Local Shop to Paint Tail Lights
 

Looks like I will be getting a refund for my tail light tint because it keeps peeling. I would like to get them painted this time because I think it looks better, I don't have to worry about peeling, and I would probably never have removed the vinyl anyway. I would like to find a local shop in MD that can do it for a good price. If possible, doing it with the lights still on the car would be best since the Z is my only car. Adding the cost to take out and put back the lights would make it pointless for me to paint them in the first place. I'd rather just keep my refund and run with bubbled tail light tint than have to pay a few hundred dollars more for painting.

I'm going to check out Wilson's Auto Body nearby, but I always like to get quotes from a few different places and choose whichever works best for me. Also not trying to get it done at a place that's an hour away from me, because that just causes other problems.

Thanks for the help guys :tup:

I wouldnt ask anyone to paint your main tails with them still in the car. Also since they would need proper cure times you wouldnt'shouldnt drive the car anyway.

Third brake light is a pain to pull out and can easily be tinted with vinyl.

(thats how i have mine done)

The guy here can do a set of tails in about 3 day turn around with paint.

I already have the tail lights and brake light tinted with vinyl, which is still on there. I'm getting a $100 refund check from the tint shop I got it from. I work 6 days a week and don't have another car available to drive. At the most, I might be able to get someone to help me take them out and then drop them off at the shop for a day or two. If I can get it done without taking them out, it would be a lot easier for me. I might just leave the 3rd brake light as is for now with the vinyl on it.

It's understandable that you want to keep your car and have the work done fast but if you want a proper and good job they will have to remove the lights from the car to allow proper painting and curing.

I know it sucks and its an inconvenience but you should really try and see if you can bum a ride for 2 - 3 days. Better yet, remove the tails yourself and just take them to the shop to paint instead of leaving the whole car there.

Is there a reason people "smoke" their headlights and taillights? I thought the purpose of those is that they are visible...:shakes head:

I would probably do that if I do get them painted at the shop. Also considering using VHT Niteshade to do it myself. I don't need it to be absolutely perfect, but just don't want huge bubbling and peeling like I have now.

It's just for the look. The brake/reverse are still perfectly visible even with my vinyl tint on them. If you go too dark though, then you will have issues with the lights being visible, but I don't want to go that far.

After a bit more research and advice from another thread, I am leaning towards doing it myself with some VHT Niteshade. Looks like I should be ok with masking off the rear bumper and spraying the lights while still on the car. Some others have done the same and had good results.

My friend did the same to his Mustang 5.0. Do yourself a favor and set aside a little extra time to take apart the lights instead of masking off the car, will save you some headaches.

The end result was really good, but I would remove the tails and paint them instead of masking the car off. :tup:

What issues did he have?

Well, he tried painting it with the lights on the car at first and he just couldn't get an even spray I guess because poor angle from not being able to move the lights. In the end, he ended up having to take them off anyway and wet sand the paint off and give it a fresh coat so it would come out even.

Also there is always the risk of some of the spray drifting onto the paint if there's a breeze. IMO, it would just be easier to remove the lights and lay them flat on something and give them a good even spray. That way you won't have to deal with masking off areas and accidentally having some spray drift onto the car.

Just worried about taking everything out myself. Don't really have much experience working on cars so I'm just afraid of screwing something up. Less risk involved in just taping stuff :icon17:

Do you think you would be able to help me do it? Maybe we can find a Saturday where we are both free and try it then. If not, I will just have to try my luck at doing it myself.

Def. down to help just let me know when your free.

On another note, my friend with the Grabber Blue 5.0 is in the process of trading it in for a red 370Z and one of the first mods he plans to do is tint/darken the tail lights for some contrast. I'll see what route he takes and let you know how that goes.

Cool, thanks! This Saturday is the BBQ and next Saturday is the cruise, so maybe the 23rd? If you are free the next 2 Saturdays you should definitely come to both the bbq and cruise :tup:

I've heard of people going from a red 370Z to a 5.0 (Steve :rolleyes:), but never the other way around. Any reason why he's doing it?

For one he dislikes how common the 'stang is and he didn't like the "feel" of the 5.0. Said he felt disconnected and wasn't a fan of how big it felt when he was driving . Also he's one of the many lucky ones with the transmission problem hahaha.

Oh that sucks. I definitely liked it when Steve gave me a ride in his 5.0. Don't know if I would ever buy one though. If I hadn't bought the Z when I took that ride, I may have been convinced to get the 5.0.