Tail Light Question.
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flyrr100, no one sells manufactured smoked tail lights for our cars. There is only 1 company that even sells aftermarket tail lights for the X-Type (that I am aware of). Your best bet is to get some stuff at a local hobby store called "Window Tint". It is made for RC cars and comes in a little 4 ounce spray can. It is a translucent paint that is dark and would simulate tinted windows. But, it can be sprayed on to the tail lights to darken them. Some members here have done this to their tail lights.
#4
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Between spraying and tinted film, I'd go for the film first unless you are very confident in your ability to get an even surface with the sprayed tint. Also, I suppose the tinted film could be applied without removing the tail light unit from the car.
I saw a silver (or platinum) S-Type with dark-tinted tail lights, and it actually looked fairly nice...
I saw a silver (or platinum) S-Type with dark-tinted tail lights, and it actually looked fairly nice...
#5
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A good friend of mine has used the spray tint on just about every truck he's owned. They all came out great looking. Light coat for his headlights, and a few coats for his tail/marker lights. Biggest thing - Prep the light. Make sure its clean! Also he used multiple light coats letting them dry. You don't want to create a run/un even look. However if you take your time, they could come out very clean looking. Start light, as you could always go darker until you get what your looking for.
#7
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My car had the spray-on tint on both lights when I bought it. I didn't really think much about it but then I had to replace one of the lights after it cracked.
I tried to spray the new one but I couldn't get the two to look the same. However, I found that for some reason, the clear acrylic spray I had would wipe the tint right off. I even tested it on the old tail light and the tint came off like cleaning dirt off a window.
The spray will give you more control over how dark you want it, whereas the film is just one color. The only concern I would have is the film starting to peel since it's on the outside of the car.
A friend of mine who works in a collision shop for one of the large chain dealers around here made his own tint spray by mixing clear coat with a little black paint. The result looks amazing, and this would be the way to go if I decided to tint mine again.
I tried to spray the new one but I couldn't get the two to look the same. However, I found that for some reason, the clear acrylic spray I had would wipe the tint right off. I even tested it on the old tail light and the tint came off like cleaning dirt off a window.
The spray will give you more control over how dark you want it, whereas the film is just one color. The only concern I would have is the film starting to peel since it's on the outside of the car.
A friend of mine who works in a collision shop for one of the large chain dealers around here made his own tint spray by mixing clear coat with a little black paint. The result looks amazing, and this would be the way to go if I decided to tint mine again.
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