Tinting tail lights

[menelaos]

Has anybody done it?
Asked local tint shop and told me they don't have anything that they can stand by in extreme cold.

[CeeTeeX5]

This should be an interesting thread. VHT nightshade if you must. Please do not endanger others with a very dark tint. It also may be illegal in your area so check your local laws.

[menelaos]

Local tint shop told me nothing about the legality of tinting the tail lights, surprisingly. Regardless, safety in an issue up here even more as a lot of cars have only one working headlight.

Here's one site I found. Will ask the Monday.

https://www.lamin-x.com/SearchResult...Covers&Submit=

[CeeTeeX5]

Tinted tails are a great way to get rear ended and be guaranteed to be deemed at fault.

[menelaos]

I did rear end somebody in 1999, the rear-ender is at fault 100% of time. Remember arguing with insurance as I was new US driver back then and did not know the insurance rules.
But it's definitely plausible to be blamed I guess if it's too dark.

[turboawd]

Why hide the beauty of the led rods?

[menelaos]

Yeah, have not made up my mind yet... Just looking if I could darken it a bit.
Not sure if weather will allow it around here.
Need 60F minimum to do on glass, and we don't have those till June around here.

[mpowered5]

I've always liked the look of the smoked tail lights and have seen a few buddies have it done on their cars from the local tint shop. Never seen an issue with the cold affecting them. And we see -30c

I never would do it, like previously said. Taking the functionality and safety of your tail lights away just isn't worth it for me.

But on the other hand I bought a set of OEM Hella smoked tail lights for my e34 m5, which are legal.. ok maybe not here. and look great.
To bad there is no such OEM option (to my knowledge) for f15s or other bmws past or present.

[Maverik259]

I was looking st the lamin x ones myself just this week. I've always loved the look. Nothing too dark so all y'all "safety and illegal" peeps can hold your objections. Had it on my Merc and they looked great. Especially in the day and Couldn't tell at night with the lights illuminated! That was vinyl wrap from eBay too.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by menelaos

Has anybody done it?
Asked local tint shop and told me they don't have anything that they can stand by in extreme cold.

generally speaking i am not a fan of this type of "mod" but you can have a body shop spray the tail lights. it will look better than film and stand the elements.
in addition you can fine tune the color and tint level to your taste and preference.

[menelaos]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

generally speaking i am not a fan of this type of "mod" but you can have a body shop spray the tail lights. it will look better than film and stand the elements.
in addition you can fine tune the color and tint level to your taste and preference.

Looks like they have tint options too... Much lighter.
I would go with Gunsmoke if I decide.
BTW, they're American-made!

[CeeTeeX5]

I used clear lamin-x to protect glass headlight and foglight lenses on my e36 and they worked fairly well for that but the material they were made of then didn’t conform well to bends. The headlights were fairly flat with a slight curve from top to bottom and the edges still wanted to lift. It was properly cleaned and prepped for the film.

Our tailights have quite a few more curves and if the film used is still as thick as it was then, you’re going to have a hard time getting the install just right. Just be prepared for some frustration and have a heat gun ready. I’d suggest having someone there to help line things up as once you think you have one spot lined up, it’s going to move.

The films aren’t always cut to the right size even though they are cut for the car. So you might still see edges of the tailights if you go anything darker than the lightest tint.

There are tinted vinyls out that are of the same material used to wrap cars. I personally would go that route and have my vinyl guy do the install if I were to ever do it, which is highly unlikely.

[CeeTeeX5]

Originally Posted by menelaos

Yeah, have not made up my mind yet... Just looking if I could darken it a bit.
Not sure if weather will allow it around here.
Need 60F minimum to do on glass, and we don't have those till June around here.

Are they doing the tinting outdoors? This an odd requirement as I had tint installed in December in 30f temps. It was installed in a temp controlled garage at my installer.

I’d find a different tint shop if there is one around.

[menelaos]

Originally Posted by CeeTeeX5

I used clear lamin-x to protect glass headlight and foglight lenses on my e36 and they worked fairly well for that but the material they were made of then didn’t conform well to bends. The headlights were fairly flat with a slight curve from top to bottom and the edges still wanted to lift. It was properly cleaned and prepped for the film.

Our tailights have quite a few more curves and if the film used is still as thick as it was then, you’re going to have a hard time getting the install just right. Just be prepared for some frustration and have a heat gun ready. I’d suggest having someone there to help line things up as once you think you have one spot lined up, it’s going to move.

The films aren’t always cut to the right size even though they are cut for the car. So you might still see edges of the tailights if you go anything darker than the lightest tint.

There are tinted vinyls out that are of the same material used to wrap cars. I personally would go that route and have my vinyl guy do the install if I were to ever do it, which is highly unlikely.

Yeah, I have the same concerns about type of lights we got.
Will definitely use a shop.
Will look at other options too.

[menelaos]

Originally Posted by CeeTeeX5

Are they doing the tinting outdoors? This an odd requirement as I had tint installed in December in 30f temps. It was installed in a temp controlled garage at my installer.

I’d find a different tint shop if there is one around.

Tint shop guy told me he'd do it in his shop and leave heat on overnight.. It's still 30s here.

[CeeTeeX5]

Originally Posted by menelaos

Yeah, I have the same concerns about type of lights we got.
Will definitely use a shop.
Will look at other options too.

Yup, since the lights are two piece a shop can also wrap in to the gap so you don't have a visible line when you aren't looking dead on. Looking at one of the pics in the lamin-x gallery you can clearly see where the lamin-x stops and you can still see the original color of the lens.

[CeeTeeX5]

Originally Posted by menelaos

Tint shop guy told me he'd do it in his shop and leave heat on overnight.. It's still 30s here.

Maybe it's the type of film he's using. The installer I go to does tint all year long same day and there are no issues. I think I waited ~1.5 hrs for mine.

[euro-r]

Bodyshop can do it, painter can smoke clear it. Did it on one of my previous car many years ago

[menelaos]

All this is good, but I need to commit another $500 on it, parts and labor....arghh!
That includes windshield 35%, head and fog light tint.

[RubyRube]

I already have the E-bay vinyl wrap. I got a light smoke for the tail lights and the yellow markers but I think the markers may need a darker wrap. Trying for a DIY job.

[blasterman78]

I have done both on my car. first, vinyl tint them opted for painting them. I would highly recommend going the painted route. Yes, it is more permanent, but the outcome if done properly is far better IMO. I am at a conference so I can post any pictures, but the biggest benefit is that you have control over the amount of tint you apply. however, I would not recommend using VHT night shade because the amount of tint in the can is already set and I have notice that you cannot properly apply a light tint using this product, it will look blotchy and are forced to aptly additional coat which make it darker.

The way I set up my tint was to add a few drops of black tint and I also added red tint to keep the red of the light still visible. It resembles a black cherry color. IMO it looks OEM. I will post the products and pictures I used when I return.

[rushdriven]

Originally Posted by CeeTeeX5

This should be an interesting thread. VHT nightshade if you must. Please do not endanger others with a very dark tint. It also may be illegal in your area so check your local laws.

+1

Washington law for example requires that tail lamps when lighted as required, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1000 feet to the rear. RCW 46.37.050.