TheDirtyGoatee

So I have a Mazdaspeed Protege. I like the euro "dark" or smoke look on tail lights. My friend has a GTI who has smoked lights. He says the best way to accomplish this look is by using spray paint... sounds kind of bizarre to me but he might be right.

Any other suggestions? Possibly buying a new set of lights so as to keep it stock if needed?

I absolutely hate the clear light look on MSP's. Some people like it, I always thought that clear lights look kind of cheap. Some cars can rock those lights and it look good (Lexus IS300) but some don't.

J-Protege

What you are looking for is either an overlay film in smoked, to tint it, or a spray product called 'Niteshades'.

Niteshades is a spray, but its a tint, not a paint. You do NOT want to spray paint your lights black!

This is niteshades (lights comes through fine, like a tinted window):


And this is with an overlay film, such as rockblocker:

njaremka

or, just buy then tinted already...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-03...spagenameZWDVW

J-Protege

True, but that can be a bit more pricey.

_Kansei_

Light doesn't at all come through 'just fine' after applying nightshades or a film. It makes it significantly dimmer. To give it the black look, you're talking eliminating 70 percent or more of the light output! crazy

J-Protege

Well, this is what Rockblocker says:

Kit Number # 149924 - P5 Tail lights
Smoke-Out Kits allow 83% light output- Dark Smoke Kits allow 70% light output

Did you mean 30% reduction in light?

_Kansei_

Maybe just a 30% reduction but that is really significant (and any at all is enough to make it illegal most places). It's enough that brake lights on a tinted light look like normal running lights on a non-tinted. Plus the black film makes the taillights more reflective, which is an issue during the daytime.

J-Protege

Hmm, never thought about the film actually being reflective. I guess I've never noticed.

Myself, I only tinted the signal/reverse section of my tails, mainly because of the fact that a tinted brake light may be seen as a regular running light. Dangerous, even with an LED 3rd brake light.

However, my signals and reverse lights seem fine, and can be seen through the tint without an issue.
It's like shining a flashlight through a tinted window, or looking through your rearview mirror with the back window tinted - it still works.

_Kansei_

Yeah, just the turn signals is a bit different. With the brake light also covered.. you run into a problem if people can't see your lights (well... the problem runs into you)

There is always this option for the Protege sedan taillights..

414938_22_full.jpg?t=1191017316

J-Protege

That's pretty much what I have, but I'm a ricer, so it looks like this:

Jackelope

or just get a friend to paint 'em w/ automotive paint

let me take some pix of mine...

Jackelope

blah, i waited to late to get a day pix, here is a night picture for now (not the greatest, i know)

J-Protege

Really, just regular paint? I'd think it would be too opaque for light to get through properly.

_Kansei_

yeah that's nice and light. tough to do, easily one coat could cover way more.



I later just went to covers that were on with velcro.. on for pics, off 95% of the time

Jackelope

better picture (starting to wash car, figured.. hey, snap a day pic of lights haha) - and I had the velcro ones on my '94 toyota p/u

yah.. i didnt want them too dark