Blacked Out Lights

[q7newbie]

Can anyone comment or advise me on the best way to blackout my headlights and rear light clusters? I've seen some that look like actual black glass, and then some which look wrapped with a fly-eye looking film (Not a fan. Looks tacky). I want to avoid those fly-eye things, but at the same time maybe avoid the crazy high cost of having to buy a while cats wish of new light clusters!
I want them looking like this beast below that belongs to Kognac.

Help!



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[Oligarchy]

You'll want to wrap it in tint like 5% or less if that's possible. Light can still go through it.

[iconoclast]

While it isn't my cup of tea nor should it be done because it retards light output the best approach would be from a body shop spraying them.

[lx4life]

Just vinyl wrap them 35% vinyl tint, I did my Q7 bumper lights to match my aftermarket tails, plus I did my A7 and A4 and they look real good

[Oligarchy]

Just vinyl wrap them 35% vinyl tint, I did my Q7 bumper lights to match my aftermarket tails, plus I did my A7 and A4 and they look real good

Can you post a photo of the lights with them wrapped?

[lx4life]

[lx4life]

I will have to take a pic of the Q tomorrow but thats the A7, i used 35% vinyl

[LINDW4LL]

Please don't blackout the taillights on your $60,000 German luxury vehicle.

[q7newbie]

Well, there certainly is more than one way to skin a cat! So, I've got:

1- the "DON'T DO IT AT ALL!" team.

2- the spray them team.

And

3- the vinyl wrap team.

🙈🙈🙈. I'm going to assume both wrapping and spaying have pro's and con's. Can anyone highlight them?

How are they affected by heat? How well do they wear against the elements and cleaning?

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[q7newbie]

You'll want to wrap it in tint like 5% or less if that's possible. Light can still go through it.

BTW, how's the damage report on your baby beast after your little "incident"?

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[Oligarchy]

BTW, how's the damage report on your baby beast after your little "incident"?

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Calling today, have some questions on how they'll paint it. Hopefully they start soon

[iconoclast]

Well, there certainly is more than one way to skin a cat! So, I've got:

1- the "DON'T DO IT AT ALL!" team.

i am part of the don't do it at all team.

[q7newbie]

So you don't think the q7 with the blacked tail lights I attached to the original post looks nice? Do you feel it has lost some of its presence?

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[iconoclast]

i don't think decreasing light out put is worth anything, tinting your rear tail lights negates any insurance claims you may if you are rear-ended. insurance company can deny claim based on your decision to modify and obstruct tail lights.

no reason to comment on personal preference since that is subjective to each individual.

i went out of my way to purchase oem euro spec tri-xenon led headlights and upgraded to better bulbs. i appreciate the 20% increase in lighting, sharper beam pattern and i absolutely hate amber reflectors in headlights. most people don't care or even notice the subtle changes like that but i do. so like i said it's dependent on the individual and their preference/taste.

[q7newbie]

No, the tinting I'm looking for is to be totally legal. The Traffic cops in Scotland are crazy stringent! They're looking for any excuse to fine you, (chasing their monthly targets.). And not being funny,but being a young black man in a £60k suv doesn't help me in terms of the racial profiling all police do. I've consulted a few customisers here who do all sorts of good stuff. I'm looking for a "black mirror" effect. It essentially looks black, but it doesn't impede the full functional light dispersal and visibility of the illuminated lights.

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[iconoclast]

body shop can spray them "black cherry" and it may still be legal... i don't know the laws in your area:

[acadapter]

i don't think decreasing light out put is worth anything, tinting your rear tail lights negates any insurance claims you may if you are rear-ended. insurance company can deny claim based on your decision to modify and obstruct tail lights.

no reason to comment on personal preference since that is subjective to each individual.

i went out of my way to purchase oem euro spec tri-xenon led headlights and upgraded to better bulbs. i appreciate the 20% increase in lighting, sharper beam pattern and i absolutely hate amber reflectors in headlights. most people don't care or even notice the subtle changes like that but i do. so like i said it's dependent on the individual and their preference/taste.

This is not true:

First --- The laws in every state are different
Secondly --- The laws in most states do not have to do with the taillight colors; they govern the rear reflectors which may or may not be in the rear light hosing.

Exhibit A:
The Macan definitely has tinted tails as well as other vehicles; some even have clear tails. The law (in Maryland) says that your rear reflectors must be red in color at all times. Look at the bottom of the Macan --- the bumper houses the rear reflectors and it is indeed illegal for them not to be red. Some vehicles have them in the bumper, others in the spoiler or on the side, or in the brake light. That's what you want to be most concerned about along with the output of your brake lights.

[Gavin0478]

LED Engine bay illumination.... tell me more please.

[iconoclast]

This is not true:

First --- The laws in every state are different
Secondly --- The laws in most states do not have to do with the taillight colors; they govern the rear reflectors which may or may not be in the rear light hosing.

The Macan definitely has tinted tails as well as other vehicles; some even have clear tails. The law (in Maryland) says that your rear reflectors must be red in color at all times. Look at the bottom of the Macan --- the bumper houses the rear reflectors and it is indeed illegal for them not to be red. Some vehicles have them in the bumper, others in the spoiler or on the side, or in the brake light. That's what you want to be most concerned about along with the output of your brake lights.

as i said in the other post i don't know the laws in that area... secondly red lights have to be in the rear without obstruction as well as reflectors. i have owned vehicles with tinted tail lights that came from the factory however the reverse lights are white, the brake lights are red and indicators light up amber. any other form of that is illegal and most insurance companies will not side with you if you altered the tail lights and got rear ended. i know for a fact that in my area you will be pulled over and ticketed for any type of tinted headlight or tail light other than factory tint which is subject to the officer and you to prove in court.

SUBCHAPTER E. GENERAL LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES



§ 547.321. HEADLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) A motor vehicle
shall be equipped with at least two headlamps.
(b) At least one headlamp shall be mounted on each side of
the front of the vehicle.
(c) Each headlamp shall be mounted at a height from 24 to 54
inches.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless
specifically prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective
devices, and associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle
must comply with:
(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section
571.108; or
(2) the federal standards in that section in effect,
if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 324, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

§ 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided
by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of
vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps.
(b) A passenger car or truck that was manufactured or
assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least
one taillamp.
(c) Taillamps shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle:
(1) at a height from 15 to 72 inches; and
(2) at the same level and spaced as widely apart as
practicable if a vehicle is equipped with more than one lamp.
(d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a
distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the
taillamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for
the distance specified in Subsection (d).
(f) A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and
mounted to emit a white light that:
(1) illuminates the rear license plate; and
(2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50
feet from the rear.
(g) A taillamp, including a separate lamp used to illuminate
a rear license plate, must emit a light when a headlamp or auxiliary
driving lamp is lighted.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

§ 547.323. STOPLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided
by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole
trailer shall be equipped with at least two stoplamps.
(b) A passenger car manufactured or assembled before the
model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least one stoplamp.
(c) A stoplamp shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle.
(d) A stoplamp shall emit a red or amber light, or a color
between red and amber, that is:
(1) visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at
least 300 feet from the rear of the vehicle; and
(2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is
applied.
(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the
stoplamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for
the distance specified in Subsection (d).
(f) A stoplamp may be included as a part of another rear
lamp.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

§ 547.325. REFLECTORS REQUIRED. (a) Except as
provided by Subchapter F, a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or
pole trailer shall be equipped with at least two red reflectors on
the rear of the vehicle. A red reflector may be included as a part
of a taillamp
(b) A reflector shall be:
(1) mounted at a height from 15 to 60 inches; and
(2) visible at night at all distances:
(A) from 100 to 600 feet when directly in front of
lawful lower beams of headlamps; or
(B) from 100 to 350 feet when directly in front of
lawful upper beams of headlamps if the vehicle was manufactured or
assembled before January 1, 1972.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

[knewsom32]

I used static cling tint from autozone. Just take a blow dryer and mold it around the tails.


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[Oligarchy]

I used static cling tint from autozone. Just take a blow dryer and mold it around the tails.


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This I like, If I were to darken my tail lights I would do it like that.

[knewsom32]

This I like, If I were to darken my tail lights I would do it like that.

Thank you! Took about thirty minutes, but the end result is really nice. It's not too dark either. You can see the lights clearly.


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[lx4life]

[iconoclast]

that color tint looks perfect; not too dark... not too pinkish-red. btw which wheels are those?

[lx4life]

Thanks! those are the Niche Milans 22x10 should of gotten 22x10.5 for more concave but was told it would of hit my caliper. I am about to tint my headlights, hopefully they will look good if not I will take it off, still looking to upgrade to post facelift lights.

[ThewhippetsS5]

Thanks! those are the Niche Milans 22x10 should of gotten 22x10.5 for more concave but was told it would of hit my caliper. I am about to tint my headlights, hopefully they will look good if not I will take it off, still looking to upgrade to post facelift lights.

Looks good! Those are the same wheels I have. You definitely could've fit a 22x10.5 since mine are 22x11

OP, if you smoke the tail lights, I would do a very light smoke at the most

[Oligarchy]

that color tint looks perfect; not too dark... not too pinkish-red. btw which wheels are those?

1+

[Oligarchy]

What percentage tint did you use?

[AUDIMAN33]

This is not true:

First --- The laws in every state are different
Secondly --- The laws in most states do not have to do with the taillight colors; they govern the rear reflectors which may or may not be in the rear light hosing.

Exhibit A:
The Macan definitely has tinted tails as well as other vehicles; some even have clear tails. The law (in Maryland) says that your rear reflectors must be red in color at all times. Look at the bottom of the Macan --- the bumper houses the rear reflectors and it is indeed illegal for them not to be red. Some vehicles have them in the bumper, others in the spoiler or on the side, or in the brake light. That's what you want to be most concerned about along with the output of your brake lights.

The Macan comes with tinted tail lights if you opt for the option...