[tjames]

Ok guys as promised here is my How To on tinting your 3rd brake light and side markers. These are the steps I used and the things i learned along the way, im sure there are different ways to do this but this is how i did it and what i used. This was definatly a learning experience for me. so here we go.

Supplies needed:

• VHT Nite Shades ($8.00+ shipping on ebay)
• Dupli-Color Auto Spray Clear Top Coat ($6.00 at pepboys, autozone, ect.)
• 1500 grit sand paper ($3.95 at pepboys, ect.)
• 2000 grit sand paper ($3.95 at pepboys, ect.)
• Painters tape ($5.00 at home depot, ect.)
• Rubbing Alcohol (Free cause just about everyone has a bottle of that under a sink somewhere in your house)
• Cotton Balls
• Paper grocery bags (Free at any grocery store)
• Socket wrench
• Socket wrench extender
• 10mm socket
• Some patience!

Total Spent: About $27 give or take a dollar or 2, its way cheaper then buying the tint film :thumbup:

Ill start with the 3rd brake light. It is much easier to take it out then to spray it on the car so thats what i did. Here are the steps:

1. Pop the trunk

2. There are 2 bolts holding it in, im going to same everyone the time and tell you it requires a 10mm socket. Also you will need it to be a long socket because the screw is very long and you will need a socket wrench and an extender will make life much easier.

3. Dont bother unpluging the lights from the houding because it is an unnecesary step as i learned, it is all connected buy one little plug on the left side. Start unscrewing the bolts on each side the light will lift up as you are doing this. The bolt and screw stay attached to the trunk so dont worry about them droping cause they wont.

4. After the light has been unscrewed enough to lift it up do so gently as it is still attached. The plugin is easier to take out when the brake light is pulled off the trunk a little so pull it up gently and unplug the plug.

5. Take a cotton ball and put some rubbing alcohol on it and whipe the light clean.

6. Next i taped the back of the light so i wouldnt get any overspray or water in the electrical stuff or in the housing from wet sanding.


7. Start with a very light coat of tint. you want to be careful not to put to much on or it will run and you will have a much harder time wetsanding it smooth later. Let it dry. I suggest that you spray the light outside and then more into the open garage so as not to get contaminents on the wet tint while it is drying.

8. Wetsand it with 1500grit sandpaper untill it is even and smooth and then you can use the 2000 grit after if you choose to. After sanding wipe it clean.

9. Apply another layer and let it dry and wetsand and then repeat untill you have aquired your desired darkness. i found 3 coats was enough and then wetsand with 1500 grit followed by 2000 grit sandpaper and whipe clean before applying the clear coat.

After 2 coats


after 3 coats


10. Now its time for the clear coat. I highly reccomend 2 things. 1. you apply very thin layers because it is harder to sand then the tint and 2. you spray outside and bring it into an open garage to dry because it is extremely sticky and anything that floats by will stick to it easily. Use as many coats of clean untill it is nice and shiny. Mine actually need a few more coats of clear but it was getting dark so it will have to wait till tomorrow. Make sure you wetsand with 1500 Grit between each layer and get it nice and smooth.

11. After it has dried completely reinstall it and your done!!

Now for the side markers. I choose to keep them on the car nd that only created more challenges. Because they are vertical you have to use extremely light coats of tint and clean because both will run very easily.

1. Tape off the surrounding area with painters tape. Make sure to get the tape in the ridges around the side markers so tour not spraying your paint too. Tear tiny strips to it is easier to fit in there around the corners.


2. once you have it taped you want to prevent from getting overspray on the car so this is where the paper bags came in. Worked out great for me even though it looks really white trash.


3. Use a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol to clean the surface.

4. Time for tint. Use VERY VERY light coats because it will run very easily and you will only make more work for yourself wetsanding it once it dries( learned this one the hard way) use as many coats you need until you get the desired darkness.

5.Time for Clear coat, again very light coats and wet sand after each one

3 light coats


5-6 light coats and a few coats of clear


Make sure you wet sand in between every coat of tint and clear coat.

6. wet sand one final time with 1500 grit and 200 grit.

7. Carefully take off the bags and peel off the tape and your done.

8. Let it dry over night and then buff it out with rubbing compound.
Tomorrow i will buff the 3rd brake light and side markers out with rubbing compound to give them a glossier shine.

I think thats everything. If i think of anything else i will add it. if you have any questions feel free to PM me. This project was not to difficult and definatly a learning experience. However it was pretty time consuming. I went back and forth between the 3rd brake light and side markers allowing ample time for each to dry.


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After:

[BWAL09]

nice write up

+ rep points

[thetrooper31]

looks good man

[Kinshen]

Wow. Looks great, im going to have to try this.

[HMUSN]

good write up

[Xantho99]

its not that hard to remove the side markers... Less work in the long run... And no worries about over spray

Oh btw where is the duel exhaust? Lol jk everything looks good, I like the shaved bumper!

[tjames]

Originally Posted by BWAL09 nice write up + rep points

thanks man

Originally Posted by thetrooper31 looks good man

thanks!

Originally Posted by Kinshen Wow. Looks great, im going to have to try this.

its not to hard at all, it just takes patience and time! thanks

Originally Posted by HMUSN good write up

thanks man

Originally Posted by Xantho99 its not that hard to remove the side markers... Less work in the long run... And no worries about over spray Oh btw where is the duel exhaust? Lol jk everything looks good, I like the shaved bumper!

dual exhaust next week. idk if you saw my other thread but i ordered 3.5" rolled stainless tips and they are supposed to be here on the 27th, then the exhaust either next week or the week after. im getting custom dual exhaust with a custom H pipe and flowmaster original 40's! thanks man

[DanTheMan]

did you use nightshades and clear on the actual taillights too? I've got static tint on mine and it's about time i upgraded

[Onemanzu]

i like your shoes




also you sprayed them?? thats neat i will have to do that to my side markers they stick out sooooo bad i hate how they look but thats okay... guess where my car is

[tjames]

Originally Posted by DanTheMan did you use nightshades and clear on the actual taillights too? I've got static tint on mine and it's about time i upgraded

no on my actual tail lights i have tint film off of ebay. i got it before i did the side markers and 3rd brake light. after the tails were tinted the sidemarkers and 3rd brake light just looked out of place so i had to tint them and now it flows alot better!

Originally Posted by Onemanzu i like your shoes also you sprayed them?? thats neat i will have to do that to my side markers they stick out sooooo bad i hate how they look but thats okay

thanks i like my shoes too haha. ya i sprayed and cleared them on the car. i did mine for the same reason. after i tinted my tails the side markers and 3rd brake light stuck out and looked out of place.

Originally Posted by Onemanzu guess where my car is

im really mad you got if done before me haha. PM me the clip when you get it back from the shop! and congrats

[DanTheMan]

Originally Posted by tjames no on my actual tail lights i have tint film off of ebay. i got it before i did the side markers and 3rd brake light. after the tails were tinted the sidemarkers and 3rd brake light just looked out of place so i had to tint them and now it flows alot better!

What kinda tint is it cause I made the mistake of getting static cling.... I have to fix 'em every other day and take em off when I wash it..

[TurboLX]

Nice Work

How does it look when you press the brake?

[tjames]

Originally Posted by DanTheMan What kinda tint is it cause I made the mistake of getting static cling.... I have to fix 'em every other day and take em off when I wash it..

you must have gotten bad film here is the link to the exact tint/seller i bought the tail light tint from eBay Motors: FORD MUSTANG TAIL LIGHT TINT FILM COVERS 99-04 (item 180131304394 end time Dec-13-07 20:08:15 PST)
you will not be dissapointed

Originally Posted by TurboLX Nice Work How does it look when you press the brake?

much darker than stock but it is still visible. i am very impressed that it looks completely black but when you hit the brake even during the day it is still visible and noticable that the brake is pressed!

[302svt]

Nice job.

[DanTheMan]

Originally Posted by tjames you must have gotten bad film here is the link to the exact tint/seller i bought the tail light tint from eBay Motors: FORD MUSTANG TAIL LIGHT TINT FILM COVERS 99-04 (item 180131304394 end time Dec-13-07 20:08:15 PST) you will not be dissapointed

haha same guy i bought from

[tjames]

Originally Posted by DanTheMan haha same guy i bought from

really? i havent had to take them off once in the 2 months i have had them. idk what happed to yours. did you made sure when you put them on you got all the water from out behind them?

[Avaric3]

great tut, i ordered some night shades yesterday! by next weekend, ill have tinted tails and side markers too! itll look nice with my smoked headlights

[tjames]

Originally Posted by Avaric3 great tut, i ordered some night shades yesterday! by next weekend, ill have tinted tails and side markers too! itll look nice with my smoked headlights

i agree. did you get the $8 can off ebay?

[Avaric3]

of course lol. luckily i have 1500 grit and 2000 grit at home already and pretty much everything else listed, so that alll its gonna cost me

[tjames]

Originally Posted by Avaric3 of course lol. luckily i have 1500 grit and 2000 grit at home already and pretty much everything else listed, so that alll its gonna cost me

sweet!! well i hope the write up helps you while your doing it! to tint the tail lights its the exact same steps!