DIY – GS300 – clear tails – amber removal
07-06-09, 11:36 AM
#76
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Doing mine now
Update #1 Ok I see the challenge here is leverage. Having done this many times in Hondas there was a much easier way to "split" the lenses. These have a ridge that makes cracking them all too easy. Finding the right spot as well as making sure the glue is hot is paramount.
Update #2 So far I've done 10 min and it didn't seem to be enough so I'm going for 5 more. No cracks yet.
Update #3 Few hairline cracks, but nothing I'll care about. These ARE 10 year old lamps. The sides facing the quarter seem to be easiest. My method so far has been to loosen it as much as possible, then back in the oven. Slow and steady wins the race.
Update #4 One small crack in the clear area (you don't win wars without battles) but the passenger side is off. Time to clean up and reassemble.
Update #5 My overall suggestion to everyone is, like many others, not to to this. The way it's glued and the age of the plastic is just too much for it to bear. Dremel would work MUCH easier. I have cracks on both, but it's good enough for me until I put some LED tails on it...
End result: I stopped on the 2nd lamp as the plastic just kept cracking... So now my car won't match but it's just motivation to get LED tails sooner....
Update #1 Ok I see the challenge here is leverage. Having done this many times in Hondas there was a much easier way to "split" the lenses. These have a ridge that makes cracking them all too easy. Finding the right spot as well as making sure the glue is hot is paramount.
Update #2 So far I've done 10 min and it didn't seem to be enough so I'm going for 5 more. No cracks yet.
Update #3 Few hairline cracks, but nothing I'll care about. These ARE 10 year old lamps. The sides facing the quarter seem to be easiest. My method so far has been to loosen it as much as possible, then back in the oven. Slow and steady wins the race.
Update #4 One small crack in the clear area (you don't win wars without battles) but the passenger side is off. Time to clean up and reassemble.
Update #5 My overall suggestion to everyone is, like many others, not to to this. The way it's glued and the age of the plastic is just too much for it to bear. Dremel would work MUCH easier. I have cracks on both, but it's good enough for me until I put some LED tails on it...
End result: I stopped on the 2nd lamp as the plastic just kept cracking... So now my car won't match but it's just motivation to get LED tails sooner....
Last edited by Newchapter; 07-06-09 at 05:10 PM.
01-23-10, 12:15 PM
#79
Was looking for this
hmmm.... sounds very tempting. I will give it a try as soon as I get my car back from a shop. I think 98+ tails with clear blinkers look better and cost waaaay less then stock 01+ tails. Great writeup.
01-24-10, 09:03 PM
#80
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nice write up im gonna try this!!! how long should you let them dry before putting them back in the car to start driving again? and what besides painters tape did you use to hold the lens's in place while baking them again to seal
01-09-11, 01:27 PM
#81
I have two sets of 98-00 tails...
About a year ago I failed with a heat gun, and destroyed a set.
Now, I'm gonna use the oven, a heat gun, and a bigger flat head screwdriver and see what happens.
I am hoping everything goes well this time. I'm gonna be really patient and cautious. I'll post up pics. win or fail... haha
About a year ago I failed with a heat gun, and destroyed a set.
Now, I'm gonna use the oven, a heat gun, and a bigger flat head screwdriver and see what happens.
I am hoping everything goes well this time. I'm gonna be really patient and cautious. I'll post up pics. win or fail... haha
01-21-11, 09:56 PM
#90
wooo hoooo... tail light diy winner !!!
haha....
Thank you OP...
2nd time is a charm....
About year ago, I attempted to do the diy with a heat gun and failed .... lol.
Discouraged after the diy fail.., I bought 01' tails and then went to K2 Led tail lights. But I've always liked how the 98-00 tails look after they are cleared out. They have a clean and simple look, kinda like a MBZ tail lights.
Tonite I did the oven technique like the OP stated. Everything went fine. I had one small little crack on the bottom of one of the tail lights though.
The key elements are:
-patience
-fat tip screwdriver
-once the light starts to seperate, continue to follow it with the screwdriver until it fully seperates.
-heat gun, to get in some tighter areas
I'll have pics up tmr, after they are in the car.
Caution: these lights are old, it will seem like the glue is brittle while seperating the lense. P a t i e n c e is the key..
Thank you OP...
2nd time is a charm....
About year ago, I attempted to do the diy with a heat gun and failed .... lol.
Discouraged after the diy fail..
, I bought 01' tails and then went to K2 Led tail lights. But I've always liked how the 98-00 tails look after they are cleared out. They have a clean and simple look, kinda like a MBZ tail lights. Tonite I did the oven technique like the OP stated. Everything went fine. I had one small little crack on the bottom of one of the tail lights though.
The key elements are:
-patience
-fat tip screwdriver
-once the light starts to seperate, continue to follow it with the screwdriver until it fully seperates.
-heat gun, to get in some tighter areas
I'll have pics up tmr, after they are in the car.
Caution: these lights are old, it will seem like the glue is brittle while seperating the lense. P a t i e n c e is the key..