Hey guys, I'm looking for recommendations on darkening the taillights on my '08 X. I was going for a smoked look, dark and glossy, as if it came from the factory, instead of a flat finish. At the same time I need it to be light enough to pass light through at night, and not look black during the day, but instead show an accentuated tint. I've heard of nightshade, nightshade and clear coat, vinyl, window tint film, eBay kits, etc etc. Would this make a good DIY project or would I just leave it to the pros?

Post pics if you've done them yourself.

 

if you get rearended, automatically your fault

 

^+1 Woah... guess I m not doing mine. Thanks for the info!

 

this is how mine look:

 

https://g35driver.com/forums/media-s...ade-tints.html
Heres mine. Its smoked.
But regarding getting rear ended... mine are not even that tinted. Any input if this will also apply to that "automatically your fault" situation.

 

https://g35driver.com/forums/media-s...ade-tints.html -> click
Heres mine. Its smoked.
But regarding getting rear ended... mine are not even that tinted. Any input if this will also apply to that "automatically your fault" situation.

 

That's what I'm talking about! Nice

As for any faults in an accident situation, I would not be liable for damages even if it can be proved that the person behind did not see my break lights on. In most non-intentional car collision cases, liabiility will boil down to questions of lookout, speed, and control.

 

^ Until the lawyer finds out he can sue you for unsafe vehicle due to personal modification.

Then you stfu and sit down and wish you never tinted your ****.

I'm not for or against tinted tails (unless they VHT that looks like ****) but I've seen a tonne of my friends get nailed for tinted tails, 2/4 got screwed in court.

 

That is by far the sexiest pair of tail lights i have ever seen on a G!!!!
Did you do them yourself? I plan on trying it after seeing this thread...

 

There is no strict liability when it comes to tinted tails. Tail lights are treated differently than a lot of mods since you are dealing with a mandated safety feature of the car, not trim, badges, etc that are only for aesthetic value. Some municipalities will give tickets for lights that are tinted too much and in that case if someone rear ended you when you're tails would have likely been ticketed, you would have an uphill battle. However, it is not "automatically" you're fault if you are rear ended and have tinted tails. My best advice is to speak with an officer in your area and make sure you are in line with your tails bc I must say it makes our cars look sooo much better.

 

The way i see it, in djfarhan's photo above, other than the reflectors no longer working, the basic functional parts still do --- the lit areas he kept untinted, and the high-mounted stop light on the spoiler. For anyone to argue that they did not see the lit stop signals before crashing are plain and simple just out to get you.

For me, i left the middle portion untinted, to keep some of the reflectors untouched.

 

do either the GTR tails ( posted above) or a midnight tails. i dont know which 1 i wanna do yet



hit up 180 customs to do this. they are on this forum.

 

You're wrong.

 

I personally did not want my tails too dark...but stock, they are just too bright red. I used two light coats of Niteshades and clears. Looks great and still looks like it could be OE on some cars.

 

^ did you sand at all or just apply shade and clear?