IS - 3rd Gen (2014-present) Discussion about the 2014+ model IS models

Tinted tail lights

Old Aug 19, 2020 | 08:39 PM
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Default Tinted tail lights

How do you guys tint your 3is tail lights.
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Old Aug 19, 2020 | 09:31 PM
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Keep in mind that is possibly illegal.
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Old Aug 19, 2020 | 09:37 PM
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Potentially opens you up to getting sued if you get into an accident, I’d be super careful.
a LIGHT vinyl overlay might look ok but definitely do not black out your lights.
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Old Aug 20, 2020 | 08:23 AM
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All the above. Not to mention it just looks bad/juvenile.
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Old Aug 20, 2020 | 10:19 AM
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They're perfect the way they are on this car imo. Very rarely does it look good on any model depending on color combo.

Just saw an S class with this recently....took a perfectly good car and ruined it...
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Old Aug 20, 2020 | 12:58 PM
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I saw a newish S-Class yesterday with army green flat wrap/plastidip (who even knows), ugly big wheels, and a tall ricer wing. was the most hideous thing i've seen. and again this was a newer facelifted S Class. not some 5k hunk of poop.
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Old Aug 21, 2020 | 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by HOMER350
They're perfect the way they are on this car imo. Very rarely does it look good on any model depending on color combo.

Just saw an S class with this recently....took a perfectly good car and ruined it...
I am a fan of the clear/smoked taillights on Porsche models, but those come that way from the factory.

Anyway, probably good to stay on topic of how to actually do the tint.
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Old Aug 21, 2020 | 08:38 AM
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Here’s a pic of a guy that slightly darkened his tail lights, personally I like the look it’s not even close to being blacked out. I think it looks better than stock.


I also think sometimes ppl just love to hate, if you look at that pic that barely looks darker than stock and say YOU RUINED YOUR CAR or OMG THAT LOOKS LIKE TRASH then you definitely need to get a life. But I agree very dark or blacked out is corny. This particular pic is as dark as you should go without looking stupid. IMO.

Last edited by NickCaesar; Aug 21, 2020 at 08:41 AM.
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Old Aug 21, 2020 | 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by arentz07
I am a fan of the clear/smoked taillights on Porsche models, but those come that way from the factory.

Anyway, probably good to stay on topic of how to actually do the tint.
You're right. To the OP, id suggest a vinyl tint. It usually keeps the right amount of shine/goss to it. Spray is either too glossy or too flat, from what I've seen.
Originally Posted by NickCaesar
Here’s a pic of a guy that slightly darkened his tail lights, personally I like the look it’s not even close to being blacked out. I think it looks better than stock.


I also think sometimes ppl just love to hate, if you look at that pic that barely looks darker than stock and say YOU RUINED YOUR CAR or OMG THAT LOOKS LIKE TRASH then you definitely need to get a life. But I agree very dark or blacked out is corny. This particular pic is as dark as you should go without looking stupid. IMO.
To tell anyone what the did or didn't do is pointless. To share your opinion is the same as anyone else sharing their opinion too.

However OP didn't ask for opinions and we all gave them anyways lol.

But heck, did this when I was younger thought it looked great on my black on black (on black) SC300. But those lights were an eye soar and my person tastes were different then.

You could argue doing cheap things to a nice thing makes it look cheap...some would take that as fact. I suppose it's stil an opinion though.
Where I live people are into big generic "SPORT" vinyl and added emblems of like tigers and crap.

Last one I saw like that I said "hey nice car man". It looked like hell but could tell he loved it..

Edit: that man then proceeded to point out how this or that only cost him $5, etc. (As if it wasnt glaringly apparent) and that i should do likewise on my IS.

Point is, my opinion was irrelevant as are most people's. But we all have them and think we should enlighten others with it lol.

Last edited by HOMER350; Aug 21, 2020 at 09:00 AM.
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Old Aug 21, 2020 | 10:23 AM
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I got mine done by a local shop and they used Stek light tint film and the color is DYNOsmoke. I love the look of it especially with blue/black combo I have going. They had issues with the bumps on the taillights but were able to fix the issue. It's not too dark either and the lights are easy to see in the daylight and at night.



Last edited by Meganw206; Aug 21, 2020 at 10:27 AM.
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Old Aug 21, 2020 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Meganw206
I got mine done by a local shop and they used Stek light tint film and the color is DYNOsmoke. I love the look of it especially with blue/black combo I have going. They had issues with the bumps on the taillights but were able to fix the issue. It's not too dark either and the lights are easy to see in the daylight and at night.

Looks good!
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Old Aug 22, 2020 | 07:11 AM
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The parts I would like to tint are them lower reflectors. Is it me or do they appear to be a brighter red than the tail lights? I have even looked for tinted or paint matched replacements and now contemplating painting them myself. Thought of the led but after seeing so many shorted out I’ve change my mind on that front also.
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Old Jun 28, 2021 | 11:02 PM
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edit: wrong thread please delete

Last edited by Andruu; Jun 28, 2021 at 11:05 PM. Reason: wrong thread
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Old Jun 29, 2021 | 12:11 PM
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Default No Juvenile if done Right

Originally Posted by E46CT
All the above. Not to mention it just looks bad/juvenile.
I live in a State where this could be highly illegal... but that's for the Jalopy cars on the Road with the OLD Weak output "Bulb" type of Light that will hide the Brake light.

Below is my "Blanca" with Tinted Tail lights I've had since 2015. I've gotten pulled over for Speeding a couple times, but nothing on the Taillights as the LED light shines through PERFECTLY through the tint so there is no "hazard" of the person not seeing your brake light... that's where it gets Illegal.


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