I've decided to go for a blackout effect on the S2. I plan on smoking the tail lights, front and side reflectors. Has anyone else done this before? How would you go about doing it?

 

easy way: vinyl stickers.

hard way: buy smoked lenses.

 

http://www.lamin-x.com/One-Universal...r-p/1-1224.htm

my friend bought a bulk roll, and used it to blackout his tail lights on his 240, and 335i. ill see if i can ask him for photos

 

So you want to make your car extra hard to see, and reduce brake light intensity? I've never understood this "look", then again I don't get "drifting" either.... but I haven't been rear-ended.

 

yea i never got the smoked thing either. ppl even put on headlight smoked lenses.

but i did use vinyl to change turn signals from amber to red.

 

Nightshade by duplicolor, and I just put brighter bulbs in, works great.

 

Cheapway....vht nite shades translucent black spray paint

easy way...Craigslist. There are a ton of guys doing this....and there is something to be said for experience....and once you throw in time and materials.... $100-150 doesnt sound bad (the quotes I got for mine included everything but the headlights)

hardway....do it yourself
Remove the lenses. (id get a junk lens to practice on....Im told you should do all your lenses together as a batch for more uniformity in appearance.)
Clean thoroughly.
Ive heard use of adhesion promoters, Ive heard of lenses being sanded, Ive even heard a guy that etches the surface with glass beads and an air eraser....your call.
Once youve done whatever surface prep you intend to....
Translucent Black Paint. Avoid spray paint can materials....its better to use an HVLP detailing gun...
let dry
test light transmissivity and appearance
repeat if necessary
wetsand 2k+
Clear coat.

lucky way....stumble across a set that have already been smoked or were made that way...and buy them.


Upgrading bulb brightness isnt a bad idea....at the very least you should check that your lights are visible from beyond whatever your areas laws dictate as smoked lenses attract the smokies

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I like the sound of a film option best, but I'll ask around town to find a shop that could get it done for me.

Your car looks great!

 

I would say you could do it yourself. I got some red ting for my tail lights of ebay..think metrostyling ..and it came with instructions, squegee, and and you can buy good size cuts of film ($8). See a thread I just put up. I have no artistic/steady apply ability and was able to get it down with Hairdryer, then a small (less then teaspoon) of baby shampoo mixed in water bottle.
I would recommend the film tint over spraying...you can always remove the film and it is a lot easier to do.

They have smoke film too.

 

Did you just go up 5 or 10w over stock bulbs? I assume that way you don't have to worry about drawing too much current over the wires.

 

Hey sTyler check out this thread.
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ferrerid=75046

Cheers,

Sid.

 

whoopsss that's the wrong one...
Here's the right one!
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ferrerid=75046

 

I did the VHT Niteshades on mine. Works fine, no need to spend $100 when you can spend like what, $7 on a can at Autozone and do it yourself. If you don't like it, wetsand it all off!

 

I purchased a couple of 20% smoked film overlays on eBay for $14. I applied them myself yesterday. The overall result came out pretty nicely, I think. I will be ordering some more film to redo one light, as I accidentally made a crease in the film. Good thing it's cheap.

I would have gone for painted, but I wanted something that was less permanent. The film can be removed with little pain, if need be. Right now I'm waiting for it to fully cure. Once the weather clears up, I'll post pics.

 

I hope you drive carefully. It was only last week I was following a van with smoked lights - could barely see the indicators in the daylight.

It's a bit too 1980's Knight Rider for my taste.