# Smoked tails and LED bulbs **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [December 13, 2007, 10:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217 "2007-12-13T10:53:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigRon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 10:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/1 "2007-12-13T10:53:41Z")
I just picked up an extra set of tails for cheap to play around with. I am thinking of “smoking” them with some VHT Nite Shades. Anyone have experience or suggestions? Here is a pic of a black CTS-V with some really dark tails (he also blacked out the reverse lights and 3rd brake light). ![http://i3.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/c9/f9/ed99_1.JPG](http://i3.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/c9/f9/ed99_1.JPG) Also I am considering LEDs in the tails, bulbs 3157LL and 2825LL. Can anyone make suggestions of companies to use and are there different codes that would make theme easier to find (ie 194, T10, T15, etc) ---
**Author:** ![micah](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/micah/32/7257_2.png) [@micah](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/micah)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 10:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/2 "2007-12-13T10:59:32Z")
what color is ur car? i like the smoked tails usually ---
**Author:** ![turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbo_ls1_ss/32/7303_2.png) [@turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_ls1_ss)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 11:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/3 "2007-12-13T11:00:48Z")
pretty cool. the exhaust on that is pretty BA too ---
**Author:** ![livin4hockey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@livin4hockey](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/livin4hockey)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 11:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/4 "2007-12-13T11:01:09Z")
That pic looks awesome with the blackout. I’d do the same, if your car is black. ---
**Author:** ![BigRon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 11:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/5 "2007-12-13T11:06:58Z")
Yeah mine is black Car in picture is redic [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-CTS-CHEFS-2005-CTS-V-A-RECIPE-FOR-VICTORY-ONE-OF-ONE\_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43903QQihZ013QQitemZ230199928621QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-CTS-CHEFS-2005-CTS-V-A-RECIPE-FOR-VICTORY-ONE-OF-ONE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43903QQihZ013QQitemZ230199928621QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) ![http://i4.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/c9/fa/8364_1.JPG](http://i4.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/c9/fa/8364_1.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 11:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/6 "2007-12-13T11:07:23Z")
polish it with 1500 grit after your done ant it looks good, if you dont, it comes out matte ---
**Author:** ![turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbo_ls1_ss/32/7303_2.png) [@turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_ls1_ss)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 11:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/7 "2007-12-13T11:14:28Z")
thats pretty sweet, besides the fender flares ---
**Author:** ![Justin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justin/32/7459_2.png) [@Justin](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Justin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/8 "2007-12-13T12:42:27Z")
[quote=“BigRon,post:5,topic:40217"”] Yeah mine is black Car in picture is redic [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-CTS-CHEFS-2005-CTS-V-A-RECIPE-FOR-VICTORY-ONE-OF-ONE\_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43903QQihZ013QQitemZ230199928621QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadillac-CTS-CHEFS-2005-CTS-V-A-RECIPE-FOR-VICTORY-ONE-OF-ONE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43903QQihZ013QQitemZ230199928621QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) ![http://i4.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/c9/fa/8364_1.JPG](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/4/d/4dcb57651a75abfd07fb36c70c6c5108c49bdb34.jpeg) [/quote] :tup: thats hot. ---
**Author:** ![BuickGN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buickgn/32/7200_2.png) [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/9 "2007-12-13T12:45:57Z")
it looks good i had vht on my gn tails, like viper said polish it after ---
**Author:** ![eviltsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c0e974/32.png) [@eviltsi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/eviltsi)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/10 "2007-12-13T12:54:04Z")
Nite shades blows. Even if you sand and buff, there is no uv protection and will eventually fade back to the original finish. My vote is for basecoat/clearcoat. Take them to a bodyshop and see if they would be interested in it, but make sure they will put on some type of adhesion promoter. If not, send them to me and I’ll do them.😉 I did mine awhile ago and have no issues, niteshit just looks cheap imo. ---
**Author:** ![chino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@chino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/chino)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 1:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/11 "2007-12-13T13:01:21Z")
[quote=“turbo ls1 ss,post:7,topic:40217"”] thats pretty sweet, besides the fender flares [/quote] yea… was thinking the same, cool idea but really don’t like those car otherwise is BA ---
**Author:** ![MaximaSE98](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/maximase98/32/7600_2.png) [@MaximaSE98](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MaximaSE98)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/12 "2007-12-13T13:06:22Z")
[quote=“eviltsi,post:10,topic:40217"”] Nite shades blows. Even if you sand and buff, there is no uv protection and will eventually fade back to the original finish. My vote is for basecoat/clearcoat. Take them to a bodyshop and see if they would be interested in it, but make sure they will put on some type of adhesion promoter. If not, send them to me and I’ll do them.😉 I did mine awhile ago and have no issues, niteshit just looks cheap imo. [/quote] i had niteshades on my 96 maxima that i put on like 6 years ago…at when my bro traded it in a couple weeks ago…looks as good as it always did ---
**Author:** ![JustinH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JustinH](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JustinH)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/13 "2007-12-13T13:12:00Z")
makes it look like a black persons car (no offense). ---
**Author:** ![STEALTTH](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/stealtth/32/7582_2.png) [@STEALTTH](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/STEALTTH)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 1:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/14 "2007-12-13T13:15:45Z")
:wtf: Looks hot ---
**Author:** ![02svtfocus](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/02svtfocus/32/7318_2.png) [@02svtfocus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/02svtfocus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/15 "2007-12-13T14:14:43Z")
I smoked the turning lens and headlamps when I had my Focus Make sure to use very thin coats with Nite Shades ![http://a48.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/63/l_92435d6458d0aae1e9707817a6d2f2ef.jpg](http://a48.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/63/l_92435d6458d0aae1e9707817a6d2f2ef.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/16 "2007-12-13T16:21:43Z")
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A REAL THREAT TO THE IMPORT WORLD GOOD LUCK CHEF PLENTY OF WARRANTY STILL LEFT FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT POWERTRAIN ---
**Author:** ![Slow01S10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Slow01S10](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Slow01S10)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/17 "2007-12-13T17:01:20Z")
i tinted a set of tails with night shades. it came out good, i applied about 4 coats and then sprayed a clear coat on the tails. Even with how dark they came out, the LED bulbs i used still shined through them, just not too bright for every day use. I took them off after 3 days because they were too dark at night. I suggest spraying less coats. ---
**Author:** ![matter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@matter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/matter)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/18 "2007-12-13T17:27:19Z")
anybody ever use led bulbs that use existing bulb harness? example are these…[http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html](http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html) ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/19 "2007-12-13T17:36:17Z")
[quote=“matter,post:18,topic:40217"”] anybody ever use led bulbs that use existing bulb harness? example are these…[http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html](http://www.superbrightleds.com/tail-brake-turn.html) [/quote] DO NOT USE THOSE. Unless you dont like people being able to see your brake lights in daytime. At night, theyre slighlty visible, but in the daytime theyre useless. Hidplanet forums tells you all about that 😉 If you want LED tails, your going to have to have someone who knows what thier doing make you a set. Otherwise, none of those afermarket led bulbs put off any light, and most are highly unreliable. To the OP: Dont put LED bulbs in your tails, especially after you tint them, you will find out real quick theyre useless. ---
**Author:** ![matter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@matter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/matter)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217/20 "2007-12-13T17:37:50Z")
^good to hear, I was gonna order some to test it out, but nevermind then. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/smoked-tails-and-led-bulbs/40217.md?page=2)