Best way to tint/smoke the clear reverse lights?

davemarco

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Super simple question: has anyone tinted their clear backup lights? If so, what did you use?
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VinRRR

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I bought a precut one from ebay for $10 and put it on this week. Took me 15 minutes to install it. Looks awesome. No more egg yolk look.
 


TheFox

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davemarco

davemarco

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I did the Premium Auto Styling precut smoked tint referenced in the video brackin.fk8 posted. Turned out great for me. Easy install using wet application and a little heat gun to remove any micro bubbles.

https://www.premiumautostyling.com/...ert-overlays-2016-2019-honda-civic-hatchback/

BEFORE:
image1.jpeg


AFTER:
image2.jpeg
I just installed these myself a few minutes ago. I followed the instructions and sprayed it down heavily with water. Unfortunately, the one of the right experienced significant bubbling. I managed to get most of it out (first with a felt squeegee, then a hard card), but I have some bunching of the vinyl in a few spots that it pretty noticeable. I might just go to a shop and get this done professionally.
 

TheFox

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I just installed these myself a few minutes ago. I followed the instructions and sprayed it down heavily with water. Unfortunately, the one of the right experienced significant bubbling. I managed to get most of it out (first with a felt squeegee, then a hard card), but I have some bunching of the vinyl in a few spots that it pretty noticeable. I might just go to a shop and get this done professionally.
Understandable. Even though that reverse light section is pretty simple in comparison to the rest of the housing, it's still quite the odd shape. I prefer working with Lamin-X film, seems to have better pliability without heat, but they did not have a pre-cut option for this. If you try to do this again, some light heat from a heat gun, or gentle+distant warmth with a torch really tightens things up nicely. I definitely wouldn't recommend anyone who wants a perfect finish to attempt this using Premium's product without heat involved. I also found the finish of Premium's smoked tint to be a little more on the satin side, as opposed to glossy- not what I expected.
 

TheFox

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Understandable. Even though that reverse light section is pretty simple in comparison to the rest of the housing, it's still quite the odd shape. I prefer working with Lamin-X film, seems to have better pliability without heat, but they did not have a pre-cut option for this. If you try to do this again, some light heat from a heat gun, or gentle+distant warmth with a torch really tightens things up nicely. I definitely wouldn't recommend anyone who wants a perfect finish to attempt this using Premium's product without heat involved. I also found the finish of Premium's smoked tint to be a little more on the satin side, as opposed to glossy- not what I expected.
Convenient! - Just today, Lamin-X added reverse light covers for the Hatch to their website. I've ordered them after noticing how hazy/matte the Premium Auto Styling film was in my work parking ramp as I locked my car. I'll post what they look like as soon as I get them installed. From my past experience, I'm sure these are much more premium product that has a better finish.

https://www.lamin-x.com/precut-film-covers/honda-civic-hatchback-16-reverse-light-covers.html
 
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davemarco

davemarco

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Convenient! - Just today, Lamin-X added reverse light covers for the Hatch to their website. I've ordered them after noticing how hazy/matte the Premium Auto Styling film was in my work parking ramp as I locked my car. I'll post what they look like as soon as I get them installed. From my past experience, I'm sure these are much more premium product that has a better finish.

https://www.lamin-x.com/precut-film-covers/honda-civic-hatchback-16-reverse-light-covers.html
That's great news. I had ordered the darker tint from Premium Auto Styling, but in practice, they look way lighter than they do in the ad. Hopefully I can get darker ones from Lamin-X (I'm ordering the Type R LED's to punch through the tint).
 

deep-typer

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Convenient! - Just today, Lamin-X added reverse light covers for the Hatch to their website. I've ordered them after noticing how hazy/matte the Premium Auto Styling film was in my work parking ramp as I locked my car. I'll post what they look like as soon as I get them installed. From my past experience, I'm sure these are much more premium product that has a better finish.

https://www.lamin-x.com/precut-film-covers/honda-civic-hatchback-16-reverse-light-covers.html
How did the lamin-x install end up for you? From the pictures, it seems like it doesn't have a cut for the raised section in the light. Premiumautostyling has that cut. I am trying to decide between the two.
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