Smoking or Redding BRZ/FR-S Tail Lights
Smoking or Redding BRZ/FR-S Tail Lights
First you need to get yourself some red lense paint or smoked lense tint. In my case, I am going to paint them red first, then put a single layer of smoke over that for a dark red look.
First, pop your trunk and find the single plastic rivet on each side. A small flat-tipped screwdriver will allow you to pop the center out about 1/4".
Once the center of the rivet has been popped out, you can slide the entire rivet out of the hole.
Fold the carpet back to reveal the area behind the tail light.
Using a small tool (like a pick, or even a nail) you can lift the plastic catch inside of the zip tie.
With the catch lifted, you can pull the zip tie loose from the wiring bundle.
Then unscrew the zip tie assembly from the stud and set it aside.
Almost ready, just need to unplug the tail light. Push the tab in while you pull the plug out.
Now you can remove the four 10mm nuts. It's easiest with a deep 10mm socket, but even with an adjustable crescent wrench it is pretty easy. Now you can pull the lamp assembly off of the car.
For a good paint job, you need a clean surface. I use mineral spirits and a soft towel to wipe down every inch. I wear gloves to prevent contamination from my oily hands.
I almost forgot to mask the black plastic areas that are visible when you open the trunk.
Plenty of masking tape will make this paint job look professional when it gets peeled off. Now I let the lights sit for a bit to completely dry off.
The key to a good paint job is cleaning, and light coats. I spray several VERY light dusting coats on the lens first. Light coats prevent fish-eyes, which are caused by contamination on the surface. If you build up a few light dusting coats then any contamination will get sealed in and won't be noticeable.
I put three very light coats on, then one medium coat. To know how much paint to spray, look at a reflection of the surface while you are painting. If the coat is too light then it will still look sparkly with a texture like sand. The perfect amount is when you get just enough paint on the surface that it blends together into one continuous smooth sheen. Spray any more than that and you will start getting runs (drips).
I let each coat sit for 30 minutes, so after my four coats of red I put one medium coat of lens tint over the top of it. This isn't a great photo, but after I let the lenses sit overnight they should look pretty good. No judging yet!
