1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Vinyl Tint added to Tail Lights

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Daves09prius, Nov 4, 2012.

  1. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    I've wanted to do this mod for oh... about as long as I've been a member of Priuschat. Sigma Automotive has the Tail Lights like this for $800 Nope Just checked now they're $1250!!! [​IMG]

    Toyota Prius 2004 ~ 2009 NHW20 Exterior Accessories :: Sigma Automotive

    I don't know about you but $800 is too much, how many are they really selling for $1250???

    So over the last couple of months I've been ordering the vinyl supplies off of eBay and researching what I need to do to add the vinyl tint to the talilights to simulate the Sigma automotive ones.

    Lastnight I finally had time to try it! I smoked the Center and added red to the top and bottom Similar to the Sigma ones!

    It was a pain, but I guess with some practice it would get easier to do over time...
     
  2. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Some hints for others who want to tint their headlights or taillights: know which side has the glue before you measure and pre-cut. Use a real heat gun, not a hair dryer (I used a hair dryer and it was really hard to get the vinyl to stay flexable and hard to get it to shrink around the curves of the tail lights. The tail lamps don't seem like they have a lot of curvature, but yeah they do. Apply the vinyl in a heated garage or during warm weather ( I was so cold when I was doing this I was shivering - making it hard to cut a straight line - and it was hard for the vinyl to stay pliable it would harden up so fast I struggled with it).

    If this is your first time adding vinyl tint I'd recommend ordering way more than you need.

    It took me a couple of tries on the left tail lamp. If I didn't have a second roll of red, I'd have ran out of tint! You can easily make your own application solution (I could be wrong - other can correct me on this but what I found on other websites was 1/3 part 91% isopropyl alcohol, 2/3 water and 3 medium to large drops of baby shampoo).
     
  3. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    I used 3M automotive masking tape to help me hold the vinyl and used it to help score/cut the vinyl around the curves. The difference between the 3M 233+ green masking or the Yellow 3M automotive tape compared to your normal house-hold masking tape is that you can curve the tape where normal masking tape will tear, where the 3M will stretch. The 3M doesn't leave any glue residue, which typical standard masking tape often does.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    KK6PD, usnavystgc and Justdidit like this.
  4. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
  5. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    I'd like to say that there arn't any jagged edges, and that it's perfect. But it's not. If you were able to look at it up close you could see the flaws, but from 1 foot away, it's not horrible looking. - Then again, if you're experienced or are a professional installer I'm sure mine looks like crap. but I'm happy with it!
     
  6. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Nice job, I had to look out of my office window at the nice person of my car, yeah, that would be a good mod, even better since baby is red to start with!:cool:
     
    Daves09prius likes this.
  7. Chamutas

    Chamutas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2007
    14
    25
    0
    I installed dark tint on mine. Here are a few pics. I did not want to go completely black.
    I have light dark and black tint if someone interested send me a message.
     

    Attached Files:

    Justdidit and Daves09prius like this.
  8. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Chamutas, those tail lights look good!:)
     
  9. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    4,591
    5,291
    0
    Location:
    Palmdale, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Looks good Dave....can't blame u for not wanting to spend that much on tail lights when u can do it urself
     
  10. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    1,880
    708
    75
    Location:
    Carrollton, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I liked the 04-05 Taillights with the blacked out upper brake light area... so instead of spending $150 on a pair, I spent $10 on some taillight tint. :) I really like the light grey look also. May have to incorporate that look into mine as well. (y)
     
  11. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    I think the style you're looking for would look good with the way that you have the roof and spoiler wrapped.
    Hey - Don't forget to tint the center brake light! I think a light smoked tint would look good with the black carbon wrap that you have installed.

    Look at what Chamutas did (comment #7) - it looks like his was the 04/05 style with blacked out upper brake light area, and then he added additional tint over the entire brake light assembly.

    Sounds like you want the look that he has.

    I think both styles (red/dark/red or the dark tint up top with the light smoked tint on the middle and bottom) look better than the 2009 stock tail lights!
     
  12. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    i would not tint the 3rd brake light. the whole purpose of the 3rd brake light is to get the attention of the retard behind you who is too busy texting or putting on make-up to notice that you had to slam on your brakes.
     
    KK6PD likes this.
  13. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2012
    1,880
    708
    75
    Location:
    Carrollton, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Here is my current Black Vinyl Roof/Spoiler and Tinted Taillight setup:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I think the light grey on the rest of the tail light might help blend it all 2gether.
     

    Attached Files:

    Chamutas and Daves09prius like this.
  14. Chamutas

    Chamutas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2007
    14
    25
    0
    Looks very nice. I have very similar combination :). Just also did front headlights inside black and smoked tail lights. Oh and at that time i did not have black vinyl so my roof ans spoiler is paint.
    Black vinyl overlay is much better option- you can reverse it at any time.
    Interested. Contact me for carbon fiber vinyl or special black roof vinyl.
    IMG_2637.JPG
     
  15. Chamutas

    Chamutas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2007
    14
    25
    0
    Here some more Ideas with carbon fiber black vinyl. IMG_1837 (Large).JPG IMG_2085 (Large).JPG IMG_2347 (Large).JPG IMG_1831 (Large).JPG
     
    Daves09prius likes this.
  16. Chamutas

    Chamutas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2007
    14
    25
    0
  17. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    [​IMG]

    I like the results you are achieving with the use of Black on you car. If you don't mind I am going to steal one of your ideas you came up with concerning that stupid chrome smile. I love the carbon fiber black vinyl. It has that texture that the smile needed! Thanks for the idea!
     
  18. Chamutas

    Chamutas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2007
    14
    25
    0
    I am glad you found it useful Post some photos later.
     
  19. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Chamutas, you and your pals are killing me!
    So many great mod ideas. I spent a couple of hours Sunday night ordering Black Carbon Fiber wrap for the smiley "V", Red film for tail lights, If I have enough Carbon Fiber Black, the lid on the center console gets wrapped too!
    Spent a couple hours on You Tube watching how it's done. Sweet, I already have the proper heat gun, etc! I am good to go!!!
    You boys keep coming up with these great ideas, I love reading about all of them!

    Keep Rocking Boyz! :D
     
  20. Chamutas

    Chamutas Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2007
    14
    25
    0
    Silver carbon fiber $2 per sq ft. if someone is interested to order, send me a message. I did this because the gray paint was worn on my windows controls and steering wheel. IMG_2550 (Large).JPG IMG_2544 (Large).JPG