DIY: Black Housing Tail Lights

[hmong337]

Got myself an extra set of oem tail lights and want to do this.

Btw, a lot of the pics are down. Well, at least on my phone they are...

[malubawla]

just did mine

[hmong337]

Originally Posted by malubawla

just did mine

Should've came from factory like that. Looks hot!

I can't stand the ugly chrome Altezza style. The headlights need black housing treatment too.

[illest86]

Originally Posted by malubawla

just did mine

Nailed it. Damn that looks beauty!

Matches perfectly with the wheels too. If you got the balls, do it up.

[Jolaessss]

anybody blackout their tail light housings and red out the lenses?

[FLYFISHR]

Are a few of the pictures still missing?

[Kostamojen]

I'm working on a set of spare lights courtesy @chanomatik

The first thing I need to say is:

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS MODIFICATION!!!

Down the road like maybe when these cars are 5-10 years old, then maybe this is a good idea. But on a brand new car, unless you are COMPLETELY anal about making sure nothing gets scratched and you do a 100% perfect job with the painting and don't leave debris anywhere inside the lights, your lights will look worse than a new set of tail lights no matter what you do...

This IS NOT an easy modification!!!

Anyway, on to my attempt...


I decided NOT to use a Dremel for the lights, I have a Dremel and lots of experience wielding it, but due to the tight areas you have to work with these lights, I decided to try something different. With the talk of using a hot knife or something of the kind, I looked for other options, and found this wood burning tool at Hobby Lobby:



The good thing about this tool is that it doesn't create any debris when cutting the plastic like a Dremel does, which makes cleanup MUCH easier and the cut you make pretty clean as well. My first attempt I used the "Exacto" knife attachment, and it was VERY difficult... The thick part of the blade heated the most not the tip, so cutting wasn't easy at all.

My SECOND attempt, I used the middle kind of clover looking tool. This tool was basically perfect for the job, once you got it really hot it cut through the light like butter and made a nice smooth cut across the whole lamp. HOWEVER, it did in a couple spots cut too far through and touch the silver chrome bits causing some spots that might show up later.

NOTE: The places you need to cut are not nearly as simple as it seems... If you cut to far towards the clear plastic, you can see the cuts when looking at the lamp, but if you cut too far away you can't get the lamp to separate!!! I discovered this my first attempt, and ended up having to cut a couple sections out just to separate the light.



I also decided to remove the corner red lens from the chrome in order to paint... Found out that is indeed GLUED into place and WILL BREAK if you try to remove it by force, however can be reinstalled with glue but I am concerned that at some point in the future it might break off while inside the lamp:



I did eventually get the lamps apart...



I wanted to do something different with painting the chrome. I did a bit of light sanding at first, and used black Plastic Paint (spray paint designed specifically for use with plastic, it is perfect for this application, I've used it on Nerf guns and such with the same type of plastic and it never comes off once its on). I wanted to leave the front trailing edge of the chrome unpainted, but there was too much overspray so I ended up just painting it all black minus the amber light area:





Started reassembly today after letting the paint dry for a day. I'm using the same Silicone #81158 for this assembly, its good stuff but I wish I could just some heat-applied liquified ABS plastic instead... Here are some pics, showing the gaps and what the goop is turning out to be like so far:






I've found a lot of pin holes where the goop hasn't filled yet, so I'm going to go over it with one or two more layers. Any suggestions on smoothing out the silicone, or should I just leave it as-is?

Quick pick of a test fit of the assembly:




Conclusion so far:

I really DO NOT recommend this modification, unless you have a spare set of headlights laying around and you've done this kind of work with plastics before (I have sadly)...

I don't think I will use them on my car, they don't look very good due to scratches and such, my stock lights are in perfect shape. I think I'll probably buy a set of better aftermarket lights way down the road, or wait for a "revised" OEM tail light if they ever come out with one, or just keep the stockers on and not worry about it.

[chanomatik]

I think a tint overlay would set them apart. Sorry the Alaskan/road trip weather got to them. I've always considered tinting them red just to disguise the scratches a bit. I believe they can be cleaned up with a headlight restoration kit.

Overall I'm glad you tackled it so that now you know.

[Kostamojen]

I have some Headlight polish ill try when they are all finished.

Tinted tailights around here can get you pulled over here. Plus I don't really like that look.

[Kostamojen]

Pics on the car...

No way I'm keeping these on the car, I can see the cuts, scratches and glue up close. I'm not even sure if I like how it looks either.

[retrosmiths]

Here's my take on it. Wrapped the red side reflectors in CF. Used black-chrome paint instead of gloss/flat black, although I did put a bit too much, but I did lighten the spray on the turn signal reflectors. Silver-coated turn signal bulbs.

[DAN_BRZ]

Originally Posted by sw20kosh

I went straight to dremel because I know what silicone sealed lights look like. THese are not silicone sealed. I also read that the tail light plastic is flimsy and people already have cracks. Did not want to bake them.

For the big gaps I just put a ton of sealant on them. Big goops. It sealed beautifully when I looked at in the morning! I think I wont have condensation issues!!! I was very liberal with sealant.

Do you have a pic with the trunk open? im just trying to see how visible it is that the tails have been cut and then siliconed.. thanks

[Vracer111]

Thanks Kostamojen for your post...will help me with my plan of attack on the rears. I bought an extra set of stock BRZ tails in perfect condition with plans to just red out, going through this thread has changed my mind to open them up and tone that hideous chrome down...and then also red out the lenscovers on the inside...!

Originally Posted by Jolaessss

anybody blackout their tail light housings and red out the lenses?

That's my plan, black out the inner housing, leaving only the bottom curvy lip like Kostamojen planned and turn signal box area with original chrome. Red out housing (paint on inside of lens covers) except for the small rectangular turn signal fresnel reflection area...

Black-in looks nice...but I think also redding out the housing (not too dark) is what it really needs as well...

[Juan_Ri]

I did a few thing to them...





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