Red taillights

[nickmp0wer]

I have searched and seen plenty of posts where people painted the amber part on their taillights red. I havent seen any posts about how and if they stay looking good though. Do they fade and look like shit after a while?

[royalflush313]

I used painted taillights for a little over a year, and they stayed looking great. I've switched to some smoked taillights though, so I couldn't tell you about the paint holding for more than that.

If you do a shitty job painting, or only use transparent red spray, I'm sure it wouldn't last - not to mention looking decent.

What I did was do a good clean-up job, light sanding, then spray few coats of the red paint until I was satisfied with the match. I then did another quick sand job, then sprayed clearcoat on the entire taillight.

[formula driver]

I have searched and seen plenty of posts where people painted the amber part on their taillights red. I havent seen any posts about how and if they stay looking good though. Do they fade and look like shit after a while?

I dont mean to be a dick but dude you have over 1000 post's and your not familiar with the DIY red tail fad? Whatever.... Hobbie stores sell a transluescent candy apple red paint that more or less matches up perfectly. They look great (my opinion) and they hold up pretty good. you could clear coat them and they will hold up for a good while. Mine a workin on there second year of use.

[Jand3rson]

[nickmp0wer]

I know about the diy and already have the paint, i just want to see how good they look over time

[DarkWing6]

ever think about asking in that thread instead of creating a new one?

[straight6pwr]

I know about the diy and already have the paint, i just want to see how good they look over time

2 years and they are the same as when i did them.

[Digitalwave]

Mine only last about 6 months tops before they start oxidizing. I wish I had never done it in the first place but I have to keep repainting them now so they don't look shitty.

This is what they look like when they fade:


And this is after stripping and repainting:

[royalflush313]

^^^
If you throw on some good clear coat over the entire taillight, not only will it last much much longer, it will get rid the paint line, and also give the taillight a nice new-like shine.

[Digitalwave]

^^^
If you throw on some good clear coat over the entire taillight, not only will it last much much longer, it will get rid the paint line, and also give the taillight a nice new-like shine.

Yeah, and then that clear coat will all oxidize eventually so the entire tail looks shitty.

That is, unless you have a shop spray automotive clear over it.

[royalflush313]

Yeah, and then that clear coat will all oxidize eventually so the entire tail looks shitty.

That is, unless you have a shop spray automotive clear over it.

I sprayed PPG clear coat that my dad uses for his model airplanes with a gun, and looks as good now as it did when I first sprayed it.

[nickmp0wer]

Ive got some wurth wheel clear, wonder how that would work

[royalflush313]

Ive got some wurth wheel clear, wonder how that would work

you could always take the taillights to a bodyshop, and I'm sure they can do it for pretty cheap.
My friend got his VW taillights done at a shop for a 6-pack of beer, and they looked better than mine.

[Jand3rson]

Yeah, and then that clear coat will all oxidize eventually so the entire tail looks shitty.

That is, unless you have a shop spray automotive clear over it.

I'm taking mine that I just did to a body shop that my friend's dad owns. He's doing it for me for $20.