Legal Way To Paint Head/Tail Lights?
Truly technically speaking, there is no legal way to paint the lights, since they'd have to get recertified by the DOT.
That said, some methods are more under-the-radar than others.
For example - midnight tails (full disclosure - I have them on my sedan,) don't reduce light output, but dramatically darken the tails. Search the forum for the term for more details, but in short, it involves disassembling the tails and painting the chrome reflectors black. Light output = unchanged.
Blue bat gtr-style overlays (and/or the painted version by 180) don't reduce light output, but do eliminate the required reflectors, so YMMV. they're also VERY aftermarket looking.
tinting tails = extremely illegal, and also risky, since if you get rearended...it's now your fault.
As far as painting the headlights go, that's as under-the-radar as it gets, assuming you're speaking about painting the reflectors. I JUST did mine, and while tedious, the results are amazing. Light output = unchanged.
This has nothing to do with those dark-tinted headlight covers you often see on mustangs, ha.
That said, some methods are more under-the-radar than others.
For example - midnight tails (full disclosure - I have them on my sedan,) don't reduce light output, but dramatically darken the tails. Search the forum for the term for more details, but in short, it involves disassembling the tails and painting the chrome reflectors black. Light output = unchanged.
Blue bat gtr-style overlays (and/or the painted version by 180) don't reduce light output, but do eliminate the required reflectors, so YMMV. they're also VERY aftermarket looking.
tinting tails = extremely illegal, and also risky, since if you get rearended...it's now your fault.
As far as painting the headlights go, that's as under-the-radar as it gets, assuming you're speaking about painting the reflectors. I JUST did mine, and while tedious, the results are amazing. Light output = unchanged.
This has nothing to do with those dark-tinted headlight covers you often see on mustangs, ha.
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Joined: Apr 2012
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Depending on where you live you will have more or less problems with the law. I live in la and only time anyone i know gets pulled over is when the cop is being a **** or you are being pulled over for a unrelated issue and are disrespectful to them, they tack on another ticket for the lights.
I have been pulled over for other reasons and never had the officers comment on my GTR style taillights.
I have been pulled over for other reasons and never had the officers comment on my GTR style taillights.
Senior Citizen
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,984
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From: Los Angeles
You need check online with your state’s law regarding the subject. For example, below is my state’s law on tail lights:
You will see that in section (e) modern tail lights must be plainly visible at 1,000 feet or less. Assuming that the average length of a car is 15 feet, then we’re talking about rear visibility of 66 car lengths. I interpret that to mean don’t paint your tail lights at all if you want to stay legal.
V C Section 24600 Taillamps
Taillamps
24600. During darkness every motor vehicle which is not in combination with any other vehicle and every vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with lighted taillamps mounted on the rear as follows:
(a) Every vehicle shall be equipped with one or more taillamps.
(b) Every vehicle, other than a motorcycle, manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1958, shall be equipped with not less than two taillamps, except that trailers and semitrailers manufactured after July 23, 1973, which are less than 30 inches wide, may be equipped with one taillamp which shall be mounted at or near the vertical centerline of the vehicles. If a vehicle is equipped with two taillamps, they shall be mounted as specified in subdivision (d).
(c) Every vehicle or vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles, subject to subdivision (a) of Section 22406 shall be equipped with not less than two taillamps.
(d) When two taillamps are required, at least one shall be mounted at the left and one at the right side respectively at the same level.
(e) Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.
(f) Taillamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 72 inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being equipped with the required taillamps, may also be equipped with two taillamps which may be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable vehicle height and as far forward as the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in the rearmost position. The additional taillamps on a tow truck shall be lighted whenever the headlamps are lighted.
Amended Ch. 924, Stats. 1988. Effective January 1, 1989.
Taillamps
24600. During darkness every motor vehicle which is not in combination with any other vehicle and every vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with lighted taillamps mounted on the rear as follows:
(a) Every vehicle shall be equipped with one or more taillamps.
(b) Every vehicle, other than a motorcycle, manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1958, shall be equipped with not less than two taillamps, except that trailers and semitrailers manufactured after July 23, 1973, which are less than 30 inches wide, may be equipped with one taillamp which shall be mounted at or near the vertical centerline of the vehicles. If a vehicle is equipped with two taillamps, they shall be mounted as specified in subdivision (d).
(c) Every vehicle or vehicle at the end of a combination of vehicles, subject to subdivision (a) of Section 22406 shall be equipped with not less than two taillamps.
(d) When two taillamps are required, at least one shall be mounted at the left and one at the right side respectively at the same level.
(e) Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.
(f) Taillamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than 72 inches, except that a tow truck, in addition to being equipped with the required taillamps, may also be equipped with two taillamps which may be mounted not lower than 15 inches nor higher than the maximum allowable vehicle height and as far forward as the rearmost portion of the driver's seat in the rearmost position. The additional taillamps on a tow truck shall be lighted whenever the headlamps are lighted.
Amended Ch. 924, Stats. 1988. Effective January 1, 1989.
Here's my painted taillight GTR style DIY, the reflectors are visible under lights at night and the taillight output is just slightly tinted, you can also do the DIY without any tint in the GTR area, it also allows full reverse light output. It's "more" legal than smoked taillights but I suppose it depends on how picky the officer is, it's very simlar to those GTR type Impala taillights from a few years back so I doubt you'd run into problems. And I still have cutouts available if you want some, makes it very easy to get great results 
BTW, if you paint your headlights be sure to swap your crappy fresnal lens fro an STiR lens from The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications
Here's the tail link~
https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...ils-sedan.html
And if you want to wrap your trim here's one for that too!
https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...-g-sedans.html
BTW, if you paint your headlights be sure to swap your crappy fresnal lens fro an STiR lens from The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applicationsHere's the tail link~
https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...ils-sedan.html
And if you want to wrap your trim here's one for that too!
https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...-g-sedans.html
Senior Citizen
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 87
From: Los Angeles
Let me mention another cause for concern here. If an owner with any kind of smoked tail lights, regardless of how well the lights can be seen, gets rear-ended some sorry night, it’s quite possible the rear-ender’s insurance company will assert it’s the front owner’s fault and deny his claim due to this illegal mod.
This scenario would also hold true if a driver with smoked or painted headlights rear-ends someone else. I’m sure insurance companies look for this sort of thing.
This scenario would also hold true if a driver with smoked or painted headlights rear-ends someone else. I’m sure insurance companies look for this sort of thing.
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Chekov makes a good point, it's one of those worse case scenarios but never know when it could rear its' ugly head.
Here is my take, if you do anything to the stock lights you are probably breaking the law in some shape form or fashion. That includes front rears, overlays, painting reflectors, removing the orange reflectors in the fronts etc. I would be a hypocrite if I didnt say I have a vehicle with smoked rears on it........Just remember any time you do something like that you are taking big chances! I don't recomend people doing it.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 72
Likes: 4
From: Jersey Shore
I just posted pics in my thread of my headlights with lamin-x. I'm leasing and dont want to open my headlights just yet (might buy another set in the future) but my advice is NOT to cheap out on them. Only you will feel good about them if you dont do it the "right" way but eventually you'll come around and realize the booboo you made
I tell people its an Infiniti but I'm also a hypocrite and never thought I'd go for tinted anything but windows
I tell people its an Infiniti but I'm also a hypocrite and never thought I'd go for tinted anything but windows
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