kwescott

I've been debating on whether or not to get clear corners on my Black 8. I think the amber looks fine, but I plan to make a change when I get the MS front end. As another option, I was considering smoking the stock amber turn signal, or maybe smoking a set of clears.

This came to me while I was looking at a black Acura TL next to me at a signal.... you'd have to see the side signal markers in person to know what I'm talking about. They are the ones right behind the front wheel and they are hidden in the body line. To me, they looked like smoked clear corners, not a smoked amber lense.

I'm thinking that this would look good on a Black or dark grey 8. What are your opinions on this? Has anyone else considered this? Or done this yet? I was noticing a lot of stock amber lights on Ebay...could pick up a set real cheap and have them smoked, and hold on to my stock ones in case it doesn't look good.

TxRx8

That's funny you brought this up. I'm going to do that to my old stock lights and see how much light gets through. There's some stuff out there that supposedly does wonders. I'm gonna find it. :D If it looks bad-*** I'll sell my clears or something.

kwescott

Let me know what you use and how it turns out. I'm thinking that smoked clears will look more like what the TL has...maybe this will turn into a DIY if there is enough interest.

I went to a RX8 club meeting in Orange County and saw a painted corner (same paint as the car), but don't want to go that route as I don't want to lose the functioning of the light.

Shocka

i used Nite-shad on my civics tails. Looked really nice. People said put clear coat or something to that effect to give it s anicer gloss if u want.

I will try to get a picture of hte bottle when i get home from work. as for the civic tails.. dare i say this i went for altezzas!

Labop

tx-rx8, I want to see pics installed man, or at least pics..., I've been thinking of smoking the head/tails on my black 8. Not sure if I'd do the sides tho, I want to see first.

I'll have to check the Wa state law on it. I'm in Florida so I have to comply with where I'm living and where it's registered. Don't mention the front license plate to the Wa DMV

There's a shop in Orlando that I was talking to about this, but the guy never PM'd me back. He's on the forum somewhere.

TxRx8

There's some guys over at the VW boards that swear by this stuff: "Testors Model Masters Transparent Black Window Tint." Damn that's a mouth full!
Anyways they say it's a little better than night shades, in that it doesn't leave the lenses with a matte finish or doesn't dry as fast as the night shades. There's that and there's Trimbrite Spray. The Trimbright actually keeps the shiny-ness and your still able to see the reflector, so that's cool. I'll be going to Pep-Boys to see what I can find. I'm doing this TODAY, I'll post pics later. Wish me luck! :D

kwescott

I would assume that all of these products are a sprayed on application. I'm wondering what paint shops use. I've seen shops advertise lense smoking, but I'm not familiar with what product they use. In either case, having the ability to add coats to adjust the level of "tinting" is valuable.

Let us know how many coats you end up using...you may even want to take some before pictures, and then post pictures of how much light comes through with each coat. Definately looking forward to your results.

TxRx8

This is definitely a good idea, I'll take a pic after each coat to see what the light output is. Who knew stock orange corners would serve a purpose. :D j/k

ammachama

Hey guys - I have a silver RX-8 - and I smoked the corners last week!
I was waiting to paint my calipers black before putting up some pictures, but I can post the pics later today! I live in Vancouver - too much rain and not enough time to get the calipers done yet. I personally think it looks great, but that is just my opinion - stay tuned for the pics!!

TxRx8

Pics! Pics! Pics! Show me NOW!!!! What did you use? How many coats? Too many questions?

kwescott

You smoked the amber/stock lenses. What would your opinion be of smoking a set of clears?

robertdot

xxdevilzeroxx carbon fibered his...

I am down with smoking everything (rear, front, clears) if I could find a decent solution. Granted, I haven't even looked for a solution.

TxRx8

Bad news guys, I went to every auto parts store, crafts stores, and any other place I could think of and they didn't have the spray-on stuff. SUX. I'll have to order it off the web or something. I'll post here when I get it done. later.

LiL BenNy

[QUOTE]xxdevilzeroxx carbon fibered his...

how the jibbies did he do that?!?!?

kwescott

I saw the corners on Devilzero's, but didn't happen to see it with the lights on. I'll have to take a closer look next time. I spent too much time looking at his anodized red 8 on the rear.

robertdot

It's a CF sticker. Just put it over... It makes the sidemarkers useless, as CF is opaque.

"anodized red 8 on the rear."

He just painted it. He works at Pep Boys... I think he gets bored.

kwescott

He must be doing something right, working at Pepboys and driving an 8....

robertdot

Yeah. It's nice to have a friend working in there, too... :D

ammachama

ok - this is all I could do at night!!
its spray on tint - got it from LORDCO - about 7 layers - but it still only took like 10 minutes - cleaned off the corners, taped off the car, sprayed once side, then went to the other and so on!

I think it would look sweet with the clear corner cuz then you could have whatever colour light you want underneath!!

let me know what you think - I'll try and get pics in the daylight tomorrow!!

robertdot

That amber looks pretty nice. I think I would have taken them out, though, so that the spray goes around the corner... Maybe I can test it on my old yellow ones.

ammachama

ok here are some pics during the day!
I know, the car is very dirty - haven't had time to clean it - not cool
but here are some pics in the meantime!

TxRx8

I'm reporting Rx8 abuse! lol j/k, the corners look pretty good. Just waiting on my spray and I'll join in on the fun.

kwescott

Thanks for the posts and the pics. Especially the night pics so we can see what the light quality looks like at night, since this is the only time they're used anyways. Looks good. This is what I was hoping for when I originally got up the nerve to start the thread. Looks good. I think I will use less coats and not go so black...or try the same process with a clear set, to get a more smokey appearance. I would also agree with taking the lenses off to get coverage on the sides, and to avoid overspray on the car.

TxRx8, could you take some pictures at maybe 3 and 4 coats? I would like to see the difference that those three additional coats make from the 7 coats that ammachama applied on his. It takes guts to be the first. Thanks ammachama.

TxRx8

Will do.

ammachama

no problems - it was something that I wanted to do for awhile - and I figured if it didn't look good, I would go buy the clear corners!!

I'll post more pics once I paint the calipers and of course clean the car! - hopefully some time by next week!