blacking out rear lights (or fronts too) question

[Midnight]

Folks, saw some old posts back in 2003 about some "night shading"

on how we can blackout the rear lights.... interested in the process, and if anyone has been successful. and the steps they took.


Thanks!

[TiTo35]

If you use nightshade...its fairly easy from what I seen. Take the lights out, clean em, sand em, spray em, as dark or light as you want and let dry. :twocents:

[Marauder Rick]

i have done mine and it turned out great. i didn't even have to sand them. The product is called VHT Niteshade. I would recommend only two coats though.

http://www.modernperformance.com/niteshades-nite-shades-spray-tint-cans-p-1779.html

[CodeMan]

Thinking about the same question all day today......logged in to post the same question......& there it is......... that is just crazy :loco:

THANKS GUYS!!!!

[hot-rauder]

Chances are you will need to clear coat them after spraying with nightshade, otherwise it will look kinda green colored. You could always go to a local bodyshop and ask them to spray them with tinted clear....

a members car....

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/DSC01054.jpg

[Marauder Rick]

Chances are you will need to clear coat them after spraying with nightshade, otherwise it will look kinda green colored. You could always go to a local bodyshop and ask them to spray them with tinted clear....

I've had mine tinted for almost four years now, three in Ohio with rain sleet and snow and i'm getting no green tint. everything still looks the way it did when i 1st did it. I guess its just the quality of the aplication. However, i do know a few people in detroit that went to the body shop and their job looked good so...to each it's own. But i paid like a hundred dollars less and didnt need a clear coat.

[fastblackmerc]

You can also do the "S-55" treatment to them.

[2,4shofast]

I have done the same Nite Shades to mine as well, I didnt sand at all but I did put 3 coats of truck and suv clear coat on mine and it smoothes out the finish much nicer than nite shades alone in my opinion.

[Mac-MerC]

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz212/Mac-Merc/niteshade.jpg
the nite-shades crap looks like this
i have 2 cans of this ish and havent used them yet
ive seen someone use it and it looks horrible on there car, looks like dull ass spray paint

[Embassy]

http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=46302

[CBT]

Did they put it on the outside or the inside?


http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz212/Mac-Merc/niteshade.jpg
the nite-shades crap looks like this
i have 2 cans of this ish and havent used them yet
ive seen someone use it and it looks horrible on there car, looks like dull ass spray paint

[Krytin]

You can also do the "S-55" treatment to them.

S-55 FTW!
:banana2:

[Mac-MerC]

Did they put it on the outside or the inside?

outside. it just looks dull as hell. like some cheap ass dollar store spray paint
at night it does look good, but during the day when u walk up on it... looks bad.
his car is the only one i have seen so im assumin he did something wrong, thats y i havent sprayed mine yet.
i atleast want to view a good lookin specimen before i attempt to do it.
i see good pictures on this site, but its totally different to go up and see it in person
im really just thinkin of going to the body shop and just lettin them spray it

[Mac-MerC]

BAD-MERC posted this in another thread
I just bought some Night Shades tint on Ebay - saw a long tutorial on scuffing, prep, spraying and sanding for clearcoat. Then wet sand with 2000 and buff to a shine. I will practice on my lawn tractor's headlight lense.

ppl have told me that they just sprayed it on
other folks saying they scuffed the lens, cleaned the lens and sprayed
he talkin about the instructiosn say scuff, paint, wet sand, buff..

these tail lights arent cheap, im not tryin to f mine up, thats y im hesitant

[Cheeseheadbob]

This guy does great work. http://www.jonstintedtails.com/

[cassidy]

I love the look BUT...

I know enough that a smarta** insurance attorney could do
a DOT light emission test/visibility screening. If you get rear ended
you could lose your insurance benefits and get personally sued
as if you had no rear tail lights at all. The law actually states you are sabotaging safety features by deliberately reducing light output necessary for navigational visibility (paraphrased)...

I wouldn't do it in a million years, too risky...you even make yourself a target for tickets and being pulled over for nothing.

I always wanted to black out the headlights in four raccoon eye circles like the original stainless steel mesh SEMA Marauder from years ago...anyone have that photo?


Look at jontintedtails FAQ section...he assumes no responsibility if you get into an accident because of his tinting...DOT legal lights are your responsibility.
Over the years there have been a few mods outright dangerous...like the big Marauder metal medallion you were supposed to stick over your airbag steering wheel.

[Mac-MerC]

who's car is that on the jons tinted tails website.... Its a member on here correct?

[CBT]

who's car is that on the jons tinted tails website.... Its a member on here correct?

I believe it is Embassy.

[2,4shofast]

You have to clear coat them! Here are a few that I have done with clear, they are just as glossy as stock plastic.

[hot-rauder]

You have to clear coat them! Here are a few that I have done with clear, they are just as glossy as stock plastic.


I have the same washing machine.....:D

[2,4shofast]

I have the same washing machine.....:D

That is awesome...Mine gets used a lot as a holding place for part waiting to dry lol

[duhtroll]

You do NOT have to clear coat them. I have had mine done as long as anyone has - over 6 years now. They look like the day I did them.

I did them myself with a spray can in the garage, no sanding, just rubbing them down with alcohol first. I removed the lamps first, though.

It is all in the masking - seriously. I spent hours masking them and trimming the tape S-55 style with a razor blade so that the reflectors, which are only in the top 2 "strips" BTW, are not affected. No one has ever pulled me over for them, but if they did the law here says "must be reflective out to x feet" which they easily are since I didn't touch the reflectors.

I recommend as many coats as you can get out of one can. I coated them probably 6-7 times but the coats were very light so I had no risk of splotches or runs.

I was in it for the cost of the can and one evening's work.

I was ready to clear coat them but decided I liked it the way it looks without (matte not enameled), and still do. I could have gone with black paint but I want it translucent - just dark. I got exactly what I wanted and think mine look as good as any professional job.

At night they look black. In the sunlight it looks like a very dark red. Perfect, IMO.

Now, I did have a problem with a dealer on warranty. After I had painted them - 8 months later, the black plastic trim popped off the tail lamp assembly. The dealer wouldn't send the assembly in under warranty because I had modified it.

Yes, the dealer is retarded. I made them glue it on for me, which I could have easily done but then if they screwed it up it is their cost. I don't go there anymore.

[NATEHAWK]

I agree Bob I got mine done there too.....I went with dark as he could go also here is a pic of them at night with the lights on.

[Mike]

If you use nightshade...its fairly easy from what I seen. Take the lights out, clean em, sand em, spray em, as dark or light as you want and let dry. :twocents:

^^^+1^^^ I've done the same and they look GREAT!!!!! :D

[hot-rauder]

my S55 was painted... much prefered I think. It make the light look light it was supposed to be that way and not some bastard child of tinting... nitshaded S55 to me, just doesnt look good.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/DSCN2214.jpg

[duhtroll]

Please tell me you got rid of the PI badge...


my S55 was painted... much prefered I think. It make the light look light it was supposed to be that way and not some bastard child of tinting... nitshaded S55 to me, just doesnt look good.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z302/blkmarauder/DSCN2214.jpg

[hot-rauder]

Please tell me you got rid of the PI badge...


That was how I bought it from the dealer... strobes and all. Dont worry, the car is gone now.

[Embassy]

who's car is that on the jons tinted tails website.... Its a member on here correct?


It's mine. Call or email Jon. He'll tint your lamps to any shade and any pattern (such as S55) you'd like.

[Got_1]

Yes, the dealer is retarded. I made them glue it on for me, which I could have easily done but then if they screwed it up it is their cost. I don't go there anymore.

FYI, its not the dealers fault. They don't want to be left paying the bill. Ford Motor Company will not accept a OEM part that has been tampered with or moddified. Every part claimed under warranty has to be sent back to ford and if they reject it then that dealer is stuck with the cost.

[duhtroll]

Yeah, I get that, but it is painfully obvious the "modification" had nothing to do with the failure.

Which, BTW is the language of said warranty. Warranty work is only unacceptable if it is somehow shown the modification had something to do with the failure.



FYI, its not the dealers fault. They don't want to be left paying the bill. Ford Motor Company will not accept a OEM part that has been tampered with or moddified. Every part claimed under warranty has to be sent back to ford and if they reject it then that dealer is stuck with the cost.

[diw]

what about tinting the headlights? anyone done that or seen it done? its legal, right?

[cassidy]

My cousin is an insurance agent, a major one, making over a hundred grand per year with a major company. He says this is altering a DOT approved light. A lawyer or insurance agent could insist that you reduced the effective range of light visibility CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, or DEATH.

He said if he wanted to be a jerk he would deny any claim totally if someone blacked out or changed the color of any navigational/safety lighting...that means you are bankrupt and completely liable no matter how much money or insurance you THINK you had.

This is SOOOO not worth it...and it ain't just my opinion.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I really feel like lightly tinting the rears, tinting the headlights, and getting 20'' all black no chrome wheels. (Street Kings style)

[diw]

would the insurance issue apply to the s-55 style treatment of the back lights?