Red Out Taillight DIY
Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
funny but i got my IS on nov 05 so it was one of the first ones out and i mustve done this red out mod sometime that spring. it looks soo much better than the amber tails IMO and im so so amazed that Lexus itself didnt change the tails from amber to red 
??? that little change makes the rear looks so different and for the better but like i said IMO 
??? that little change makes the rear looks so different and for the better but like i said IMO
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: CA
Since there have been several inquiries about my red out tails I thought I would put together a DIY. Sorry I don’t have many pics so if someone that does this could please take some pics of the process to add to this that would be great. Thanks.
Supplies:
Red Vinyl (can be found on ebay)
Scissors
Exacto Knife or Razor Blade
Painters Tape
Two Towels (I used 100% Cotton)
Strait edge
Squeegee (Credit Card works)
Small bucket or dish
Soap (I used a small amount of car wash soap)
Water
Hair Drier
1. Clean tail light area with soap and water. If your car has been exposed to the elements or you have waxed the taillights I would suggest using dawn dish soap for this and then follow up with a clay bar to remove all contaminates.
2. Dilute small amount of soap in a small bucket or dish of water.
3. Measure out area that the vinyl will cover. I over compensated a little to make sure the whole area was covered, and I folded some over for a clean edge.
4. Remove backing from vinyl and put in bucket or dish of soapy water.
5. Position vinyl on desired area, sticky side on lens.
6. Use hair drier on high (hold about 8-12 inches away) and squeegee to work out air bubbles. Start in the middle and work your way out. Take your time and make sure you work the vinyl into curved crevice of the amber edge. Save the folding of the edge for last this will take some time and a little extra heat from the hair drier to keep the fold.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for other side of car.
8. Leave vinyl to set for a while, I waited a day before I trimmed mine.
9. When your ready to trim take the painters tape and layout your cuts. Apply light pressure with exacto knife to vinyl and peal away.
10. Stand back and admire.
Updated pics of trimmed vinyl
Supplies:
Red Vinyl (can be found on ebay)
Scissors
Exacto Knife or Razor Blade
Painters Tape
Two Towels (I used 100% Cotton)
Strait edge
Squeegee (Credit Card works)
Small bucket or dish
Soap (I used a small amount of car wash soap)
Water
Hair Drier
1. Clean tail light area with soap and water. If your car has been exposed to the elements or you have waxed the taillights I would suggest using dawn dish soap for this and then follow up with a clay bar to remove all contaminates.
2. Dilute small amount of soap in a small bucket or dish of water.
3. Measure out area that the vinyl will cover. I over compensated a little to make sure the whole area was covered, and I folded some over for a clean edge.
4. Remove backing from vinyl and put in bucket or dish of soapy water.
5. Position vinyl on desired area, sticky side on lens.
6. Use hair drier on high (hold about 8-12 inches away) and squeegee to work out air bubbles. Start in the middle and work your way out. Take your time and make sure you work the vinyl into curved crevice of the amber edge. Save the folding of the edge for last this will take some time and a little extra heat from the hair drier to keep the fold.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for other side of car.
8. Leave vinyl to set for a while, I waited a day before I trimmed mine.
9. When your ready to trim take the painters tape and layout your cuts. Apply light pressure with exacto knife to vinyl and peal away.
10. Stand back and admire.
Updated pics of trimmed vinyl
Its easier if you go to this site and buy their kit
http://www.aerotect.net/shopping/sho...ayproducts.asp
bottom of the site, its precut vinyl for IS250/350.
Also use baby shampoo only when creating the water/soap mix. Its because baby shampoo doesnt use detergents. And follow this guys step, mines looks great and only too 20 mins.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 2
From: SC
i ordered from rvinyl.com so i had to cut it myself. Wasnt that bad since i just got tracing paprer and outlined the area i wanted to cover then cut it against the back of the red side. Granted once someone comes up with pre-cut stencils of this area it would make the mod even that much easier. 
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: CA
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 1
From: Socal
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: AZ
Supplies:
Red Vinyl (can be found on ebay)
Scissors
Exacto Knife or Razor Blade
Painters Tape
Two Towels (I used 100% Cotton)
Strait edge
Squeegee (Credit Card works)
Small bucket or dish
Soap (I used a small amount of car wash soap)
Water
Hair Drier
1. Clean tail light area with soap and water. If your car has been exposed to the elements or you have waxed the taillights I would suggest using dawn dish soap for this and then follow up with a clay bar to remove all contaminates.
2. Dilute small amount of soap in a small bucket or dish of water.
3. Measure out area that the vinyl will cover. I over compensated a little to make sure the whole area was covered, and I folded some over for a clean edge.
4. Remove backing from vinyl and put in bucket or dish of soapy water.
5. Position vinyl on desired area, sticky side on lens.
6. Use hair drier on high (hold about 8-12 inches away) and squeegee to work out air bubbles. Start in the middle and work your way out. Take your time and make sure you work the vinyl into curved crevice of the amber edge. Save the folding of the edge for last this will take some time and a little extra heat from the hair drier to keep the fold.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for other side of car.
8. Leave vinyl to set for a while, I waited a day before I trimmed mine.
9. When your ready to trim take the painters tape and layout your cuts. Apply light pressure with exacto knife to vinyl and peal away.
10. Stand back and admire.
Red Vinyl (can be found on ebay)
Scissors
Exacto Knife or Razor Blade
Painters Tape
Two Towels (I used 100% Cotton)
Strait edge
Squeegee (Credit Card works)
Small bucket or dish
Soap (I used a small amount of car wash soap)
Water
Hair Drier
1. Clean tail light area with soap and water. If your car has been exposed to the elements or you have waxed the taillights I would suggest using dawn dish soap for this and then follow up with a clay bar to remove all contaminates.
2. Dilute small amount of soap in a small bucket or dish of water.
3. Measure out area that the vinyl will cover. I over compensated a little to make sure the whole area was covered, and I folded some over for a clean edge.
4. Remove backing from vinyl and put in bucket or dish of soapy water.
5. Position vinyl on desired area, sticky side on lens.
6. Use hair drier on high (hold about 8-12 inches away) and squeegee to work out air bubbles. Start in the middle and work your way out. Take your time and make sure you work the vinyl into curved crevice of the amber edge. Save the folding of the edge for last this will take some time and a little extra heat from the hair drier to keep the fold.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for other side of car.
8. Leave vinyl to set for a while, I waited a day before I trimmed mine.
9. When your ready to trim take the painters tape and layout your cuts. Apply light pressure with exacto knife to vinyl and peal away.
10. Stand back and admire.
Thanks a bunches
Driver
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: MD
The directions included with the rvinyl package are a lot simpler. No need for water, hairdrier, or soap. If you follow the directions carefully, its really hard to mess up.
all you have to do is clean the lens really well with a little rubbing alcohol, peel back one corner of the red-out, line it up with the lens, and slowly work it around with a squeegie (or any straight/flexible edge). I used a credit card. Then you can use an exacto knife if you really want to trim the edges, I found that it was unnecessary.
Good luck.
all you have to do is clean the lens really well with a little rubbing alcohol, peel back one corner of the red-out, line it up with the lens, and slowly work it around with a squeegie (or any straight/flexible edge). I used a credit card. Then you can use an exacto knife if you really want to trim the edges, I found that it was unnecessary.
Good luck.