Needs some suggestions/feedback on blackout tails

[chefwong]

alrighty -

I'm thinking about having my tails tinted...
Has anyone just done their tails halfway. I have sport tails so the upper turn signal is a white lense. I'm leaning on just having the lower 2/3rd tinted in a very light charcoal color. T

See pics of my new headlights setup here with black corners
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...project-2.html

To finish things off with the new front end, I'm thinking

- jet black grills frame with flat black slats
- possibly tinting the sidemarkers and the *red* on the tails


Option B is just to get the grilles done in black.

- to a degree, the red on the tails IMO goes well as a contrast against my jet black paint. It kinda gives it symmetry in my eyes against the RED Brembo Calipers in both front and rear wheels.



Dunno ?? Just some ideas that came to mind ....as I was considering black roundel overlays for my winter black wheels...
Suggestions folks ?
Not looking to go all blackout on all lenses. That's not the look I'm going for FWIW.

[Tleong]

If you do a search on tail light tint, there should be a thread on the pictures that you want. I will try to snap pictures of my tints shortly. I think it's a quick and inexpensive project. The tints cost around $15-$20 and can come off easily if you do not like it.

[chefwong]

I'm familiar with tail light tint. I don't recall seeing one that only have a very light light smoke to it just to give it a light film over the red. The closest to that would be the aftermarket smoke led tails from all the pics I've seen.

If I do the tails, it would only be the bottom 2/3 of it. The top clear would remain clear. This flows IMO with the same scheme on the front end with the clear headlights.

[powers1]

I am big fan of black grilles...Mine was sprayed gloss metallic black and I like it a lot.In my opinion one the best mods in my car.
Regarding the "lightly" smoked red part of your tail lights,I think you can only achieve this by having them professionally sprayed,since this way the smoke effect can be controlled to suit your liking.

[chefwong]

I hear ya on the spray. It's the proper way of getting it done...
I have a GREAT tint guy though so he has tons of film in various percentages.
And it's easy ~off~ if I don't like the end results ....with the film

[powers1]

Originally Posted by chefwong

I hear ya on the spray. It's the proper way of getting it done...
I have a GREAT tint guy though so he has tons of film in various percentages.
And it's easy ~off~ if I don't like the end results ....with the film

You are right,its easier to experiment with the film.
To spray them ,you would need someone who can smoke both tail lights equally.Its easy for me..I do it all the time.hehehe..
Have a look at these lightly smoked lights...Maybe what you are after!(sorry ..no X5...but MX5)
The spraying procedure can also be reversed quite easily....

[chefwong]

thx powers. Yes, the effect is similar to what I'm thinking but it obviously would be less contrasty than your pic due to the tail design.

dunno...it takes a while for me to absorb these design ideas when it's not clear.
There are times when I know what I want and it's all clear to me, but when I'm 50/50 on ideas....I just up fighting yes and no in my mind all day.


I see alot of blackout tails and to me they don't look right...or just too monotone.
but with the right color combo against the paint, and the the right shade of blackout, it looks great. The contrast in tails or wheels against paint is what highlights the body at times...

[X Foomph]

Hey chef,
You got a pic or two of your X from the rear (size 800 x 600 or larger)?. If I got time I'd like to try a quick photo chop on your tails.
The pic of the tails that powers threw up of the MX5 looks great.
You sure are gonna end up with a totally 1 off X5. I like your thoughts/theme on having slightly different tails.

While you're at it, maybe a quick pic of your new h/lights as well ??

[chefwong]

I'm terrible at taking pics of the cars....not really into it. I'm totally a landscape/people photo person with all my camera gear.

Headlights were posted in 1st post of the thread.

Sure wish I had pics of my the rear of my car.....let me grab a pic tomorrow. No pshop skills in da house ;-) They look exactly like the tails you have in your sig...but of course it's blue paint ;-)

[X Foomph]

Chef,
What colour is your X ??