Materials (most can be found at SummitRacing.com):
800 grit sandpaper - 3M 213Q Imperial Wet or Dry Production P800
2000 grit sandpaper - 3M 401Q Imperial Wet or Dry Production 2000
2500 grit sandpaper (OPTIONAL) - 3M 401Q Imperial Wet or Dry Production 2500
Spray bottle [MUST BE CLEAN, MEANING NO CHEMICALS]
Paint masking tape - 3M Blue Painter's Tape 2090
Night Shade - VHT Premium Coating Nite-Shade 7 oz.
Offset Screwdriver - HuskyPro 74353 Heavy Duty Offset Screwdriver (any large-ish Phillips offset will do)
Gloves - latex or urethane, your choice
Painting mask

I will post pictures up soon.

LIGHT BAR REMOVAL

1. Remove top interior panel of liftgate. There should be about five or six tabs. Be careful, as they can break easily, and the edge to the panel is rather sharp. I cut my finger sliding it across the top as I felt for tabs.

2. There is a circular hole along the middle--there is a wire connector seated in this hole that you must disconnect.

3. Wiggle the female end out slowly. If you pull too hard, it might slip out too quickly and snap your wires. This is tricky because Lexus glues this in with some soft urethane (i believe) filler. Once you do this, slide the female end into the hole. Make sure to push it in all the way.

4. Unscrew the light bar from the spoiler and gently guide the connector out of the hole.

I will update soon with pictures of how this will look, and also with shading prep and the actual shading procedure.

 

PREPPING THE LIGHT BAR

I did not take pictures for the first few steps. Sorry

1. Seal off the wire and the opening. You do not want water in here. I REPEAT, avoid getting water in here at all costs. This means no faucet.

2. Take spray bottle and 800 grit sandpaper and wet-sand the entire lens area of the light bar. You want the whole lens to become slightly cloudy, but wet, the whole lens will look hazy with the plastic sludge or clear with just water. Wipe off the sludge and dry the bar.

3. Make note of the shiny areas. You can mark these off with sharpie. Just write on the area, since you'll be sanding off the ink anyway. Wet-sand again and again until your bar is just a bit opaque. There are two dimples by the bolt holes that will be almost impossible to get. Kudos if you do.



4. Mask off the bottom part of the light bar, which should not be touching paint. You need to mask off the wire, too.

5. Put your gloves on and wipe down the bar with alcohol. You need to ensure that no more body oils or any other oils remain. Be thorough.

 

im a bit lost.....what are you trying to do with this project?

 

Tint the brake light to blend into the spoiler.

 

Ok, finished product, post some pics.

 

NIGHT SHADING


1. Prep a painting area in a place that is relatively well-ventilated area.

2. In very light coats, pass the spray over the light bar in an even pace. This will be about a foot and a half from your light in warmer weather.


Before coating


3 coats


6 coats


10 coats

 

looks pretty good. i used the film from aerotect to blend mine in.

 

Could you take a picture of yours please.

Thanks.

 

Did it lessen the intensity of the brake light?

It could be a safety issue....maybe?

 

AM1's idea is probably better. You can take it off if you need to. Painting it is not reversible. A tint would work....maybe will try it and see how it blends. Does it good with it blended in?

Can somebody post a pic after blending?

 

Let me see if I understand this. You took out the bright brake light and tinted it which will most likely make it less bright. Despite the obvious safety issue, is this just for cosmetic issues or is there some other underlying reason for doing this?

Sorry, but I am lost as to the utility of such a modification!

 

Nightshade, in moderation, does not significantly detract from light output. This modification is basically all about aesthetics. However, I am also using this as a test piece for my taillights, which I plan to also shade to a translucent grey color, similar to that of the WALD showcase car on its website.

 

can you please post a finish picture when you put it back on the spoiler?

 

I'll do that as soon as it is done. I was away on a retreat for the weekend, and got back today. I have to do a touch-up on the nightshade, but will show you the finished product as soon as I can.

 

the taillights and brake lights are already LED';s which means they are brighter then regular cars tails. meaning smoking them should not be that much of an impact. It looks much better with the entire thing the same color. I would have personally sprayed my lights just like H00N did, but it is not reversible and i need to return this car eventually. Ill take some pics when the weather improves. it been foggy and gloomy the past few days.