[My VX] How to make your stock lights look aftermarket

[Demoniak]

So i was looking around for something different for my car and didnt know which way to go.

The altezza lights are just too chromy and didnt suit the red of the car so i opted to try and smoke up the lights myself.

The good thing about doing it this way is that not only did i do the taillights but also did the break lights and the indicators all for under $25.
I also had enough spare to do the front lights. But im not too sure of the legalities of smoked front lights.. so i opted not to.

Anyway heres what you will need for the task.

Tools Needed:
----------------
Bucket with warm soapy water
Spray and wipe bottle filled with warm soapy waterr
Cloth
Scissors
Stanley blade / box cutter (sharp)
Your wifes/mum's Hair dryer
Credit Card / Drivers licence
A lot of patience and time.
Smoked film ( i bought a 400x1200 sheet which was enough for my entire car)


Step 1
Clean the Tail Light
Clean the surface of the Tail light with soap water to ensure all debris are removed from the surface the Light.

Step 2
Remove the Vinyl from the protective sheet. Carefully remove the vinyl from the sheet and spray the vinyl's adhesive side with Soapie Water.
The Soapie Water will prevent the Overlay's adhesive from sticking while you apply it the Tail Light

Step 3
Spray and Apply the Overlay on the Tail Light. Carefully apply/align the vinyl on the Tail Light and smooth out as much crease as possible by using your fingers. Use the vinyl squeegee to push out all the soapie water on the front face of the Tail Light. The more soapie water you push out the less bubbling there will be.
Note: Make sure the crease are evenly distributed on the Overlay, therefore you can easily smooth it out with a hair dryer and Squeeze

Step 4
Carefully pull and fold the side inward. If necessary, use the hair dryer to soften up the vinyl and squeegee out all the crease

Step 5 Heat, Pull, Stretch
Heat up the crease and begin stretching and pulling the vinyl. You will notice the crease smoothing out. Stretch it and align the edges. Don't be alarm if you over stretch it. It is okay. The excess vinyl can be easily cut.
Note: Do not over heat. Overheating will cause bubbling. Patience is key here. Take your time!! Don’t rush



Step 6
Trim the edges (Optional)
Heat up the excess vinyl (heating up the vinyl will soften it and makes it easy to trim) and trim Note: Don't worry if you over stretch the vinyl. Any excess vinyl protruding can be easily remove using an exacto knife.


Step 7 Allow the film to dry for 45 minute before wiping off any excess soapie water. Any excess liquid left under the film may cause fogginess. This is perfectly normal during the curing process. The film is breathable and fogginess will evaporate within a few weeks.
And thats it. The whole process took around 1 hour cause i was being pedantic with the film. But i would allow that if you were doing all the lights.

[Sik_Cordz]

looks different. i guess its not rwc ?

[ToMMMaY]

Personally i think the standard ones look better
but to set them off you need to do your window tints dark then it should suite nice

[Commo_Carl]

Finally someone with similar taste to me, did this to my lights ages ago looks a million times better than stock. Hardly think a RWC is needed for such a miniscule modification

[dzach23]

Wouldn't it be easier to remove the lights first???

[klampy]

or you could just spray them with VHT niteshades.... just sayin.

[Demoniak]

or you could just spray them with VHT niteshades.... just sayin.

You can do that, this way means its consistent (spray relies on the person being even with the spray strokes). It also protects the lights more and can be peeled off if i dont want it anymore.

I think it looks much better

looks different. i guess its not rwc ?

Its not modifying the vehicle at all. Brake lights still shine red, indicators still shine orange. Reverse still shines white. No defects here.

[dzach23]

does the reflector still reflect?

[Demoniak]

does the reflector still reflect?

yup and the brakes lights still.... break light

[VKCOMMO]

Its not modifying the vehicle at all. Brake lights still shine red, indicators still shine orange. Reverse still shines white. No defects here.

According to my RWC guideline rules, Rule 106.03 states that a vehicle can not pass a road worthy certificate with tinting on any lamps

[Demoniak]

According to my RWC guideline rules, Rule 106.03 states that a vehicle can not pass a road worthy certificate with tinting on any lamps

well NSW sucks ass for RWC.. here in QLD its fine.

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/c7..._vehicles2.pdf

[wrx884]

i think it woulda looked better if the film had more gloss in it 2 match the cars paint, windows shine ect....

i know the gloss does help reflect the light more 2.

[Demoniak]

i think it woulda looked better if the film had more gloss in it 2 match the cars paint, windows shine ect....

i know the gloss does help reflect the light more 2.

It is still curing, within a few weeks it will be more glossy. Ill get some pics up when its cured

[Coxxy]

what % was the tint you used mate?

[edals]

Just be carefull mate. If someone rear ends you, Insurance may not pay out as your tail lights were " Obstructed" from clear view from the driver that crashed into you. Besides that its differnt and even color unlike the spray tint

[klampy]

ive used VHT niteshades spray on all the cars if tinted the lights on, if youre carefull, (like i was) you can get an even and consistant tint, and then all it takes is a quick rub with 1200 wet n dry and then a cut n polish and all is swell.

AFAIK, you have to be able to see red illumination from 200m behind the car on parkers. didnt think that lens colour was an issue as such. oh, and every car ive tinted bar the VX (reflector is integral to the lens) ive masked the reflector off and not sprayed it.

heres my old VN i did. never got pulled, and passed the two regos i had it for with flying colours.

[Delish-VY]

I think cheap mods like this look exactly that...cheap.

[klampy]

heres a pic of the wifes wagon that i tinted the tails on. and yes theyre the same, as when i did them, i sprayed them as one. so right next to each other and in consistant sweeping strokes. been like this for 2-3 years now, all they need is an occasional polish with wax and they look great.

[sawychri06]

heres a pic of the wifes wagon that i tinted the tails on. and yes theyre the same, as when i did them, i sprayed them as one. so right next to each other and in consistant sweeping strokes. been like this for 2-3 years now, all they need is an occasional polish with wax and they look great.

klampy i really hope this pic is not one of those where the girl in the top window is a gost and wasnt there before???

[klampy]

ahahah no!!! thats my son! lol.... he is 2 n half. loves watching daddy from the top window. its just annoying that he likes to run out on the street as im just on one side of a crest that people love to scream over... a risk id rather not take.