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Dark Taillights
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:48 pm
by heydockyle
Alright I tinted my tails and they came out a little darker then I wanted because cops already watch my car. But I like how they look. I want to get some brighter bulbs. I saw the big tower ones from autoillumination on some aftermarket lights but it didn't do me any good for my decision.
What are you guys with dark tails running? Like what bulbs from where and did they shine through alot better? Thanks
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 12:57 am
by superdan
im running depo l.e.d tails with 2-3 coats of nightshad....perfect because they look dark as shit but when the breaks are touched they are still pretty bright
the lights arent on in this pic but the camera flash gives you an idea
this is what they look like minus the camera flash from above
dont know if this helps or not...
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:47 am
by MyNeonSaysHi
I am curious as well, might be purchasing a used set of tinted tails that were professionally done. (Painted) they look really dark and I do not want to be pulled over...Rather than going LED's are there brighter bulbs out there?
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 2:23 am
by darthroush
You may check your laws just to be safe. Here in CA, they must appear red in color, and the reflector must still be visible from up to 500 ft. away. I tinted mine, but lightly. Still red and the reflector is fine.
In the case of the CA law, if your tails are tinted so much they are not red in color, no reflection visible, and most likely as a result the light output is low and someone rear ends you, you will most likely be at fault.
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 2:40 am
by DOSneons
i had my tinted very dark, ran the stock bulbs and never had any trouble with the police. (well not for that reason)
you can see the reflectors good too

Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:42 am
by sidepipe87
^at night with a flash you'll always see the reflector, so it doesn't really matter. The real issue is during the day time you won't be able to tell they are lit up and someone may crash into you.
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:32 am
by heydockyle
Thats why I want a brighter bulb to make sure people can see me hit the brakes in the day..
You can still see the red through the tint when the sun hits it. Just not much.
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:41 am
by Danteneon
Autolumination 60 tower LEDs. Bright as hell. A little pricey, but so worth it.
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:06 am
by heydockyle
I saw them, but before I pay $60+ dollars in bulbs I'll sand the tint down.
Anyone use the 25-LED 16mm Wedge Base bulb from superbright?
Or these:
5th one down on this page.
http://autolumination.com/3157_3156.htm
49 High Powered Wide Angle SMT LEDS
These Bulbs have Advanced Surface Mount Technology LEDS
40 high powered SMT side facing LEDS -9 high powered SMT forward facing LEDS
From autoillumination. If they'll fit?
Because they claim to be bigger then the 60 led tower.
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:47 pm
by DOSneons
i never had a problem with the lights shining thru in the day
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:13 pm
by MyNeonSaysHi
Yeah it does look cool but with my luck I would have some one rear end me. I love how LilSprkPlug has hers tinted, not too dark, but perfect:

Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:10 pm
by LilSparkPlug
Mine actually have about 7 coats (if not more) of nightshade on them. They're pretty dark. But at night...they're fine...no issues at all with stock bulbs.

Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:22 pm
by heydockyle
Not worried about night though. They look fine at night. I'm worried about daytime.
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:26 am
by UriahRR
LilSparkPlug wrote:
Do headlight normally shine more to the left than to the right? Or is it just the angle?
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:26 pm
by MyNeonSaysHi
Good point, she could of just turned them on and they were heating up...not sure.
http://www.attention2detailkc.com/tint.html
Going to have him professionally tint mine. ^^^ $75 doesn't seem that bad for paint and labor.
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:52 pm
by SlvrACR
Mine are very dark and I have gotten pulled over twice and they have yet to say anything about them. I just have normal bulbs and they are still bright. IDK how you tinted them though. Mine were done with diluted base coat PPG
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:20 pm
by La_noob
Dos I love your rims!!!
I think I might get something similar once i get a srt-4 i just got a neon right now....
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:31 pm
by bigbird
SlvrACR wrote:Mine are very dark and I have gotten pulled over twice and they have yet to say anything about them. I just have normal bulbs and they are still bright. IDK how you tinted them though. Mine were done with diluted base coat PPG
I just got pulled over and the officer warned me not to drive at night until I change them!

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:05 pm
by DOSneons
La_noob wrote:Dos I love your rims!!!
I think I might get something similar once i get a srt-4 i just got a neon right now....
those are SRT wheels i painted, actually have them for sale since i no longer have my car
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:19 pm
by occasional demons
bigbird wrote:
I just got pulled over and the officer warned me not to drive at night until I change them!

Yeah, he is a bright one. If they are hard to see at night, they would be impossible to see in the day.
I think he got it backwards. But hey at least you can drive during the day. Until you get rearended....
If I could legally put red HIDs on the rear of my car, I would. I have been rearended too many times.
Meh, I could have a hologram of a locomotive headed at them, and they would still slam into me. Some PPL just don't get the meaning of looking in the direction they are traveling.
But it would be cool to see the look on their faces, with a freight train headed at them.

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:26 pm
by DOSneons
why cant u have red leds
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:34 pm
by occasional demons
Are you asking me?
I typed HID's which would blind the shit out of everyone behind me. But they would know I was braking. HID would not work for brake lights anyhow. Too much on/off.
If you were asking in general, disregard!
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:36 pm
by DOSneons
i was askin u, lol i mis read what u wrote i thought it said leds
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:44 pm
by occasional demons
Since you mentioned them tho...
They do make leds that can be molded into the body, and are almost invisable until turned on. They are more of a street rod thing, but they would be a good supplement to dark tinted tails.
But then again, they may be considered rice. And it would be a bit pricey to have installed, you will get rearended anyways, and have to fight with the insurance to get them replaced..../rant.

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:46 pm
by DOSneons
fuck it if they would look cool do it, u could put them in the bumper like were the lights are on the euro neons
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:05 am
by occasional demons
I used to have bright amber leds tied to the fuel pump relay, sort of like DRL's in the grill, but I still had a van back out in front of me, totalling my car.
So I have given up on trying to be more visible.
It just doesn't matter when the average IQ of a lot of the drivers out there doesn't exceed a two year old's.
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:19 am
by DOSneons
lol true i have lucky thus far but had many close calls
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:10 am
by darthroush
occasional demons wrote:
It just doesn't matter when the average IQ of a lot of the drivers out there doesn't exceed a two year old's.
Amen.
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:38 am
by LilSparkPlug
UriahRR wrote:
Do headlight normally shine more to the left than to the right? Or is it just the angle?
They're not regular headlights they're OEM projectors in a retrofit and they shine that way because the right one is angled higher than the left. My new setup is aimed better than these were.
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:40 pm
by Dylan-00Blue
tint em dark as fuck you have a third brake light ppl can see