smoked lights.... a few questions

Post Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:32 pm

i've got some red tinting spray from halfords to do my rear lights (folia-tec stuff iirc). i've hear people use lacquer to get the shine back (as i'm not gonna go too heavy with it). what type has been proven to work without reacting? cellulose? acrylic?

also, where's good to get properly smoked indicators and side repeators for not a huge amount of dosh?

Post Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:49 pm

I cant really help withe rears as i havent done mine yet, but ive seen them on splondike's red sport. He didnt use lacquer and his shine nicely! thats using a different paint though ('savage' tint spray).

As for the flashers www.bmtown.com

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 12:35 am

i used the same stuff on my rears. it come out ok. i didnt go too heavy so they now look a really dark orange.

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 12:39 am

Yeah the Savage tint spray's good stuff, used them on mine and it doesn't look like a DIY job at all, nothing wrong with the shine either.

As for the smoked indicators/side repeaters, eBay might save you a few quid if you can live without a 1-year guarantee on them, but considering they're not really the kind of things that go wrong it might be a good idea

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:47 am

nav786 wrote:i used the same stuff on my rears. it come out ok. i didnt go too heavy so they now look a really dark orange.

sounds like the stuff to use then... i've got the folia-tec stuff so i'll give it a go. the only concern is, to get a full 'wet' coverage (so it's shiny) could be too red... oh well, only one way to find out!

the look i'm after is about the same as shown on nav786's sig. not too red!

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:02 pm

you can always take it off using thinners. i done mine twice.

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:40 pm

true, true.... might do that if it all goes wrong!

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 3:19 pm

got GSF for the smoked indicators Ãƒ”šÃ‚£18 each, but they are quality and made by hella.

Repeaters had to go with ebay junk for a tenner

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 5:24 pm

Gareth mate.I just masked the orange side part of the rear lights up, gave them a quick 1200 wet n dry to make them dull, then masked them and sprayed them.They match perfect mate, i wouldnt clear coat them tbh, it might make them too 'bling'

Me and Simon tried some orange bulbs from halfords to make them flash a little less red but it didnt help.I think the only way to do that is to change the reverse light for indicator, or to use LED's, i personally cant be arsed with either

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:47 pm

hehe! cheers!

i think i'll keep the indicators on the corners, i kinda fancy not getting the car hit by someone who's on one of my rear quarters!

i must stop talking about them and actually get outside and spray the things!

Post Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:15 pm

As long as you make sure the lights are super clean, they are totally dry and you have a decent place to spray them they will come out nice.

When I did mine the other day I removed the lights and washed them in hot water and fairy with a dish washing pad thing.

I left them to dry outside and masked off the areas I needed using electrical insulation tape as it goes round the plastic trim corners easier. It's also easier to move once in place and doesn't seep under the tape.

I built the paint up with several very light duster coats, leaving a few minutes between each coat.

This tint spray paint is exactly that, a paint, so once it's hardened properly after 10 days or so you should be able to polish it to get a really nice shiny finish.

I'm pretty happy with mine and they are plenty shiny enough, they are just the right shade of red and still flash amber with normal bulbs.

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