MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: TOMMYGUNN on December 09, 2010, 10:18:12 pm

Title: rear lights
Post by: TOMMYGUNN on December 09, 2010, 10:18:12 pm
hope someone might help, ive got standard rear lights for gti and been looking through a few build threads and seen some people have used tinting spray to darken rear lights??? can anyone tell me what the results are like and how easy it is to do???? thanks 
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: smoftah on December 10, 2010, 09:34:51 am
It is quite an easy mod to do but it takes time to mask up the lights.

I keyed ( lightly scratched using fine wire wool ) the entire lights before doing anything.

I used coachline first to mask the outer circles on the lights and then standard masking tape to the edge of the coachline:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi150.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs111%2Fsmoftah%2FIMG_0223.jpg&hash=bf3811dc43177f1a32045b760b2fc2fb230d414e)

I sprayed two layers of e-tech with the lights in a line so I could get an even coat accross them and used a heat gun to dry them off ( the bodyshop should have closed 5 hours before and I was still in there!  :signLOL: )

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi150.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs111%2Fsmoftah%2FIMG_0225.jpg&hash=0d39c65c92ef9ffb5a3c97f7f690fdecf79ff1a5)

I then removed the tape and sprayed the lot with 3 coats of clear lacquer and viola you have the finished item:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi150.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs111%2Fsmoftah%2FDSC00537.jpg&hash=1e4e011fe09ba3bc9bb8f6fb676a42e20db3a3d5)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi150.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs111%2Fsmoftah%2FDSC00536.jpg&hash=2737161a49df034724748e821eb53584b5f5bedc)

Hope this helps  :happy2:

Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: Jaywoo-GTI on December 10, 2010, 10:34:18 am
They look awesome. Love the rear valence too.
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: Gtiain on December 10, 2010, 10:49:47 am
They look awesome. Love the rear valence too.

Alright mate, love the rear valance, is that an r32 'upper' bit with a normal gti lower? How did you do that it looks awesome!
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: gti265 on December 10, 2010, 01:12:54 pm
i have also done this mod with smofyah's guidence, brought all the bits of ebay - e-tec tinting spray in black, and clear laquer, is very easy to do, hardest bit is masking up the lights i havnt got any pics up yet, as my car is that dirty atm you cant tell there tinted lol but i will do soon :)

tom
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: GTsport on December 10, 2010, 02:09:29 pm
They look awesome. Love the rear valence too.

Alright mate, love the rear valance, is that an r32 'upper' bit with a normal gti lower? How did you do that it looks awesome!

x2  That Valance looks awesome!  How did you do the lower bit?

 :happy2:
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: TOMMYGUNN on December 10, 2010, 02:50:01 pm
cheers for help guys, do you need to take lights out to make it easier?? tom
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: tonto83 on December 10, 2010, 05:21:28 pm
Is the tint prone to flaking? Or will it be fine once the surface is prepped? Also whats the finished surface like?is it smooth like the existing finish on the lights or bumpy?cheers for the info lads,could be a nice little project to keep me entertained over the xmas :)
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: smoftah on December 10, 2010, 11:33:02 pm
They look awesome. Love the rear valence too.

Alright mate, love the rear valance, is that an r32 'upper' bit with a normal gti lower? How did you do that it looks awesome!

x2  That Valance looks awesome!  How did you do the lower bit?

 :happy2:

Thanks. The upper part is standard GTi bumper and the lower part is a rear valance bought off ebay. Check out my build thread to see all the info on it:

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,21863.0.html (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,21863.0.html)

cheers for help guys, do you need to take lights out to make it easier?? tom

Definately take the lights off. You do not want overspray going on the car.

Is the tint prone to flaking? Or will it be fine once the surface is prepped? Also whats the finished surface like?is it smooth like the existing finish on the lights or bumpy?cheers for the info lads,could be a nice little project to keep me entertained over the xmas :)

After keying the lights the paint should not flake. With the clear lacquer it is a smooth finish as it was before.  :happy2:
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: tonto83 on December 11, 2010, 12:33:05 am
I couldn't see the pic's earlier because I was on my phone.  They look perfect, really well done.  One more question...I promise :grin: But did you do any light sanding between coats of tint or lacquer? Really well done again :happy2:
Title: Re: rear lights
Post by: smoftah on December 13, 2010, 11:01:16 am
I couldn't see the pic's earlier because I was on my phone.  They look perfect, really well done.  One more question...I promise :grin: But did you do any light sanding between coats of tint or lacquer? Really well done again :happy2:

Hi, No I did not do any sanding between coats. Just make sure you get an even coat when spraying  :happy2: