DIY - All Red Taillights

[Jand3rson]

No way. Way too much work to do that again, at least not for free. Besides, not in the winter, it's way too cold for paint and clear to dry properly.

[Mastrcruse]

Can I send you mine and the paint?

[Jand3rson]

I'm surprised I never saw this thread until now. Here's mine, they fucking rock:







Two coats of Testor's Transparent Candy Apple Red on just the turn signal lense, followed by 4-5 coats of automotive-grade clearcoat over the entire lens surface. Wetsanded with 1200 grit until perfectly smooth, then polished with Meguiar's Diamond Cut cutting compound.

One full summer in the books, and not a single hint of fading, oxidation or discoloring whatsoever. I've been told by several people that they're one of the best DIY reds they've seen, and Luke was amazed by how white the backup lenses are. :D

[StereoInstaller1]

How's that? What do you mean?

I do not like the brake/turn/running light setup on our cars. I want 3 1157's per side, until I do a full LED setup. I am going to use relays and diodes to control the brakes/turns, but using all 3 1157's on each side. New sockets in stock housings will help reliability, too.

Basically, 3 segments that are all the same per side. Just like an older domestic. 3 running lights AND 3 brake/turn lights will be teh secks.

Bright, too.

Just might do a neon tube at the top on the rear window as a 3rd brake light too...I dunno.

I need the space at the top of the windshield to put my pre-amp, so the DIC needs to go somewhere else. I was thinking I just might keep the indicators I care about (oil level, coolant level mostly) but just put LEDs in the dash, seperately. I dunno again.

p.s. I also went ahead and replaced the taillight gaskets... I think I solved the wet trunk. You should have seen those 20 year old gaskets!!

I bet mine were just as bad...that is how the whole "refinish" thing got started. Water in trunk, trails down the inside.

Then my buddy Joe buffed the damn thing. Now I am repainting my valence and spoiler, re-painting all the trim and a full shadowline, now that my car is actually gloss black.

Luke

[ldsbeaker]

How many coats did you use? They look like they match pretty well

2 coats candy apple red
2 coats clear

Admittedly, I did get a little trigger happy with the second clear coat, and I have a little bit of a run on one of them, but srsly, you have to be close (6") to see it. Driving/walking by, you would never notice.

Now for the re-design of the brake/turn circuitry with 3 bulbs on each side. 1157's FTW!

How's that? What do you mean?

p.s. I also went ahead and replaced the taillight gaskets... I think I solved the wet trunk. You should have seen those 20 year old gaskets!!

[StereoInstaller1]

I did the backup lights too. Now for the re-design of the brake/turn circuitry with 3 bulbs on each side. 1157's FTW!

Luke

[backtrail69]

I think I am going to have to do this with my eta.

[Mastrcruse]

How many coats did you use? They look like they match pretty well

[ldsbeaker]

Here's mine. Yes, my car is filthy.




Easy, I really like it.

[Jand3rson]

Forget paint when Red MHW's can be had. Look much cleaner IMHO--They'll be up for sale soon.

Werd, and then the corners of your taillights can be pink.

[eibowow]

I had my doubts of red tails on a red car, but it looks amazing. I'll admit that it looks best on white or black cars though.

do you have pics? I wanna see what it looks like on my red car.

[MLADEN]

testor paint, few months on there and was holding on fine, didnt use any clear at all.

[Bimmer4Ever]

my friend did it on his m3 but the paint cracked really bad after 2 months. he did tell me he threw on quite a few layers of paint and clearcoat. would this be the reasons?

[heiman5]

i did it too using the bimmer diy write up!!! very nice results!

pix:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=577387

[delatlanta1281]

Forget paint when Red MHW's can be had. Look much cleaner IMHO--They'll be up for sale soon.

If you sell me them for 15 bucks, it would be worth it... oh wait they won't fit.