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View Full Version : OEM tail lights tinted in a Body Shop



Jehu
08-15-2006, 07:45 PM
Anyone know how these smoked tails which were done in a body shop will differ from those which come smoked from Hella?Just wondering if the coating is known to fade if the Hellas might be formed with the tinting in the plastic and not added as a coating.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220017284650&indexURL=1&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

MTechnik540i
08-15-2006, 07:56 PM
Anyone know how these smoked tails which were done in a body shop will differ from those which come smoked from Hella?Just wondering if the coating is known to fade if the Hellas might be formed with the tinting in the plastic and not added as a coating.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220017284650&indexURL=1&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

Meh. I would have tinted the Clear Hellas instead of the ambers. Never liked the look of tinted amber tails in the sun.

Jehu
08-15-2006, 08:13 PM
I've never seen them but i'd like to keep the amber with my Oxford Grreen . The clears to me look good with black or white . I'm just wondering if what they use to tint it is prone to fadeing.

Alexlind123
08-15-2006, 08:34 PM
I've never seen them but i'd like to keep the amber with my Oxford Grreen . The clears to me look good with black or white . I'm just wondering if what they use to tint it is prone to fadeing.

Smoked looks great with green, imho.

Yiorgos
08-16-2006, 12:18 AM
I've got clears on my Oxford Green. I think it's OK, it's all up to personal taste. It would look ultimate on white, black or silver, but Oxford Green is so close to black that I think I can get away with it.

It didn't look quite right with just clears, so I got a rear trunk reflector from a 540i and stuck it on, looks pretty good. I'll change my number plates to black colour (you can do this in Victoria, Australia) and I think it would look pretty good.

pic (without reflector) (http://acherion.com/blog/wp-content/IMG_0390.jpg)

ILoveMPower
08-16-2006, 01:45 AM
Don't waste your money on those... they are just old stockers that were painted with some rc car window tint and cleared. If you're gonna get smoked tails, at least smoke the euro clears instead of U.S. OE gayness

dbals
08-16-2006, 07:41 AM
Don't waste your money on those... they are just old stockers that were painted with some rc car window tint and cleared. If you're gonna get smoked tails, at least smoke the euro clears instead of U.S. OE gayness

I agree. You can do this yourself for about $10 in RC window tint spray. And yes it will fade. Did mine last year and it only lasted about 10 months. If your really going to spray thes buy the euro version with the white on top then spray them and clear them at a body shop. IMHO these look even better than the tinted hellas.

jbraswell
08-16-2006, 04:18 PM
My buddy is a painter and he mixed up a tint for my tails. We just used 3M speed clear, dodge PX8 and reduced it.. They arent too dark but the finish is great, Im really happy with the way it came out for $20

hakwuzhere
08-16-2006, 05:56 PM
The Hellas dont fade, and as I understand it there are clear lenses over tinted reflectors, that is why they are US DOT legal.

http://www.veeshanvault.org/gallery/albums/album38/Painted_resized7_28005_001.jpg

saj3n
08-16-2006, 06:04 PM
Theres a link for a site, http://www.jonstintedtails.com You can send them your tail lights, corners, whatever and they will paint with their 2 stage process. Tails $95. So if you can find yourself a pair of clear hellas, you can ship to them, 3 days, and they get them back to you. I'm looking into purchasing another set of clears and smoking those, to see how they look.

MTechnik540i
08-16-2006, 08:19 PM
Theres a link for a site, http://www.jonstintedtails.com You can send them your tail lights, corners, whatever and they will paint with their 2 stage process. Tails $95. So if you can find yourself a pair of clear hellas, you can ship to them, 3 days, and they get them back to you. I'm looking into purchasing another set of clears and smoking those, to see how they look.

I can vouch for Jon's EXCELLENT work.

Had a set of Hella European tails done, but just the corners...

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/bmwm3n528/540i%20M%20Sport/Tinted%20taillights/Sharkfest068.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/bmwm3n528/540i%20M%20Sport/Tinted%20taillights/BMW540imsporttails5.jpg

$20/side

SC David
08-16-2006, 08:46 PM
^ God, that car is so sexy. I like what you did with the tails.

MTechnik540i
08-16-2006, 08:54 PM
^ God, that car is so sexy. I like what you did with the tails.

Appreciate the compliment.

Always liked the look of Normal red with the smoked contrast...

http://www.mercedes-shop.biz/images/Eisenmann-R230-AMG-SL55-4-rohr-oval.jpg

Gayle
08-16-2006, 09:24 PM
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/bmwm3n528/540i%20M%20Sport/Tinted%20taillights/Sharkfest068.jpg



That is the most tasteful bad ass look I have ever seen!

I think you should dress like Johnny Cash to drive it.


.

saj3n
08-16-2006, 10:19 PM
i concur