First off, I come from the maxima world in which 4th gen maxima owners have used the "DTM" Dallas Taillight mod as its called, to modify their red/clear tails.

This process requires you to put the lenses in the oven, pull them apart, and paint the inner-housing black. Here is a pic of the general idea:




So I picked up a set of 2003-2004 reverse lights and modded them already but I may throw them back in th oven and pull the lenses off to paint the "chrome" black.

Has this been done before? Anyone w pics please post them up!!

 

Interesting. I've never heard of this. So you paint the chrome part black!?

 

Yes. Pull the outer lenses off the housing. Paint the inner housing flat black.

I would like to do it but Idk if It'd look good on my IP sedan....

 

Interesting.

I'd do it, but where I live, with dark tint and no street lights, i need as much reverse light brightness as I can get or i'll back into something. I'd toss HID's in there if i could

 

Do it adro and post pics after, try with plasti dip first and if you don't like the look just peel it off!

 

With the dark tint etc, same deal w me. I plan to run some CREE leds or the mini HIDs so hopefully that will eliminate the light output issue.

Thats definately what I was thinking, plastidip for sure on this one.

I just picked up these lights ans they are MINT. kinda scared to open them and f them up lol. But I'll probably do them at some point this winter. I wish my sedan was a darker color bc I think they'd look better on a darker car as opposed to IP. BUT we shall see.

ANYONE have an 03-04 set of revserse lights to get rid of cheap?

 

Interesting... Never seen it painted from the inside, most just paint the outside or use a smoked overlay

 

Yeah, I've seen this done time and time again.

The thing is, with this technique, you're actually coating the lens with paint or film of some type which really does tend to cut down on output.

In theory, painting the inner housing only, it works to create a SIMILAR "smoked" effect. This way you can get a smiliar effect without the diminished light output.

I'll do it!

 

do it man, im very interested in seeing how it turns out. You're not painting the reflector part are you?

 

Reflector? The whole inner "reflector" housing will be painted, yes. except for the reflective part under the red surround bc that wouldnt match.

 

yeah i was just talking about the inside not the red part, i always thought painting a reflector was a no no.

anyway, i'm interested to see how it comes out. Good luck

 

I dont believe the taillights or the reverse lights can be baked open. I think they have to be cut open and resealed.

 

Unfortunatly,after looking at the lights, I think you may be right. Its very hard to tell how their sealed because they are in multiple pieces. But the typical black tar-like goo is non-existant which makes me nervous.

 

I hope this works out! I say give it a shot! because if this works i will be the first to do your DIY when your finished!

 

I believe they will have to be cut open, i know the coupe taillights have to be cut so i'm guessing the sedan lights are the same