So I finally tinted the tail lights on the old bird. These are expensive if they need to be replaced so I put this off for a long time. I practiced on the fiance’s Ranger and got a good idea of how dark I wanted my tail lights. I dont think I will do this full write up style unless some one requests it. Hopefully I will get finished and installed pics soon as I have a project for the center tail filler too. Opinions welcome.
All pics were taken in near identical florescent light with camera on manual and settings kept consistent to give a better idea of how dark the tint became. The clear actually brought some depth and darkness to the tint as well. All done with VHT Nite Shades and Plasti-cote Lacquer Clear.
yeah. I like the OEM+ theme. Want people to argue if its stock or not after I drive away. LoL
Also dont want to be rear ended because my lights are BLACK!
just keep an eye out for cops, mine were only 2 layers of VHT(came out to be just about the same as the ones pictured) and i got pulled over by a trooper for it, its a fix it ticket, but its a pain in the ass. just fair warning to anybody who does it.
I have a pair of older tails off a V6. They were in worse condition and if the one wasn’t leaking I would have tinted them instead. If need be I can rock those for a week or so to clear up any tickets. I would like to get brighter bulbs to help with the light output but I don’t know where I would get such. A least so the brake filament is brighter. Thanks for the heads up tho. I know its not technically legal but I hope their are not enough of these running around to make it obvious they are tinted like a Civic or a Cobalt. I also have 25% window tint, loud exhaust, and never have a front plate. I’m sure I will be speeding too. Don’t even look under the hood at the missing EGR or Air injection pump and plumbing. LoL
i dont see these being a problem with police. i had vinyl tint on my lights for almost 2 1/2 years and didnt get pulled over for them and they were darker than these. as long as you can still see the lights from a certain distance (not sure how far) you will be fine. as a matter of fact, it took me a little while to tell the difference between untinted and tinted.
it all plays down to the officers digression. this cop just happened to be bored the night i got pulled and got me for it. Ive had them before on my car and never had issues, just happened to run into the 1 cop who had nothing better to do. guy was a real douchebag too when he had me pulled over. I was there for a while, couple other reasons haha.
I don’t think LEDs will work well in these. I have seen the reflectors removed with full boards of LEDs in place but a few bulbs… I’m not so sure. I think it will be perfectly fine. I just want to do it to show evidence of the difference whether its big or small.
Which side is it? I got a shitty dark one too. If you have 2 dark ones they will match… Water gets in them and makes the chrome turn dark. I made sure mine were sealed with clear RTV. I tried to remove the lens from one to repaint the chrome on the reflector side. I broke it and melted the reverse light lens. If you have to take these apart they have to be cut apart and glued back together.
Mine are retarted dark and I have LED bulbs in them. They don’t do a damn thing for how bright they are. Might have to splurge on SMD bulbs if you want brightness, but the good ones (that will actually last) are pretty expensive
