Jherb350

iTrader: (1)

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

TheRupp

Great write-up!

Do the signals still appear orange when illuminated?

Jherb350

iTrader: (1)

Nope they show up red.

Morrissey

I really can't tell there's vinyl there. That's great. I wanted to get rid of the Amber on my lights but I was afraid any kind of mod might make the car look tacky. Thanks for the DIY post!

Teufel

Does anyone know of a method to make your taillights appear red when the signal is turn off, but turn orange when illuminated >> In Germany, taillights can be most any colour you like, but they have to appear orange when illuminated...This part of the taillight is the only thing I hate about the car....

Jherb350

iTrader: (1)

Wouldn't a colored lense light up the color that it is. Hence red lenses for the rear, amber for corner singles and clear for the front. Although you could always try amber bulbs and see if that would work.

AntLexus

dont know much about films but just wondering if i decide i dont like the look (or the job ive done putting them on) if its possible to reverse the process by simply peeling them off without leaving any type of sticky residue?

caffeine

Great DIY post! Thanks!

The car looks a lot better with red tails! I hope that Lexus decides to make this the standard in upcomming years, I don't know what they were thinking when they decided to use that old school orange.

ES3

Yeah, I think an orange bulb would do the trick. Not sure why Lexus didn't just start with that for us! Still, great post on the mod Jherb!

shaolin

iTrader: (2)

which size red out paper did you chose from the ebay???

Jherb350

iTrader: (1)

I used some that my brother had left over from when he did his RSX, the sheets he had weren't that big, 8x8 maybe.

shaolin

iTrader: (2)

did he bought it from ebay or he bought it at regular store???

Jherb350

iTrader: (1)

He got it off some guy on the Club RSX forum, I'll talk to him tomorrow and pm you the info.

Jherb350

iTrader: (1)

I posted some updated pics at the top

Phillip31

The mod looks good. I hate the orange on mine and its more noticeable on my black onyx too. So u say it illuminates red?...Coz i was driving today and i noticed a mercedes with red taillights but the signal light illuminated yellow. I want my taillights to be all red but the signal lights to light up yellow.