Does anybody know where to find those color matched side makers lenses or are they painted to match? Even clear or smoked would be cool so the lights still work. I want to match, or close to it, on my Black '04 sport so it's all black with smoke or clear lenses.
Thanks

 

I found the turn signal lenses, but I need the pair for the front and rear bumper lights. Do the people that have them black on a black car still light up?

 

I have found clear side markers (in front of the door) on ebay. No luck on the others.

 

4bizonly, as of a few months ago, no one makes clear or tinted turn signal lights like you are after. The only lenses you can get are the factory ones. SO, your hands are pretty tied. With that being said, some of us do have tinted turn signal lights and this was done using some RC car paint called "Window Tint" which is a translucent paint that has a limited amount of black tint in it. THis allows the light to shine through yet still give the light a blacked out appearance. If you need more info on this, let me know. i am one of the members that has done this to his turn signals.

 

Yes, Chris. I'd love some more info please. I just forund out that what I saw in some of the pics were the UK spec bumper strips that are color matched. They don't have a light and that's probably not good for safety so I'd rather try your solution. Fill me in as detailed as you can. Thanks

 

4biz, in short, what you will end up doing is getting some 400 grit sandpaper, some adhesion promotor (special plastic primer that is clear), a can of RC Car "Window Tint" paint, and some clear coat.

At this point, you will need to remove all 6 of the side marker lights from the car. Using the sand paper, rough up the outside of the lenses so you put a "fog" on the whole assembly that is visible when installed on the car. Now, apply the adhesion promoter to the 6 light assemblies. This can be done either via a spray can or via an air brush. All depends on how you get the adhesion promoter (air bush is better since it applies a thinner coat of paint, but not everyone has an air brush). Once that is dry, let it set another few hours to allow the adhesion promoter to cure. Using the Window Tint paint, apply several light coats of the paint till the desired darkness is reached. Once on the car, the lights will look a little darker. I'm sure you want them essentially black, but keep in mind the more of the tint paint you apply, the less light you are going to get out of the lights. So, this is a double edge sword.

Finally, once the tint paint has dried, apply some clear coat over the outside. Again, applying via an air brush is better as it goes on thinner and won't blob up like spray cans can.

After letting the lights dry very well, re-install and you are done. If you need assistance removing the side lights, let me know. There is a little trick to them if you are not familiar with them.

 

I have actually done this on my 02 black sport on my side markers and also turn signals. I will take a picture later tonight to show you how they look in the dark.

Although Thermo's method might work, after you are done tinting them, they are permanently tinted and it is very hard to get the same level of tinting all around the car so that it all matched. Instead of painting, I bought some 30% smoked vinyl from ebay for about $10 shipped. This way you don't have to take the corner markers off of the car to tint them, and if you ever decide you don't want them anymore, you just peel them off. This stuff works wonders if you have a heat gun and get used to it a bit! I will upload pics of my setup later tonight or tomorrow.

 

Cool thanks guys. Yes I wondered how you get the side bumper markers off. Let me know the trick if you could Chris and I look forward to seeing your pics when you can post some Disguay.

 

4biz, take a flat bladed screw driver and using a little bit of masking tape, cover up the tip of the screw driver. You are doing this to protect the paint. If you have a wooden stick, this will also work. If you look at the lights, you will noticed that they have a pointy end and a flat end. Place the screw driver against the flat end and push the light about 1/4" towards the pointy end. At this point, you should be able to pull out on the flat end of the light a little bit. Release the little bit of tension that is there and remove the light from the car.

To install, simply put the flat end against the car, push so the flat end will not slide any more than gently push the pointy end till it is flush with the body of the car.

 

Finally got some picture of my "smoked" corner markers in the day and night.







The light really comes through pretty well. Probably reduces the actual brightness of the light by around 50%, but it's still very noticeable when it's on. The turn signals are much more noticeable however.

 

Very cool guys, Thanks for the options. I've got the smoked turn signal lenses coming in in a few days.

 

Did you buy them pre-smoked? Just curious to see which route you're going to be taking with smoking them.

 

Yes, they are pre-smoked so if I don't like them I guess I could alway try your method on my originals as well. Someone had a pic of the pre-smoked ones on a black car like mine and they looked pretty cool. I'll attach his pic and I found them on eBay for $14.95+$9.95 to ship. It's better to have the silver coated bulbs instead of the yellow to avoid the fried egg look.

 

Looks great! I might have to buy a replacement from them