Paint my tail lights - Focaljet

**03ZX3drew** · 03-01-2007, 02:11 PM

So, I am tired of the fake cf look on my tail lights and now it is time to paint them. My only question is, to take them apart, is it the same process as taking apart the headlights? Here are two pictures for reference:

**o2_designs** · 03-01-2007, 02:27 PM

Sorry, I can't help you with taking them apart, I've never done it...

But what color are you planning on painting them?

**03ZX3drew** · 03-01-2007, 02:30 PM

Color matching my car. Or black. I can't decide.

**Silfox** · 03-01-2007, 02:39 PM

Some if not all aftermarket lights are sealed with a super glue type glue that wont melt, unlike factory which will. Go ahead and try the easy bake method and see what happens.

**cdsilver02** · 03-01-2007, 09:28 PM

...or what you could do is paint the outside with body paint. Like I had mine done with.

**03ZX3drew** · 03-01-2007, 11:46 PM

That is the last resort. I saw a while ago someone had the st170s painted to match, and I liked the painted look with the clear over it.

**cdsilver02** · 03-02-2007, 10:31 AM

Maybe but check these out...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...2/100_0870.jpg
Stockers painted black with body paint and cleared
I also did myfront grill...

These aren't paint they are Lamin-x'ed.

These might be a little big but you get the idea.

**03ZX3drew** · 03-02-2007, 06:18 PM

Well, I don't really like the tinted look. Thats not what I am going for. Its kinda like the molded look. Almost like Hellas with some glass covering them, if that makes sense.

**sliverbullet** · 03-02-2007, 07:10 PM

for painted tails
i love the way mine turn out (to cold to put the clear coat on)
other than that i love them

**cdsilver02** · 03-02-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03ZX3drew

Well, I don't really like the tinted look. Thats not what I am going for. Its kinda like the molded look. Almost like Hellas with some glass covering them, if that makes sense.

Yeah, but they aren't tinted, they really have black body paint and clear coat.

When are you going to do your tails? and are you going to leave the red and just paint the faux fiber?

**03ZX3drew** · 03-03-2007, 01:51 PM

Yeah, just painting the faux fiber to match.

**utahSVT** · 03-03-2007, 08:48 PM

I dremeled mine... seal it back up with RTV.

**03ZX3drew** · 03-04-2007, 03:16 AM

Dremel as in just cutting the two pieces in half where they meet? I Like your outcome .

**utahSVT** · 03-04-2007, 06:37 PM

^^^^ Thanks. Yeah, you basiccally cut about 1/4 inch inside of where they glue together. If you get a really thin cutting blade and go slow (the plastic gets hot, melts and kind of bunches up) when you go to put the peice back together they fit perfectly. I also used the same technique taking apart my Mach HID's. Good luck.

**03ZX3drew** · 03-04-2007, 07:45 PM

That sounds good. I have the perfect tool for that too with my dremel, just never had a use for it till now. It was going to be my project today, but I got sucked into going to my g/f's grandparents house.

**focituner2** · 03-04-2007, 09:48 PM

i was just thinking about painting the outside edges on mine, i originally ordered the fake cf but exchanged them for black ones since they looked like crap.

03-01-2007, 02:11 PM	#1
03ZX3drew TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 998	Paint my tail lights So, I am tired of the fake cf look on my tail lights and now it is time to paint them. My only question is, to take them apart, is it the same process as taking apart the headlights? Here are two pictures for reference: __________________ 2003 Sangria Red ZX3 2008 Crystal White Pearl Mica Mazdaspeed3.

03-01-2007, 02:27 PM	#2
o2_designs Resident Wheel-Whore Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Land of 10,000 Lakes Posts: 9,631	Re: Paint my tail lights Sorry, I can't help you with taking them apart, I've never done it... But what color are you planning on painting them? __________________ *~~Boost Crew supports single mothers~~* *_/ ResidentWheel-Whore\_* 'Bone Stock'2002 TwilightBlue ZX3-Neglect has led to a nasty whine from under tha rusty hood. (CHROMED) STS Prep'd 2001 Pitch Black 5spd Wagon-(666-STFU) "...That way I don't have to clean my sheets..."-Pappy, 2008 *o2 has already won so he is no longer eligible.-Ataru*

03-01-2007, 02:30 PM	#3
03ZX3drew TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 998	Re: Paint my tail lights Color matching my car. Or black. I can't decide. __________________ 2003 Sangria Red ZX3 2008 Crystal White Pearl Mica Mazdaspeed3.

03-01-2007, 02:39 PM	#4
Silfox [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 7,633	Re: Paint my tail lights Some if not all aftermarket lights are sealed with a super glue type glue that wont melt, unlike factory which will. Go ahead and try the easy bake method and see what happens.

03-01-2007, 09:28 PM	#5
cdsilver02 TEAM Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 404	Re: Paint my tail lights ...or what you could do is paint the outside with body paint. Like I had mine done with. __________________ CD Silver '02 SVTF : #612 of 4788, 1 of 513, Born 4/2/02, Purchased 10/31/02 FocusFest '08: Winner Fastest Forced Inducted, and Best of Show - 1st place

03-01-2007, 11:46 PM	#6
03ZX3drew TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 998	Re: Paint my tail lights That is the last resort. I saw a while ago someone had the st170s painted to match, and I liked the painted look with the clear over it. __________________ 2003 Sangria Red ZX3 2008 Crystal White Pearl Mica Mazdaspeed3.

03-02-2007, 10:31 AM	#7
cdsilver02 TEAM Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 404	Re: Paint my tail lights Maybe but check these out... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...2/100_0870.jpg Stockers painted black with body paint and cleared I also did myfront grill... These aren't paint they are Lamin-x'ed. These might be a little big but you get the idea. __________________ CD Silver '02 SVTF : #612 of 4788, 1 of 513, Born 4/2/02, Purchased 10/31/02 FocusFest '08: Winner Fastest Forced Inducted, and Best of Show - 1st place Last edited by Ataru : 03-02-2007 at 12:08 PM.

03-02-2007, 06:18 PM	#8
03ZX3drew TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 998	Re: Paint my tail lights Well, I don't really like the tinted look. Thats not what I am going for. Its kinda like the molded look. Almost like Hellas with some glass covering them, if that makes sense. __________________ 2003 Sangria Red ZX3 2008 Crystal White Pearl Mica Mazdaspeed3.

03-02-2007, 07:10 PM	#9
sliverbullet TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: blue springs mo Posts: 699	Re: Paint my tail lights for painted tails i love the way mine turn out (to cold to put the clear coat on) other than that i love them

03-03-2007, 01:51 PM	#11
03ZX3drew TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 998	Re: Paint my tail lights Yeah, just painting the faux fiber to match. __________________ 2003 Sangria Red ZX3 2008 Crystal White Pearl Mica Mazdaspeed3.

03-03-2007, 08:48 PM	#12
utahSVT Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 79	Re: Paint my tail lights I dremeled mine... seal it back up with RTV.

03-04-2007, 03:16 AM	#13
03ZX3drew TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 998	Re: Paint my tail lights Dremel as in just cutting the two pieces in half where they meet? I Like your outcome . __________________ 2003 Sangria Red ZX3 2008 Crystal White Pearl Mica Mazdaspeed3.

03-04-2007, 06:37 PM	#14
utahSVT Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 79	Re: Paint my tail lights ^^^^ Thanks. Yeah, you basiccally cut about 1/4 inch inside of where they glue together. If you get a really thin cutting blade and go slow (the plastic gets hot, melts and kind of bunches up) when you go to put the peice back together they fit perfectly. I also used the same technique taking apart my Mach HID's. Good luck.

03-04-2007, 07:45 PM	#15
03ZX3drew TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 998	Re: Paint my tail lights That sounds good. I have the perfect tool for that too with my dremel, just never had a use for it till now. It was going to be my project today, but I got sucked into going to my g/f's grandparents house. __________________ 2003 Sangria Red ZX3 2008 Crystal White Pearl Mica Mazdaspeed3.

03-04-2007, 09:48 PM	#16
focituner2 TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: St. Paul, mn Posts: 695	Re: Paint my tail lights i was just thinking about painting the outside edges on mine, i originally ordered the fake cf but exchanged them for black ones since they looked like crap. __________________ 05' 2.0 atx duratec, saleen suspension kit, M.S.S short ram intake, fc 65mm TB, Massive's dynomite coil packs,18"s, cf hood, sctxcal2, fs front & rear strut bars,fs exhaust, ,f2 cf spoiler, tyc tailights. coming soon: 300 hp 2.3 built motor & turbo kit! www.massivespeedsystem.com- My home away from home!

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