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      02-07-2013, 01:30 AM   #1
J-Thurm
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blacked out tail lights

I haven't seen too many sets of blacked out tail-lights on a Z4 and I've actually NEVER seen a pair on a Z4 Coupe. I'm thinking of doing this since I have the all black theme going. I've already put a light coat of black on them, but I was thinking of going completely black to match the black sapphire metallic. Anyone have any suggestions to go about doing this or pictures of the tail-lights/3rd brake light blacked out?

Thanks!
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      02-07-2013, 01:44 AM   #2
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Why would you wreck your $1000 tails by spraying them when you can get them vinyl wrapped for $50?
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      02-07-2013, 02:09 AM   #3
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Do they look as good when they are vinyl wrapped? I just want it to look like paint/match the paint color possibly.
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      02-07-2013, 07:07 AM   #4
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Google search



And a forum search

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=412136
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      02-07-2013, 09:29 AM   #5
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what kind of paint? And you are not concerned about visibility at night?
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      02-07-2013, 09:52 AM   #6
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When I first bought my coupe it came with smoked vinyl overlays and looked just ok. I got a ticket for them when driving to Bimmer-fest and removed them just to find out they insulated the lamps heat enough to stress crack them both.
Luckily warranty covered the replacement .
My opinion is paint ,don't wrap if you must do it!
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      02-07-2013, 11:02 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twisted Six View Post
they insulated the lamps heat enough to stress crack them both.
That's the first ive ever heard to vinyl doing this lol. I don't think this is a very common occurance.

I'd say don't do it regardless of how you want to tint. It makes the car look cheap and ricey IMO.
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      02-07-2013, 03:20 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SCHMOUPE View Post
And you are not concerned about visibility at night?
Second this. I still don't understand the need to minimize the effectiveness of a perfectly good safety device that has been on every car manufactured for decades. Why increase the possibility that you will be rear-ended because your tail lights and stop lights are dimmer than BMW and the NHTSA designed them to be? You don't even get to see them when you're driving your car!

Anyone that has been ticketed for this deserves the ticket.
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      02-07-2013, 03:50 PM   #9
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I too would worry about safety, but that's the 40-something in me talking. Given how close headlights already seem in the Z4 rearview mirror (short trunk!) there's no way I'd reduce the effectiveness of those tail lights.
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      02-07-2013, 06:08 PM   #10
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I don't think it would be worth the hassle from Law Enforcement. Instead of toning it down, I think they would be an attention getter.....and not in a good way.....but then again, I'm getting old.
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      02-07-2013, 06:28 PM   #11
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would you rather have bright brake lights or tinted brake lights if you had a drunk driver behind you and you were coming up to a stop?
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      02-07-2013, 07:20 PM   #12
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Always looking in my rear view. As it is, cars seem to get too close. And yes, that rear deck is short!

I do admit it is annoying when behind someone in a newer car with LED's at a stop light. very, very bright and sometimes it begins to actually hurt, lol. For that reason, I take my foot off the brake at a light if on level ground.

But no, my respectful suggestion, for your own sake, is to keep the lenses stock.
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      02-07-2013, 07:43 PM   #13
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Visibility at night? I'd be more concerned about being visible in daytime. I've seen many a JAMF driving around my area with blacked-out tails and you can't see their brake lights for sheet. I'm shocked that law enforcement doesn't pull them over immediately for this obvious safety hazard.

Don't do it. You're not only messing with your own safety, but the people behind you. If I ever rear ended somebody because I couldn't see his brake lights through some hideous blackout treatment, he'd better hope that I'm incapacitated and can't come after him.
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      02-07-2013, 07:51 PM   #14
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here is mine.. very lightly smoked, black rpi exhaust tips.





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      02-07-2013, 08:30 PM   #15
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I believe you can go on E Bay and find a Black out Lenz film that is self adhesive.
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      02-07-2013, 08:54 PM   #16
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I was very happy with Lamin-X did a very light tint on my headlights/taillights.
I would do it again, very happy with the results but I would order an entire sheet instead of the pre-cut pieces which were a huge pain to get lined up properly.
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      02-08-2013, 07:44 AM   #17
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mine had a film tint when i got em, i liked the all black look but got pulled over for something else and was given a written warning about the tails lights, peeled em off and eventually used red spray tint for a uniform look...

and when its not directly in the sunlight they do look darker

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      02-08-2013, 09:52 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SD Z4MR View Post
Second this. I still don't understand the need to minimize the effectiveness of a perfectly good safety device that has been on every car manufactured for decades. Why increase the possibility that you will be rear-ended because your tail lights and stop lights are dimmer than BMW and the NHTSA designed them to be? You don't even get to see them when you're driving your car!

Anyone that has been ticketed for this deserves the ticket.
I fully agree with SD Z4MR and the others on this aspect. Why reduce the effectiveness of your lights? Personally, I wish they were brighter and more visible. Our cars have dual intensity brake lights with the brighter level activated under heavy/hard braking. I would like to see the brighter lights all the time.
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      02-08-2013, 10:01 AM   #19
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I have a very light tint (vinyl pre cut) that I like.





Got stopped recently when I moved to FL and the cop just wanted to see the engine as his wife has a 2004 3.0 Z (and no he is not on the forum though I did tell him to check it out).

I asked him about the window tints and taillights as I was new to Broward county and he said he would be shocked if someone stopped me for that as they were so light.

I personally would not go any darker
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      02-08-2013, 10:27 AM   #20
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I have to agree with others, lights are something that should only be lightly tinted or not at all.



Black out can go too far, got to have just a touch of silver to bring out the bling.
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      02-11-2013, 10:48 AM   #21
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You can apply tints to accomplish this, but make sure your state allows this, as many do not, like Maryland.
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      02-14-2013, 11:02 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twisted Six View Post
When I first bought my coupe it came with smoked vinyl overlays and looked just ok. I got a ticket for them when driving to Bimmer-fest and removed them just to find out they insulated the lamps heat enough to stress crack them both.
Luckily warranty covered the replacement .
My opinion is paint ,don't wrap if you must do it!
I do not think the vinyl caused your lenses to crack, I have worked in the thermo plastic industry for 17 years and have a degree in plastics engineering technolgy. Vinyl is PVC, a taillight lens is a hybrid polycarbonate, pvc disapates heat at a rate nearly twice as fast as polycarbonate. Also polycarbonate has a heat deflection temp about 100 degree F higher than PVC. Not sure what caused the lenses to crack but it was not. 005" thick vinyl wrap film
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