blacked out taillights

eddieconfetti · 02-02-2011, 04:43 PM

Me too. be glad to go to your shop for free. plus a dollar for tip. and you are not that far from me.

SPOHN · 02-02-2011, 07:13 PM

I can do better. I'll buy you lunch.

JaredGraves · 02-02-2011, 10:06 PM

Just my opinion....but doing this yourself is suuuuuper easy, I had never done anything like this before but was amazed how simple it was.

I followed the DIY here DIY: of complete FOG LAMP install
Yeah its for a fog light install, but shows how to remove the tail lights.

Anyways, heres what I did in super easy steps if it helps.

1 - 1200 wet sand prep, clean with isopropyl alcohol after.
2 - 2 EVEN coats VHT nite shades, 1 hour apart (dont overdo it!)
3 - left it to dry over night
4 - 1200 wet sand, clean with isopropyl alcohol
5 - a very thin 3rd coat of nite shades
6 - left a further 12 hours to dry
7 - very thorough and careful 1500 wet sand, clean with isopropyl alcohol
8 - thorough rub down (use a fair bit of pressure) with Meguires Ultimate Compound and a microfiber cloth to get the mirror finish.
9 - reinstall tails and your done!

I kept my coats light as I didnt want the full black look and wanted to keep it legal (here in Australia the lights need to be visible from 200m away (approx 600ft) but they are plenty dark still.

I guarantee it couldnt have been done any better by a shop, mine came out mirror perfect, it just needs some patience! Give yourself a weekend to get it done properly.

side note, and again its my opinion, but dont do the entire tail, leave the clear section as it is, to me if the whole thing is black it looks tacky/too much.
Its also very satisfying to do it yourself and see how good the outcome is when you put some love into it. and safe yourself $$ too!

SPOHN · 02-02-2011, 10:17 PM

I'd love to. But I'm just paying for a peace of mind. I'll remove the tail lights and my door handles myself and take it to them. Cutting some cost there. I was so close to doing my headlights myself but bailed and sent them off. I was going to have to take them to a painter to have them color matched anyways. So I opted for the one stop shop.

eddieconfetti · 02-03-2011, 08:26 AM

I dont mind installing performance parts myself, but stuff like this....i rather have someone else do it for me. Haha spohn, we can go together. You bring the lunch and ill bring the beer.

Bluebatmobile · 02-03-2011, 10:08 AM

My Authorized Installers have installed many of my 370z Overlays

.

Bat

SPOHN · 02-03-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddieconfetti

I dont mind installing performance parts myself, but stuff like this....i rather have someone else do it for me. Haha spohn, we can go together. You bring the lunch and ill bring the beer.

Now your talking.

Mike · 02-03-2011, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaredGraves

Just my opinion....but doing this yourself is suuuuuper easy, I had never done anything like this before but was amazed how simple it was.

I followed the DIY here DIY: of complete FOG LAMP install
Yeah its for a fog light install, but shows how to remove the tail lights.

Anyways, heres what I did in super easy steps if it helps.

1 - 1200 wet sand prep, clean with isopropyl alcohol after.
2 - 2 EVEN coats VHT nite shades, 1 hour apart (dont overdo it!)
3 - left it to dry over night
4 - 1200 wet sand, clean with isopropyl alcohol
5 - a very thin 3rd coat of nite shades
6 - left a further 12 hours to dry
7 - very thorough and careful 1500 wet sand, clean with isopropyl alcohol
8 - thorough rub down (use a fair bit of pressure) with Meguires Ultimate Compound and a microfiber cloth to get the mirror finish.
9 - reinstall tails and your done!

I kept my coats light as I didnt want the full black look and wanted to keep it legal (here in Australia the lights need to be visible from 200m away (approx 600ft) but they are plenty dark still.

I guarantee it couldnt have been done any better by a shop, mine came out mirror perfect, it just needs some patience! Give yourself a weekend to get it done properly.

side note, and again its my opinion, but dont do the entire tail, leave the clear section as it is, to me if the whole thing is black it looks tacky/too much.
Its also very satisfying to do it yourself and see how good the outcome is when you put some love into it. and safe yourself $$ too!

I commend you for doing a great job, but I can make more powdercoating in the time it would have taken me to do them myself. Same reason I don't cut my own grass or do anything around the house any more. Its cheaper to pay someone and earn twice as much while they are doing the job.

JaredGraves · 02-04-2011, 05:09 PM

Yeah fair enough, but keep in mind that I might have done mine over a weekend, but It didnt take much time to do it....45 mins total time taking the tails out and putting them back in when done, maybe 30-40 minutes total sanding time, 10 minutes with the compound, 10 minutes taping up the clear section, and 5 minutes actual spraying time, add another random 20 minutes for general fluffing about and I really spent no more than 2 hours on them, apart from that I was taking care of other things.

I can certainly see your side though, and the side of anyone who wants to get them professionally done, but I love doing stuff like this myself, and I know many others do too! Many people dont work weekends, and I find stuff like this a great weekend activity!

I guess what im trying to say then is. If anyone enjoys a bit of DIY, and has any form of painting experience, then I think this is right up their alley!

Baer383 · 02-04-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

I can do better. I'll buy you lunch.

And on top of that,they sprayed them for free and they came out slick,no wet sanding of buffing required.

SPOHN · 02-04-2011, 08:33 PM

I guess we all have are little hook ups here and there.

onefastz · 02-05-2011, 07:11 AM

There are a shops out there that will do it for under $200. I got mine done and was priced at $150, and they threw in the 3rd brake light for free. It looks good if you get your emblems sprayed black to match it too

NewYorkJon34 · 02-05-2011, 08:41 AM

SPOHN · 02-05-2011, 08:50 AM

The third brake light is a must.

CATCHINZZZS · 02-05-2011, 08:54 AM

Just picked up mine from my painter lastnight looks sick. Got a good as deal. If any one interested shoot me a pm. Ill get some done if you pay for shipping..
Will try and get pics havin trouble postin..

02-02-2011, 07:13 PM	#17 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	I can do better. I'll buy you lunch. __________________

02-02-2011, 10:17 PM	#19 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	I'd love to. But I'm just paying for a peace of mind. I'll remove the tail lights and my door handles myself and take it to them. Cutting some cost there. I was so close to doing my headlights myself but bailed and sent them off. I was going to have to take them to a painter to have them color matched anyways. So I opted for the one stop shop. __________________

02-03-2011, 10:08 AM	#21 (permalink)
Bluebatmobile The370Z.com Vendor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 934 Drives: 1997 Acura NSX Rep Power: 17	My Authorized Installers have installed many of my 370z Overlays . Bat __________________ email: bluebatmobile@san.rr.com custom vinyl overlays: WWW.BLUEBATOVERLAYS.COM facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluebatoverlays/ @bluebatoverlays on IG

02-04-2011, 08:33 PM	#26 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	I guess we all have are little hook ups here and there. __________________

02-05-2011, 08:50 AM	#29 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 45 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	The third brake light is a must. cameronduncan likes this. __________________

02-02-2011, 04:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
eddieconfetti A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,334 Drives: A Totaled PW Z Rep Power: 22	Me too. be glad to go to your shop for free. plus a dollar for tip. and you are not that far from me.

02-03-2011, 08:26 AM	#20 (permalink)
eddieconfetti A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,334 Drives: A Totaled PW Z Rep Power: 22	I dont mind installing performance parts myself, but stuff like this....i rather have someone else do it for me. Haha spohn, we can go together. You bring the lunch and ill bring the beer.

02-04-2011, 05:09 PM	#24 (permalink)
JaredGraves Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Posts: 16 Drives: 10 370z white M6 Rep Power: 14	Yeah fair enough, but keep in mind that I might have done mine over a weekend, but It didnt take much time to do it....45 mins total time taking the tails out and putting them back in when done, maybe 30-40 minutes total sanding time, 10 minutes with the compound, 10 minutes taping up the clear section, and 5 minutes actual spraying time, add another random 20 minutes for general fluffing about and I really spent no more than 2 hours on them, apart from that I was taking care of other things. I can certainly see your side though, and the side of anyone who wants to get them professionally done, but I love doing stuff like this myself, and I know many others do too! Many people dont work weekends, and I find stuff like this a great weekend activity! I guess what im trying to say then is. If anyone enjoys a bit of DIY, and has any form of painting experience, then I think this is right up their alley!

02-05-2011, 07:11 AM	#27 (permalink)
onefastz Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chattanooga Posts: 187 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z MB Rep Power: 15	There are a shops out there that will do it for under $200. I got mine done and was priced at $150, and they threw in the 3rd brake light for free. It looks good if you get your emblems sprayed black to match it too

02-05-2011, 08:41 AM	#28 (permalink)
NewYorkJon34 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 3,041 Drives: 09 Fairlady Z Rep Power: 1064

02-05-2011, 08:54 AM	#30 (permalink)
CATCHINZZZS Base Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 221 Drives: 2010 370Z Rep Power: 14	Just picked up mine from my painter lastnight looks sick. Got a good as deal. If any one interested shoot me a pm. Ill get some done if you pay for shipping.. Will try and get pics havin trouble postin..

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS: Stock set of 370z taillights	Marco_xyz	Parts for sale (Private Classifieds)	23	03-14-2011 06:22 PM
JDM taillights?	hitbyadampayi	Exterior & Interior	2	07-04-2010 03:28 AM
BAD taillights....	simota1	Exterior & Interior	17	08-01-2009 12:32 PM
JDM Taillights?	rench	Exterior & Interior	2	06-18-2009 05:25 PM
Optional JDM Clear taillights	MC	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	11	12-01-2008 09:52 PM