i thought he was gonna slap me /w a no-cat ticket... instead he goes up to my car and starts grabbing at my taillights like an idiot and says "how you get those covers off" i explained it to him and he said "well take that tinted license plate cover off b4 i decide to give you a ticket!" then he said "now ive seen your car... (implying i speed) we're (FWPD) keepin an eye on you!" the end... its a good bedtime story

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IDversusEGO

· #14 · Oct 30, 2003

see that's the problem with the spray tint. if the cop wanted to be a prick, he could have made you scrape it off or give you a ticket. that's why I only put a light coat on mine. just enough to take the shiny red off. in the day, it is only obvious if I park next to another focus.

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