headlight tinting

[tomsteve]

okay, i, well, my son has a '95 'stang that i recently( 3 days ago) repainted and it turned out very good. the headlights are pretty rough and i was gonna get some smoked covers for them, but finances dont allow it at this time. what's up with this tinting stuff i hear about? is it worth it. i"m not concerned if it doesnt make the lights looked smoked, but he did say he likes the smoked or tinted look. anybody use it and if so how does it hold up and any pics will be greatly appreciated.

[Mike Phillips]

We have a forum member that does this for other people, I'll shoot him an e-mail and see if he can chime in with some tips...

This is from our last Thursday night class, he's the guy squatting down and actually wet-sanding his the tint he sprayed flat and then we buffed teh sanding marks out.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/901/9_04_08ThursdayOG011_jpg.JPG

:)

[Mike Pennington]

Please confirm ...

Are you asking about headlights or taillights ?

If you smoke the headlights and it is a daily driver, you need to think about safety and also the law :) You smoke the headlights, and you will not have the visibility....Not too many people smoke headlights....

If they are taillights, many people do this, even though you should check with your state for the law :D

The picture shown above is of a taillight...

Mike

[tomsteve]

Please confirm ...

Are you asking about headlights or taillights ?

If you smoke the headlights and it is a daily driver, you need to think about safety and also the law :) You smoke the headlights, and you will not have the visibility....Not too many people smoke headlights....

If they are taillights, many people do this, even though you should check with your state for the law :D

The picture shown above is of a taillight...

Mike
one more reason i am lookin at tinting. this is my son's car, he is in "the sandbox" right now and not quite sure about where he is gonna be stationed when his tour is up.

[Mike Phillips]

My bad... I read the word headlight and thought taillights...

:nervous1

[roushstage2]

VHT Nite Shades would be the only way to go, with one coat. I really wouldn't recommend any more. As pointed out too, check your laws first!

Stock:
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/911/stock_tail_light.jpg

One Coat:
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/911/1coat.jpg

Two Coats:
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/911/2coats.jpg

3 Coats:
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/911/3coats.jpg

[Mr Mustang]

I wouldnt reccomend tinting the actual lights. You want people to be able to see you as much as possible, even if its not against the laws. Most people only use the covers during carshows and to showoff. I know people that have even gotten tickets for having them on.

[roushstage2]

The 01-04 Mustang headlights have a light tint to them and they work just fine. The one coat of VHT may be a bit darker. It is ultimately up to you to make the judgment call of safety when you do something like this. Compare lighting from the inside and outside before and after!

[tomsteve]

i think a trip to the cop shop is in order so that way i wont get him in trouble in michigan. then when he gets to his new unit, i hope it will be legal in that state, too!!!

[VonLego]

Here are my lights.
Here is a site to find more pictures of these lights: http://www.americanmuscle.com/sm99hewiclco.html

My thoughts? Make sure to buy performance bulbs and you'll be fine. I love them to death and have very solid visibility.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/PIC-0098.jpg

[FLEA]

You can use many different types of products to tint headlights/tail lights...such as Pactra window tint spray (RC model spray), VHT Nite Shades, Vans Lens Paint, or what I do, mix 20% black PPG paint with 80% clear to get that transparent black look. Like everyone else is saying check with your local state laws first.

I do know for a fact that it IS illegal to modify any DOT approved headlight/tail light, but it's just like tinting your windows, it's illegal but people do it anyways. If you do decide to tint/smoke out the headlights I do recommend getting a set of clear headlight film to apply after you have completed them. No point in getting rock chips on the headlights just to get a pitted look, that'll eventually crack.

Here is a DIY I wrote on tinting tails. Good luck with whatever you do!: scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=213476 (add www. before that address and paste it into your browser- Mark Kleis, Moderator)

[LaRgO]

u gotta understand that those "smoked" headlights have 100% clear lens. i tried to tint my headlights it didnt turn out very pretty, even if you polish it perfectly and clearcoat it; you still screw up the light beam and it ends up looking ugly because the light beam does not penetrate the tinted headlight casing so well

what the manufacturers do to trick into giving a sense of tint, is by making everything else inside darker! including the reflector mirror (but only marginally) which doesnt matter so much with ****ing up the beam, because it isnt penetrating a plastic casing, but rather just reflecting light!

to achieve a tinted civic headlight (angel eyes, ek1 96-98 model) effect i just opened it up, sprayed the inside gloss black, then a few more coats of clear and closed it back up and it was fine

problem was i used paint remover on my plastic lens (to remove the tint! dont ask, i was a noob) and that really messed things up! not even resin removed the damage so i had to sand back resin, clear coat and kept saying vigioursly on my random orbital then after 30min of sanding of 60, 180, 360, 600, 1200 ,1500, 2000 grit + plast X finally got a good finish!

[Eddie6th]

If you use smoked tail lights and the cops don't bother that's fine.If you're worried about others seeing you brake, use led stop tail lights.they are ultra bright.they last a long time aswell.

[roushstage2]

I actually just used VHT Nite Shades on the Neon taillights. Looks pretty dang slick IMO. Technically, I'm still in compliance with the "law" as far as what a tail light must look like and lighting etc., only time will tell what they think of it.

[Underdawg736]

i think a trip to the cop shop is in order so that way i wont get him in trouble in michigan. then when he gets to his new unit, i hope it will be legal in that state, too!!!

That would be you're best bet! The laws differ from state to state so when your son finds out where he'll be stationed at it would be a good idea to find out what the law is there too........ESPECIALLY on post, MP's like to get you for the smallest infractions :monkeys

Tell your son thank you for his service! :patriot