BlueC

Anyone red out their taillights instead of clearing them? I hear this is a very simple process and it will get rid of the orange. Ive seen a few pics of red out tails on 1st Gen TLs, but im still wondering if its the route to go. Anyone w/ experience on doing this?

Mikes96TL03CLS

Yep I did it to both of my cars. It's cheap, but look good. Here is a pic of mine,

spidyos

How do you red out the tail lights?

96_2.5TL

How much did it cost u

unx979

get some hobby paint (candy apple red) do about three coats of it and there you go. paint's about 5 bucks at most. remove the taillight from the car, tape up the parts you don't want spray painted, wait till each coat is dried and no clumps. there you go!

Cornflake

Did you separate the plastic cover first, or paint the very outside of it? I am considering taking the assembly apart, breaking out the orange and repacing it with drop cieling lens cut to fit, then re-assebmling the lens to make t clear, but this looks like it might be easier. If you DID take the outside cover off, how easy/difficult was it?

Corby

that looks great! how illegal is that? is there anything bad if you dont have orange in the back? or do you use orange bulbs and it shines through

96TL

Red tails are much nicer than orange. You don't have to take the tails apart to do that. The paint is on the outside of the lens. It's really easy to tape around the blinker area because there is a groove you can follow. I just put tape all around it and followed the groove with a razor blade. I used black paint instead of red though. I don't have any pics because I ended up getting red/clear tails later on. Its a good mod for $5.00 but keep in mind its permanent.

Cornflake

I'm a little confused, my taillights DEFINATELY have a plastic cover over the coloured lenses. You can see it. The orance part (as well as the red and white parts for that matter) is underneath the clear plastic. I can't see that it would look right just painting the outside part of the lens.... And what kind of paint did you use?

Mikes96TL03CLS

yeah I just painted mine, I didn't take them out. Just mask off what your not painting. Paint is cheap like he said. Just look above, all the info is here.

Cornflake

I just went out of my office and looked at my tails, no groove, and they have a plastic cover. I'm thinkin' maybe the Canadian TL's have a different tailight assembly? Or maybe 2.5 is different than 3.2? Cause Looking at mine, it would just look cheesy if I painted that one part red.

96TL

Are you sure theres no groove? Check again. It should go around the whole blinker.

Also, it definitely does not look cheesy if done correctly. The OEM orange lens ruins the whole rear of the car IMO.

Cornflake

Positive there is no groove. DEFINATELY taking it apart to do it. I agree, I hate the orange as well, but painting red on the outside of the plastic lens would not look better IMO, just cheesy, like I said, maybe my tails are different, cause it does look retty good in that pic.

96TL

I don't know if its worth taking them apart to do that. If you brake one tailight thats $280 from your local stealership. I took them apart so I speak from experience. Be very careful on the bottom inner corner because its very fragile. Good luck!

Cornflake

Sounds good, maybe I'll try and pick some up from a local wrecker first and attempt it on them, if works, I've got a spare set of stock tails!! (Should I be lucky enough to FIND them at a wrecker...)

Mikes96TL03CLS

Dude, just paint it. It's SO easy. Don't take them off to do it.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

wat would that do for inspection purposes??? u think they will be willing to pass me??? thats the only thing im worried about...

96TL

I took the tails off the car to spray them. I didnt want to risk getting that paint all over my trunk and quarter panels.

Cornflake

OK, call me the forum idiot. Somehow I missed the groove in my tails, don't ask how, I don't know, but it is thereut I still think I'm gonna take them apart and paint inside. Thanks guys.

J-SpecTL

iTrader: (1)

dont you guys have something called formX up there? its a transparent sticker material that comes in sheets of all different colors. pple down here use that instead of using paint and it has a shine to it unlike the spray paint which looks dull compared to the rest of the tail. and the main thing is that its un-doable. when its time for your safety check or whatever, just take it off and when you get it, slap another pair on.

Mikes96TL03CLS

sounds cool Jspec, but I'd use paint.

Cornflake

I am definately gonna have to look into that FormX stuff, cause I would like to have the shine like the rest of the taillight lens if possible.... Thanks.

vas25tl

mike, did you paint your whole taillight? It looks a whole different color, maybe the lighting....

Mikes96TL03CLS

Nope, just the part that was orange. During most times looks the same as the stock red.