Tinting Side Indicators and Reflectors?

Willstar · Postby **Willstar** » Wed May 09, 2012 9:04 am

Has anyone tried to tint the side indicators and reflectors?

I had a go with Nightshades spray tint. That stuff is evil. Even with a good clean and the lightest spray it beaded up and went hard before i could get the metho onto it to clean it off.

I've ordered a set of clear indicators and reflectors, but still would love to tint them to a smoked colour. I know you can get them in smoke, but i was having trouble sourcing the rear reflectors to match.

Anyone tried filming these, or is it a bad idea with the raised lettering and DOT marks?

Bizi · Postby **Bizi** » Wed May 09, 2012 9:44 am

Willstar, check the numerous garage threads where people have sanded back their reflectors to scratch-free, lettering-free perfection. Maybe you can practice on an orange one. Emily's thread is one I recall for this.

I have a set of darkish tinted, white front reflectors which I could offer for sale, so you don't need to self-tint.

Have a go and see how it turns out!

Willstar · Postby **Willstar** » Wed May 09, 2012 9:53 am

Is there any issue with compliance sanding back the dot marks.

I had lights on an MR2 that weren't DOT marked, and i couldn't get a RWC with them on.
I thought that if i filmed them, then i could remove it if i had to.

marty085 · Postby **marty085** » Wed May 09, 2012 10:07 am

Mitch_f1 also has a great write up about sanding them (somewhere) with full photos from memory.

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Wed May 09, 2012 10:23 am

At the risk of sounding like a 'mum', I would advise against spraying the reflectors.

The previous owner did this to the car and I'm desperately trying to source ones that are tinted from the manufacturer.

The spray-tinted reflectors basically don't reflect anymore so why have them at all?

For our little cars, which often gets missed by other drivers even during the middle of the day, we need every single piece of indicators we can get on the exterior.

I've managed to source some tinted side indicators and i've seen the tinted reflectors online, I just haven't been able to find one that would ship to Australia yet. But at least these reflectors still reflects.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed May 09, 2012 10:25 am

Just keep the orange ones as spares, it's a 2 minute job to swap them over if you need to.

Depending on NSW laws you might not even need them, in Vic you don't need side reflectors. (but if you have them they need to be orange)

I've painted over mine.

Bizi · Postby **Bizi** » Wed May 09, 2012 10:34 am

+1 for MitchF1's excellent Garage Thread updates. That was the reflector rejuventation how-to that I was trying to remember!

and1 · Postby **and1** » Wed May 09, 2012 2:49 pm

Take the reflectors and wet sand with 400 grit and then follow with 800 grit until smooth.

I say paint over the reflectors. Just use the right paint. I used Duplicolor Metalcast. That stuff is amazingly easy to use the results are great. Best thing is the reflectors still reflect after being sprayed. They also have a 'smoked' colour. I obviously used the red.

Metalcast-paint.jpg

Here are mine. You can see the reflecting abilities in the pics.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Wed May 09, 2012 3:01 pm

Hammer did a film over his. Check out his garage thread or possibly PM him.

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Thu May 10, 2012 12:52 am

Lol @ wanting to tint them and worrying about still complying with ADR standards.

Don't stress it. It's common for people to paint them or film them.

I run clear reflectors and indicators. It's one of those things you could get in trouble for bit realistically never will.

Kikuchi · Postby **Kikuchi** » Fri May 11, 2012 3:06 am

I've tinted all my reflectors using niteshade as well. You just need to be light handed on the first layer and subsequent layers.
What you need to be careful of is that even though it doesn't look dark, realistically, it's already quite dark. Ofcourse that's fine if you just want it black, but if you want it to have slight reflective qualities then just 2 light layers is fine.
Mine is bit dark, it still reflects, but not too well.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri May 11, 2012 3:04 pm

I agree with badbong. The amber relectors work brilliantly- no bulbs to replace but lit up by other vehicles making your car more visible. Painting lenses is certainly going to compromise optics and painting plastic is not always a reliable process. Restoring a lamp however does have merit. I would say the smoked appearance on the MX5 SE lamps is achieved not by painting but using a PC with that shade ie done when the lense is moulded.