For those thinking about blacking out your taillights...

[AK Maniak]

I'd black them out if i were you, or atleast smoke them pretty dark

 

[LandoAWD]

Here's to hoping this trend dies!

TSimage, have you considered painting the middle section?

 

[bsbllfit7]

whats wrong with the blacked out/smoked look?

 

[rimmbrme]

I like it, but then again. Cops here in VA are freagin a$$holes, just another reason for them to pull me over.

 

[LandoAWD]

whats wrong with the blacked out/smoked look?

I tried it, I didn't like it, I went back to stock with a painted center to break up the back a bit.

If you want to do it, by all means go for it, just note that it's as unique as a Bic pen, it's illegal, and that we won't feel bad for you when you put up your "I got pulled" thread.

 

[Whitelightnin01]

I'm thinking about doing this to my talon, I don't know if I'll go as dark as some of you though. Looks badass though.

 

[jrdrew5]

I wouldn't do this to my eclipse but seems everyone lights doing it on the talons , I do however have clear carbon lights.



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[Tanro]

It depends on your state. I can and have done it here. Never got pulled over for it. It looks about 1000x better than altezzas.

 

[RicciDSM]

To each their own I guess. Personally I LOVE the look. It all started when I got my first car back in 06, it was a 1995 Camaro and came with the GTS blackout covers. Ever since that ive been doing my taillights black on every car ive owned haha

I dont have pics of the 95 Camaro, but I do have pics of 2 of my other cars I used to own. A 1992 Camaro Z28 and 1999 Eclipse GS.

My 92 z28:

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My 99 GS:

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I was going to do it to my mustang, but that got totaled before I had the chance... Now im onto the TSi.

As for state laws, im not quite sure about other states. Youd have to look that up online.

Also, I never tried using sandpaper to scuff the lenses up, I always used that red scuff pad. I dont see why sandpaper wouldnt work. Id say wetsand w/ like 600grit, that should do the trick but again, im not 100% on that...

 

[LandoAWD]

To each their own I guess. Personally I LOVE the look. It all started when I got my first car back in 06, it was a 1995 Camaro and came with the GTS blackout covers.

Agreed that it is a personal choice. I had GTS covers on the Mudstain back in the 90s. I f'in loved them.

As for state laws, im not quite sure about other states. Youd have to look that up online.

This. It's a visibility vs feet from the car statute in most cases.

 

[bsbllfit7]

how easy is it to remove this stuff with paint thinner. I went a little heavy haha and im wanting to start from scratch again.

 

[TSITurbo95]

very clean, ever been pulled over with that dark of tails?

Nope *knocks on wood*. You can still see my tail lights, its just a little harder when the suns glaring into your eyes , but other than that, you can still see the lights.

 

[bsbllfit7]

this might be a really dumb question but are there different types of clear coat spray. The reason i ask is that i did 3 coats of clear after the night shades and the outcome is very dull. No shine to it. Do i have a crappy clear spray and should get another one?

 

[ramsack]

It isn't really illegal. As long as you are not preventing reflectors from reflecting back light, it is legal. You would be amazed how far you can shine a laser pointer and if you hit a road sign with retroreflective material, it will be bright as shit, even if you can't see the dot hit other things around that sign. The same goes for reflectors. You may not be able to see them just looking at them (which is NOT illegal), but unless you paint them with opaque paint, they are still going to work fine. The cars with the white tail lights that are coming out don't really have reflectors in them, anyway, and if they do, you can't just spot them, and they aren't RED. People getting tickets and having to pay for them should dig deep into the laws for a loophole, and present that if you choose to fight the ticket. The more people getting tickets and not fighting it make it more worthwhile for the system to hand out tickets for this. They will stop bothering if people fight and win because it isn't profitable for them anymore. They don't really enforce the law for public safety, it's their job, and a job is about making the people above you the real money.

 

[Blurred Talon]

It isn't really illegal. As long as you are not preventing reflectors from reflecting back light, it is legal. You would be amazed how far you can shine a laser pointer and if you hit a road sign with retroreflective material, it will be bright as shit, even if you can't see the dot hit other things around that sign. The same goes for reflectors. You may not be able to see them just looking at them (which is NOT illegal), but unless you paint them with opaque paint, they are still going to work fine. The cars with the white tail lights that are coming out don't really have reflectors in them, anyway, and if they do, you can't just spot them, and they aren't RED. People getting tickets and having to pay for them should dig deep into the laws for a loophole, and present that if you choose to fight the ticket. The more people getting tickets and not fighting it make it more worthwhile for the system to hand out tickets for this. They will stop bothering if people fight and win because it isn't profitable for them anymore. They don't really enforce the law for public safety, it's their job, and a job is about making the people above you the real money.

I'm pretty sure modifying your tails lights in any way is against DOT regulations and thus illegal.
Plus many people do it FAR too dark, you need to be able to see your tail lights at a distance.

Yes I have tinted tails but they are not very dark.

 

[ramsack]

Then you get brighter light bulbs. I put Silverstar bulbs for my fog lights in. They draw 10 more watts than is legal. That is modifying. I won't get in trouble for it because I follow the law and only use them when it's foggy and they actually turn off on high beams (which I never understood.) I even asked a police officer that came into work about the law involving the high beams and fogs and he said it is so worthless that it is more trouble to enforce it. You just have to not be stupid and you can modify things however you want. It is a federal law that you cannot remove a catalytic converter from your car, but if you are in a state with emissions testing, but you can be exempt because of mileage, or tonnage, they can't fail you for making this "illegal" mod. I guarantee you the cops don't look for the reflectors. They just see the people who totally black their lights out without raising bulb brightness, and see the lack of light shining through.

 

[Blurred Talon]

Then you get brighter light bulbs. I put Silverstar bulbs for my fog lights in. They draw 10 more watts than is legal. That is modifying. I won't get in trouble for it because I follow the law and only use them when it's foggy and they actually turn off on high beams (which I never understood.) I even asked a police officer that came into work about the law involving the high beams and fogs and he said it is so worthless that it is more trouble to enforce it. You just have to not be stupid and you can modify things however you want. It is a federal law that you cannot remove a catalytic converter from your car, but if you are in a state with emissions testing, but you can be exempt because of mileage, or tonnage, they can't fail you for making this "illegal" mod. I guarantee you the cops don't look for the reflectors. They just see the people who totally black their lights out without raising bulb brightness, and see the lack of light shining through.

They only correct way to run brighter tail lights is with a full LED conversion and I'm not talking about those crappy plug-n-play LED bulbs either. I'm talking like what azdave did with the tails on his own car.

I'm not really arguing the legality of the mod but rather the safety.

 

[LandoAWD]

Nearly tagged a Cobalt on the highway during a brisk drive thanks to this. I was about to change lanes and just barely noticed a faint glow in the next lane. When I got close enough, you could see the unevenness of whatever he used...likely the spray paint left over from his stick wheels.

Edit: Pwnt by post. C-c-c-ombo breaker.

 

[ramsack]

LEDs are the future. I can't understand their advertising that them turning on a few ten milliseconds faster causes the driver to react faster. The driver's reaction time is still way slower compared to the LED response time. But at least they will outlast the life of the car and use less electricity.

 

[LandoAWD]

I can't understand their advertising

Read and re-read until you get it. Gimmicks.

 

[ramsack]

Read and re-read until you get it. Gimmicks.

Haha yes, advertising is for masses who are mostly idiots and are suckers. People are so scared of EVERYTHING these days if they advertise something as safer it will sell better.

 

[bsbllfit7]

here is a new image from round 2 of doing the tint, i finally got the right clear coat. this one is a high gloss clear.

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still need to buff and polish them!

 

[97 GSX 97]

Have fun getting pulled over.

 

[Blurred Talon]

here is a new image from round 2 of doing the tint, i finally got the right clear coat. this one is a high gloss clear.


still need to buff and polish them!

Much better, similar to mine.
Here's pictures of mine.

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Here's them at night, just running lights.

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[RicciDSM]

Lol so how ironic is this...I got pulled over tonight. The cop was extremely cool about everything, but he said "I couldnt see my taillights at all, I thought they werent even on". Where my taillights are EASILY visible during the night, and pretty visible in daylight. Even my buddy who was driving behind me said he could see them perfectly and when I hit my brakes they lit up like they werent even tinted.

Long story short, the cop was cool and let me go. All he said was you should try and get that fixed. I agree though, my taillights on the talon are VERY dark. I kinda overdid it. 4 coats of Black, and 3 coats of Clear, pretty overkill if you ask me but I love the look.

The best bet for whoever does this to their car would be to get some LEDs. Ill have to get some pics of my car how it is now, I have all stock bulbs except for my license plate lights. Theyre LEDs that basically look like spotlights on my license plate...which if you think about it isnt the best idea . Looks good IMO.

Just thought id let everyone know what went down tonight! Be safe out there everyone!