[confusion]

This may not float your boat, but I'm happy to be rid of those damn chrome taillights. A little too rice for my taste so I bought 2 cans of the VHT Nightshades tinting paint, it's always good to have a spare. The first time I tinted the entire lens, it looked like 2 big black triangles on the car, or I prefer to say "it looked like ass". Cleaned it all off with enamel reducer and broke out the fine line tape, gave it a better look and settled on just hiding the chrome with a little peaking out around the inside edge. The spray tint comes out and dries shiny so theres no need to clear coat, total film build is around 1 mil. which is about the thickness of a plastic wrapper or 1/1000's of an inch.
What do you think? 8)
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=3/7215543950.jpg&s=x11
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=3/7215512360.jpg&s=x11

 

[swoop1156]

Damnit...you beat me to my next idea. Time to think of something else.

Looks GREAT!

 

[Cross Bolt]

Good job! It really looks better. It's interesting that we all see it on the lot and we really don't care for it. Thats what pushed me to the Milan.

 

[swoop1156]

I demand daytime pictures!! :shock: 8)

 

[confusion]

[quote author=swoop1156 link=topic=42137.msg618444#msg618444 date=1142393422]
I demand daytime pictures!! :shock: 8)
[/quote]

You got it Swoop, as soon as I get home today from work I'll snap a couple. You'll just have to excuse the dirty car, everything around here is covered with pollen.

 

[bartman1]

Q

Looks good - very, very good. Great idea!

 

[Cudos]

Pics look pretty good, hows it look in person up close though? does it look like it was painted.

 

[confusion]

Here are some pics outside in the light. With sunlight on them they look like a regular taillight lens without the chrome, the smoke tint still allows a little of the chrome to show through as a deep purple. It may be picking up some of the body color in the reflection. In a nut shell, I'm pleased with the appearance and the look, it doesn't look painted just tinted.
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=3/7316023881.jpg&s=x11
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=3/7316005953.jpg&s=x11

 

[Showtime]

So you just taped it off and sprayed? That looks good on that color. I'm not sure how it would look on my car. (Tungsten) I just picked up a window tint dealership so I'll have a bunch of that laying around shortly. I might try doing that with some actual tint so it's not permanant.

BTW, I like those exhaust tips.

 

[swoop1156]

Thanks for the daytime pics. Looks great!

 

[confusion]

[quote author=Showtime link=topic=42137.msg619732#msg619732 date=1142461959]
So you just taped it off and sprayed? That looks good on that color. I'm not sure how it would look on my car. (Tungsten) I just picked up a window tint dealership so I'll have a bunch of that laying around shortly. I might try doing that with some actual tint so it's not permanant.

BTW, I like those exhaust tips.
[/quote]

Showtime, don't worry about the spray on tint being permanent. Like I previously wrote my first go around I coated the entire lens and it was on for 2 days before I washed it off with enamel reducer and taped them off for this version. I'm not sure what's in this stuff but it doesn't etch into the lens, and don't sand the lens before you spray it either. If someone wanted to get creative a person could use a stencil and imprint a design etc.
If your wondering what it would look like on a Tungsten Fusion pull up the FSwerks web site. It looks real good!!

 

[Blackend]

They would look a lot better if your car was black.

 

[shadowfall1976]

I don't care about the chrome taillights, my car is an SEL and it has the chrome bar over the license plate
so to me it looks fine, the only thing I may do is add a spoiler and tint the windows some. but as far as yours goes
it don't look too bad blacked out, because you have nothing else there chromed.

 

[confusion]

[quote author=shadowfall1976 link=topic=42137.msg620499#msg620499 date=1142524024]
I don't care about the chrome taillights, my car is an SEL and it has the chrome bar over the license plate
so to me it looks fine, the only thing I may do is add a spoiler and tint the windows some. but as far as yours goes
it don't look too bad blacked out, because you have nothing else there chromed.


[/quote]

Just call me Old School, I like the days of the mono chromatic cars, ie: AMG , M3's, Vettes. Not much chrome on those, you didn't need flash to go fast. Besides I'm a little too old for the "Bling" factor, just functional and stylish. But that's just me !

 

[Showtime]

I've always felt that chrome trim cheapens a car. I think of chrome and I picture some hooptie with chrome hub caps, chrome door edge gaurd, and chrome tape along the rockers. I remember back in high school all the dirt bags would buy chrome valve covers for their engines. The car was usually a rusted out Monte Carlo, but it had chrome valve covers! Chrome wheels have some class, but it's got to be on a luxury car. Just like confusion said, the fast cars don't have chrome.

 

[captainhook]

What about opening the housing and actually painting the chrome? I'm sure the Fusion lights are two piece. I have seen this done a lot on Focus and VW headlights...

 

[swoop1156]

THoguht about getting a spare set and seperating them in the oven and painting them the car color, Dark Blue Pearl. Have to get another set, though. :shock:

 

[bartman1]

Ford did something similar in 2003. My '03 100th Anniversary Taurus has the same black treatment around the edge of the tail light assembly, unlike standard Tauri which were all red.

 

[shadowfall1976]

every old Mucsle Car I owned or drove had chrome, and they were fast.
nothing wrong with it, some cars no, it looks out of place, I love chrome done the right way,
and seemingly so do alot of people if people still buy & make cars with it. also there is nothing
wrong with making your car unique, you don't like it so be it take it off or paint it up.
I like the taillights they way they are, but I can see how painting / tinting can make a difference.

 

[TheRussian]

Neat idea, well done :exnbpup: