Poqman

I live in VA and it is illegal to tint the rear window in way of the third brake light (so please don't tell me I shouldn't have cut it). I'm trying to decide what is the best way to make the tan interior less noticeable in way of the tint cutout. I'm thinking of removing the third brake light and painting the light housing a charcoal gray color, or maybe the body color.



1. So I'm looking for some input on how to diminish the stark color contrast between the tan interior and the charcoal grey tint to make the cutout less noticeable.
2. Also, I'm looking for instructions how to remove the third brake light. I gave it a push to the left and to the right, but it didn't budge. I thought it moves to the side and then lifts out.

vicsis250

I live in California and the rules are the same I had mine cut out and it doesn't look that bad.

SBlexus

Take the light out and do either a vinyl ES350 logo or Lexus & L logo in black. That would be cool and one nice mod.

350FSport

iTrader: (1)

What a dumb rule. It looks terrible. I would remove the 3rd brake light altogether and tint over the hole. You cant get in trouble for covering the 3rd brake light if you don't have one right? BTW, nice ride!

Poqman

Law requires a 3rd brake light. Additionally, VA has an annual safety inspection. So even if a policeman doesn't ticket you, you'll fail the annual inspection. It could be moved to a rear spoiler, but all of the 3rd party spoilers I've found do not have a brake light built in. So I'm interested in ideas that may make the cutout less noticeable and how to get the brake light out.

chefchoy

What about cars pre 3rd breaklight?

Poqman

What's a "pre" brake light?

garsarno

He means older cars without that third brake light in the window.

Poqman

Ahhhh....Third brake lights, also called center high mounted stop lamps, have been federally mandated since the 1986 model year for passenger cars. They were required for trucks starting with the 1994 model year. The safety inspection only checks for them on autos that it is mandated.

garsarno

Exactly. Thanks for the years that they were standard. I thought it was mid 80s.

Poqman

144 reads an no one knows for sure the method to remove the 3rd brake light on the 2009 model?

mlacomb

Since they're using LEDs, I'm guessing no one has ventured to take it off before. In addition, there aren't any speakers in the rear deck like in some other cars (well, sub doesn't count!) so there's even less of a chance of someone having to take theirs off.

I looked briefly through some repair pdfs I have, but haven't found mention. I would suggest looking at it through the trunk though - might be some screws or something holding it there?

jacobjohn

When I got my car tinted, the guy took out the high brake light with ease to tint the back. I'll give him a call tomorrow and see how he did it and pass the message along to you guys. He told me its pretty simple so hopefully you'll be able to do it and get that nasty cutout looking better.

Poqman

Wow! That would be great! Thanks!

jacobjohn

Sorry, forgot it was Sunday, so he wasn't in his office. I'll try again tomorrow!