I'm not a big fan of ghetto rigging things on cars. I like it all professionally done. But, lately I've been considering putting window tint on my tail lights. Has anyone actually done this? I just want a cheap but effective way to tint them do it without any spray tint (just in case I don't like it).

 

go look up thecobrahunter -he did his tints with the precut films from ebay and they look great. if i were ever going black out my tails again i'd probably go that route as well. and they give you a few choices of how dark you want to go

but i'm sure he'll make his way here and post up some pics...

 

i would LOVE more info on this. i wanna tint mine but don't want ANOTHER thing to get hit on by the inspector.

 

oh, and the title of this thread doesn't exactly fit with what it is about. might want to change it to something more suitable. possible, "tinting lights with window tint?" -maybe its just me, but its irritating to enter a thread and get something completely different than what the title implies.

 

...and here my pics for those just poppin' in.





Install was pretty straight forward. Material is very forgiving, just don't over stretch. Benn on for almost 3+ years and still look good.

 

I've seen several cars done this way and they look good, as long as they were done right. Even saw a few with headlights lightly done that looked good

 

I dont think window tint is used. Its a semi-transparent vinyl, its easier to stretch and wont melt to the plastic.

Thats also what those pre-cut pieces are made out of on ebay.

 

^this

 

why not just nightshade them?

 

everything i have seen nightshaded is not very shiney even if glossing over it with rattle can in a year or so it starts to fade pretty bad. Spend 50 bucks and take them to your paint guy and have him put a few drops of black paint in some clear and spray them. Look better and last longer..... just my 2 cents

 

I would think it could peal being exposed..idk though..

 

Really cause mine are 3yrs old & still look like they did after first being done. I daily drive year round & have no garage either so its exposed to elements constantly.

 

Like Big_Mike said, mine have also been on for just over 3 years and have not peeled off 1 mm. you do have to be a little careful when washing the car as to not catch the edges and peel off an edge, but no biggie. Oh, and ever since I replaced by blackout lens covers, haven't been hassled by the cops. I definitely couldn't say that if they were Nightshaded.

 

Mine are Nightshaded & I have never been hassled. Been puled over a couple times since doin it & they have never even mentioned it to me.

 

big mike what was your process of doing the night shade, and what clear did you use because on my truck i sanded the tailings with 320 did the night shade and then did 3 coats of gloss clear i think it was the rustoleum for exterior and thats what i had a problem with, i tint was fine just a little dull but the clear was another story

 

I did not scuff my tail light housings at all. I wiped them down with alochol, masked off the reverse lights & shot them with 3 light coats of the Nightshades. Followed that up with 3 medium coats of Duplicolor Truck/SUV clearcoat. I still havent wet sanded them & probably never will. they look good enough for me & my car isnt a show car, LOL.

If it aint broke dont fix it, LOL.

 

Yeah, PD around here can be real d*cks! Like when they used to hassle me about my plate before I put LEDs to light it up! Damn! The things one's gotta do to sometimes just to go out drivn' and have a good time!

 

^same results here.the ONLY people i hear about having problems with the VHT not looking right or whatever, all used glossy clear coats made for general purpose use (many aren't compatible with the VHT). if you use the Dupli-color auto clear coat, you will have NO problems. and right out of the can you get a very nice, smooth, glossy, and very durable finish. and if you want it even smoother you can always wetsand/buff, which i personally have never found necessary. I've used this combo (VHT/ dupli-color clear) for years with perfect results

 

Searching4Sierra is right. The pre-cut kits on Ebay are a 3M adhesive and not window tint. You CAN NOT use window tint. Several reasons. It will scratch VERY easily, it will peel, and it be very hard to get it to conform and look right, amongst other things. Do it right. Use the 3M or use VHT with a good clear shot from a paint gun.

 

^^true

I tried some of the vinyl tint from ebay and it has a nice gloss to it once installed. The only thing to keep in mind is that the text on tails will make the tint stick out in certain areas. Perhaps sanding the text until smooth will yield better results.