"True" black tail light mod

Detective_Dan · Oct 28, 2011

I got these off XRU, I'm not taking credit as this is not my work. Just sharing info. Enjoy

Thanks to vince77 and dmbfan73

2005-2008

Vince77 said: ↑

What you'll need.
-Dremel or rotory tool of somekind, with cut off wheel, regular or diamond disk will work, and sanding drum.
-Knife or flat head screw driver.
-Painters tape.
-Xacto or somekind of small sharp knife
-Plastic fusion black paint. Whatever finish you choose.
-Somekind of plastic glue, Edit: Use some type of two part epoxy. Super glue fumes bring out any little finger print that might be left inside lens.
-Silicone.

First you start by cutting along the groove between the clear lens and the black backing of the tail light. Careful to stay in the groove as much as you can. And move slowly, the regular cheap cutting wheels will shatter easily, but cut a little easier also.

You only need to cut as deep as the black line you can see on the face of the tail lens.

Once you have cut all the way around the lens, you'll have to use a knife or flat head screw driver to pop the lens the rest of the way off. Some of the plastic will stick back together. Do a little bit at a time so you do not crack the lens.

With lens off.

Now you need to sand and smooth down the edges where the lens and tail light will come back together.

Next tape of the areas you don't want to paint. Use the xacto knife to make your clean edges. We taped off the one side reflector but painted over the rear facing one.

Next, clean and paint the tail light. Let dry and remove tape.

Make sure to clean both the inside of the lens, and tail light before putting them back together.

You can either tape them or have someone hold the lens onto the tail while gluing them back together.

Once lens is glued back on, run a small bead of silicone along the seam of the tail light and lens. Run your finger along the seam to push it in some, and clean up any extra.

After the silicone has dried, tape off all but about a 1/4" of the edge of the lens. You'll need to paint a small portion of the edge to hide where the seam was cut.

Let paint dry, remove the tape and your done.

Click to expand...

2009-2012

Same process, different results

dmbfan73 said: ↑

what better way to spend memorial day...kevin and i cut up my led tails and blacked them out.

Click to expand...

T@co_Pr3runn3r · Oct 28, 2011

I think I may give that a try on my 08 oems.............

paintdiddy · Oct 28, 2011

Looks great

TnRedNeck721 · Oct 28, 2011

nice! BTLM? looks like it. yeah i just kinda made that up.

Detective_Dan · Oct 28, 2011

TACO721 said: ↑

nice! BTLM? looks like it. yeah i just kinda made that up.
Click to expand...

Nah that's wat they call it in the underground

Pugga · Oct 28, 2011

How'd he glue them back together, JB weld? I want to try to get the fog lights apart but am nervous about them sealing up again. I'm guessing I could use this process on them.

Detective_Dan · Oct 28, 2011

Pugga said: ↑

How'd he glue them back together, JB weld? I want to try to get the fog lights apart but am nervous about them sealing up again. I'm guessing I could use this process on them.
Click to expand...

A good 2part epoxy to make them stick together again and silicone to seal them

2012 · Oct 29, 2011

could you put the tail light in the oven the way you do the BHLM? or is the oven too hot for the plastic?

rcfreak201 · Oct 29, 2011

holy crap! want!

Detective_Dan · Oct 29, 2011

2012 said: ↑

could you put the tail light in the oven the way you do the BHLM? or is the oven too hot for the plastic?
Click to expand...

NO!

the oven will melt the taillights. people on XRU have tried and it just destroys them.

+, the taillights are not held together with a silicone like the headlights are. the taillights are held together by the plastic being melted together

Fiolo · Oct 30, 2011

that looks awesome

HomerTaco · Oct 30, 2011

I know someone who melts plastic...

2012 · Oct 30, 2011

That's kind of what I had figured but I thought I should check with you guys. It would have been nice to sit in the kitchen and take all my lights apart.

rhewins13 · Nov 30, 2011

I think that i have to try this out

Drunknsloth · Nov 30, 2011

For the LED tail lights, did you have to mask off each individual LED?

Detective_Dan · Nov 30, 2011

Drunknsloth said: ↑

For the LED tail lights, did you have to mask off each individual LED?
Click to expand...

i have no idea. im assuming the LED's all come out in a cluster instead of them all being seperate

I Liquid I · Nov 30, 2011

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news but, this is a repost and it is not a viable option.

The only reason the finished product looks like that is because he used the outer plastic from an aftermarket light. The outer plastic from our taillights is what is tinted pink. So if you do this, it would still have a pink tint to it, just that it would look blackish underneath.

The person who posted that DYI said it himself that it is not worth it.

As for 09+ LED Tails, it might work there, since the outer cover is in fact clear.

I will look for the post, as I remember posting in that thread.

Detective_Dan · Nov 30, 2011

I Liquid I said: ↑

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news but, this is a repost and it is not a viable option.

The only reason the finished product looks like that is because he used the outer plastic from an aftermarket light. The outer plastic from our taillights is what is tinted pink. So if you do this, it would still have a pink tint to it, just that it would look blackish underneath.

The person who posted that DYI said it himself that it is not worth it.

As for 09+ LED Tails, it might work there, since the outer cover is in fact clear.

I will look for the post, as I remember posting in that thread.
Click to expand...

you can also VERY EASILY buff the pink tint off the inside of the stock lens, or just put up with it because its not that bad. i have seen them with the "pink" still in it and its not noticable unless you are looking for it

I Liquid I · Nov 30, 2011

Detective_Dan[OP] said: ↑

you can also VERY EASILY buff the pink tint off the inside of the stock lens, or just put up with it because its not that bad. i have seen them with the "pink" still in it and its not noticable unless you are looking for it
Click to expand...

That does change things. I actually wanted to do this when the other guy posted it. I cannot find my post or that thread, but whatever... I honestly had not thought about buffing the lens... I do not think he did either. Good call!

Spoonman · Nov 30, 2011

wtf is up with the wing..

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