Smoked Tails DIY
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Well as some of you might know I smoked my tails a while ago but wasn't very happy w/ it's finish so I went ahead and tackled it today w/ a full write-up. Its sort of neat doing a DIY report, I just wished I did some more in the past.... well more to follow! enjoy
1st w/ a flathead screwdriver I popped out the bolt covers on the rear tails.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture091.jpg)
remove 2 bolts w/ 10mm socket or phillips head. I prefer socket to save from stripping the grooves.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture090.jpg)
w/ the trunk open look at the end of the tail light inside the trunk liner. There will be a pin holding the carpet and plastic piece to the inner frame. Just pop a flat head in there and pop that sucker out.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/carpetpin.jpg)
Peel the liner out so you can get inside the tail light area.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture089.jpg)
take these 2 bolts off w/ a 10mm socket and ratchet
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture088.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture087.jpg)
now from the rear end of the car gently remove the tails towards the rear. Bring them out approx 3-4 inches and tilt the top down towards you exposing the light sockets. Unplug the lights from the tail lights. (Note: This is a good chance for you to change the bulbs to any that you desire)
1st w/ a flathead screwdriver I popped out the bolt covers on the rear tails.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture091.jpg)
remove 2 bolts w/ 10mm socket or phillips head. I prefer socket to save from stripping the grooves.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture090.jpg)
w/ the trunk open look at the end of the tail light inside the trunk liner. There will be a pin holding the carpet and plastic piece to the inner frame. Just pop a flat head in there and pop that sucker out.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/carpetpin.jpg)
Peel the liner out so you can get inside the tail light area.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture089.jpg)
take these 2 bolts off w/ a 10mm socket and ratchet
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture088.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture087.jpg)
now from the rear end of the car gently remove the tails towards the rear. Bring them out approx 3-4 inches and tilt the top down towards you exposing the light sockets. Unplug the lights from the tail lights. (Note: This is a good chance for you to change the bulbs to any that you desire)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture086.jpg)
#2
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
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Lightly sand your tails w/ 2000grit sandpaper so the tint can bond to them. (I originally went w/ 800 grit following some Aholes directions online, which degraded my final finish of my lights)
Clean the surface area real well and dry. Now spray the tint on approx 4-6 inches away to get a smooth even coat.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture102.jpg)
even comes w/ instructions!!!
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture103.jpg)
Let dry approx 1hr between coats. I used a heating lamp to speed up the process to 30-45minutes between. I ended up w/ 4 light coats.
Once all dry you can choose to clear coat it to maintain its durability. I opted not too but will probably chance my mind later on. I dont want my lights to be too shiny and over power my rear.
Then the finishing steps.....
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/steps.jpg)
I wet sanded w/ 1000grit sandpaper w/ LOTS of water. Make sure you know how to wetsand properly. Application should be very light and smooth. I had imperfections so I started w/ 1000grit. If your finish is nice then go straight to 2000.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture072.jpg)
What I did was keep the running water on my tails and wrap a sponge w/ the sand paper. Make sure the sponge is drenched. As I sand down I squeeze more and more water. It should never feel like sanding but should glide over the surface area.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture075.jpg)
Next I used 3m rubbing compound applied by cotton swab on my lights because I needed it. Some ppl might be able to skip this step.
Clean the surface area real well and dry. Now spray the tint on approx 4-6 inches away to get a smooth even coat.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture102.jpg)
even comes w/ instructions!!!
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture103.jpg)
Let dry approx 1hr between coats. I used a heating lamp to speed up the process to 30-45minutes between. I ended up w/ 4 light coats.
Once all dry you can choose to clear coat it to maintain its durability. I opted not too but will probably chance my mind later on. I dont want my lights to be too shiny and over power my rear.
Then the finishing steps.....
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/steps.jpg)
I wet sanded w/ 1000grit sandpaper w/ LOTS of water. Make sure you know how to wetsand properly. Application should be very light and smooth. I had imperfections so I started w/ 1000grit. If your finish is nice then go straight to 2000.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture072.jpg)
What I did was keep the running water on my tails and wrap a sponge w/ the sand paper. Make sure the sponge is drenched. As I sand down I squeeze more and more water. It should never feel like sanding but should glide over the surface area.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture075.jpg)
Next I used 3m rubbing compound applied by cotton swab on my lights because I needed it. Some ppl might be able to skip this step.
#3
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Then me and my trusty porter cable went to town on the lights at 2400rpm's w/ the DACP.
I let them dry and wiped clean w/ a microfiber towel. Then the NXT went on. I wish I had kept my Zaino b/c I think it would really of gone well w/ the type of fnish I was looking for.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture078.jpg)
let dried and taken off w/ Microfiber, its good to have alot of Microfiber towels in your garage arsenal.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture081.jpg)
comparo between finished and unfinished....
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture084.jpg)
Now reverse the removal process to install them back onto the car. For the inner trunk lights I didn't take them out but taped off the sides and went thru the process right on the trunk.
before
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture080.jpg)
after:
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture100.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture099.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture095.jpg)
PS the pictures really dont do them any justice. In person they look 10X's better then from before...
I let them dry and wiped clean w/ a microfiber towel. Then the NXT went on. I wish I had kept my Zaino b/c I think it would really of gone well w/ the type of fnish I was looking for.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture078.jpg)
let dried and taken off w/ Microfiber, its good to have alot of Microfiber towels in your garage arsenal.
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture081.jpg)
comparo between finished and unfinished....
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture084.jpg)
Now reverse the removal process to install them back onto the car. For the inner trunk lights I didn't take them out but taped off the sides and went thru the process right on the trunk.
before
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture080.jpg)
after:
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture100.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture099.jpg)
![](http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/Go_HIN/Picture095.jpg)
PS the pictures really dont do them any justice. In person they look 10X's better then from before...
![Woot](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/woot.gif)
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#9
Lexus Champion
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
cool writeup, and nice end result from your hard work!!! I definitely need to brave the DIY projects, but am inclined to mess it up one way or another. Oh well, at least I can enjoy and appreciate the DIY projects that you skilled CL members do! Great work again UptownGS!