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Tinting lights

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by 9MAJOR, Apr 13, 2021.

  1. Apr 13, 2021 at 9:19 AM
    #1
    9MAJOR

    9MAJOR [OP] New Member

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    Took my 4Runner to the tint shop today. While there I asked about tinting my light lenses. He said he sends everybody to the local Maaco shop where they mix clearcoat with a few drops of black paint and shoot all the light for less than $200.
    First, I have never heard anything good about maaco. I have also never heard of this method of darkening the lenses.
    Thoughts?
    I really need to get those lenses toned down to better match my blacked out truck.
     
  2. Apr 13, 2021 at 9:53 AM
    #2
    Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone New Member

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    Current Mods: 3/2 Lift Kit w/Billstein 5100’s SPC Front Upper Control Arms 285/70/17 Michelin Defender LTX TRD Pro Wheels TRD Pro Grill 20% Tint on Windows & Sunroof Pedal Commander Cold Air Kit LED Front Turn Signals Brite-Box Anytime Foglight Kit “Tail as Turn” Rear Turn Signal Kit LED Reverse Lights LED Tag Lights LED Puddle Light Pods Sequential Turn Signals N-Fab 3” Step Bars Future Mods: In-Car Camera System Rear Molle Panel Storage System Magnuson Supercharger (when available)
    I had the same thing done by the body shop in a Toyota dealership I used to work in for my Tacoma in 2009. I swapped those tail lamps over to my new Tacoma in 2012. They still look perfect today. They have actually held up better than the paint on the truck. I too am looking for someone to do this for my 4Runner.
     
  3. Apr 13, 2021 at 10:02 AM
    #3
    Antman

    Antman New Member

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    Not sure if this is true or not. However I’ve been told that if you get rear ended they can use the tinted lights against you.
     
  4. Apr 13, 2021 at 10:11 AM
    #4
    9MAJOR

    9MAJOR [OP] New Member

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    I can see that if they are pretty dark. I have seen some that were black and could barely see the lights. I just want to take the edge off the silverness of the lenses.
     
  5. Apr 13, 2021 at 10:19 AM
    #5
    Dillusion

    Dillusion New Member

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    All the person behind you need to say is they couldn't see the light.

    Its not worth it if you ask me. Also its a judgement call on who can "see" it. So your local cop could also be having a bad day and decide to pull you over.
     
  6. Apr 13, 2021 at 10:43 AM
    #6
    Firefly21

    Firefly21 New Member

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    Hid lows 3500 drl / high Led interior Led reverse Led oem fogs Sequential blinker Trd intake Unifilter pump mod Apex recover points BF Goodrich KO2 (matching trd spare) Kicker front tweeters Tvd overlays S2 yellow wide fogs Apex black sequential rear tails Cartrim home blue convex mirriors
    I went with different housing. Anzo black with clear lens. Plus has sequential blinker

    818F620D-F7C6-47F2-8680-AC8ED84434AF.jpg
     
    j4unner, Trd361 and ruiz4251 like this.
  7. Apr 13, 2021 at 12:29 PM
    #7
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    ICON custom stage 6 3"; 33's; gobi rack; SSO bumper; SSO high clearance; Rigid lights; 10k X2o winch; AFe intake; brola cat back; tint; aftermarket sound; opor sliders; pedal commander, viper smart start mobile tracker, Canvasback Liner; Rago rear window molles; victory 4x4 center console molle; cbi front skid steel; cbi aluminum tran skid; rci fuel aluminum skid; rci dif skid; rago rear shock skids; rci lower link skids; tenton workshop shift knob; yoga shop grenade trans knob;alpha rex headlights; USR blacked out tails; USR turns to turns; blacked out sequential mirror turn
    Same
    I did USR (unique style racing) and their turn/tail mod
     
  8. Apr 13, 2021 at 3:10 PM
    #8
    08TXRunner

    08TXRunner New Member

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    I guess you've never heard of VHT Niteshades.
     
  9. Apr 13, 2021 at 3:41 PM
    #9
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    ICON custom stage 6 3"; 33's; gobi rack; SSO bumper; SSO high clearance; Rigid lights; 10k X2o winch; AFe intake; brola cat back; tint; aftermarket sound; opor sliders; pedal commander, viper smart start mobile tracker, Canvasback Liner; Rago rear window molles; victory 4x4 center console molle; cbi front skid steel; cbi aluminum tran skid; rci fuel aluminum skid; rci dif skid; rago rear shock skids; rci lower link skids; tenton workshop shift knob; yoga shop grenade trans knob;alpha rex headlights; USR blacked out tails; USR turns to turns; blacked out sequential mirror turn
    20201021_123929.jpg 20201103_084552.jpg 20201103_084540.jpg
     
    ATX14 likes this.
  10. Apr 13, 2021 at 4:17 PM
    #10
    Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone New Member

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    Current Mods: 3/2 Lift Kit w/Billstein 5100’s SPC Front Upper Control Arms 285/70/17 Michelin Defender LTX TRD Pro Wheels TRD Pro Grill 20% Tint on Windows & Sunroof Pedal Commander Cold Air Kit LED Front Turn Signals Brite-Box Anytime Foglight Kit “Tail as Turn” Rear Turn Signal Kit LED Reverse Lights LED Tag Lights LED Puddle Light Pods Sequential Turn Signals N-Fab 3” Step Bars Future Mods: In-Car Camera System Rear Molle Panel Storage System Magnuson Supercharger (when available)
    That’s basically what I did with mine. They are not “blacked out” I have been pulled over a couple of times for them by over-zealous cops and ticketed once. I still have them and will not get rid of them. The amount of light that is visible is still plenty bright.
     
  11. Apr 13, 2021 at 4:21 PM
    #11
    Vito Corleone

    Vito Corleone New Member

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    Current Mods: 3/2 Lift Kit w/Billstein 5100’s SPC Front Upper Control Arms 285/70/17 Michelin Defender LTX TRD Pro Wheels TRD Pro Grill 20% Tint on Windows & Sunroof Pedal Commander Cold Air Kit LED Front Turn Signals Brite-Box Anytime Foglight Kit “Tail as Turn” Rear Turn Signal Kit LED Reverse Lights LED Tag Lights LED Puddle Light Pods Sequential Turn Signals N-Fab 3” Step Bars Future Mods: In-Car Camera System Rear Molle Panel Storage System Magnuson Supercharger (when available)
    I used the VHT Nite-Shades on the tail lamps of an F-150 I used to own. It looked o.k. but not great. It had more of a dull look to it than I preferred. Probably user error.
     
  12. Apr 13, 2021 at 4:49 PM
    #12
    newlife

    newlife Not all who wander are ...... squirrel

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    All of them.

    As someone that had this happen don’t. I got rear ended and even though the guy that hit me admitted fault and never said anything about couldn’t see my rear lights. Not only did I get hit with a huge ticket I got dropped by my insurance company after the office turned in his report. Granted this was about 15- 20 years ago but I highly doubt it has changed that much in the insurance world.
     
  13. Apr 25, 2021 at 7:25 AM
    #13
    MAXIM

    MAXIM New Member

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    Ruiz, that looks thick. can you see brake light trough it? I did my third brake light also with Nightshade but only used 2 light coats. I turned out perfect and plenty visible light when on.
     
  14. Apr 25, 2021 at 7:27 AM
    #14
    MAXIM

    MAXIM New Member

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  15. Apr 25, 2021 at 11:09 AM
    #15
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    ICON custom stage 6 3"; 33's; gobi rack; SSO bumper; SSO high clearance; Rigid lights; 10k X2o winch; AFe intake; brola cat back; tint; aftermarket sound; opor sliders; pedal commander, viper smart start mobile tracker, Canvasback Liner; Rago rear window molles; victory 4x4 center console molle; cbi front skid steel; cbi aluminum tran skid; rci fuel aluminum skid; rci dif skid; rago rear shock skids; rci lower link skids; tenton workshop shift knob; yoga shop grenade trans knob;alpha rex headlights; USR blacked out tails; USR turns to turns; blacked out sequential mirror turn
    1st THATS WHAT SHE SAID!!!
    2nd it's two lite coats on there too
    Well, maybe not too too lite but yes can still see brake light
     
  16. Apr 25, 2021 at 11:12 AM
    #16
    ruiz4251

    ruiz4251 "but it was funny huh?"

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    ICON custom stage 6 3"; 33's; gobi rack; SSO bumper; SSO high clearance; Rigid lights; 10k X2o winch; AFe intake; brola cat back; tint; aftermarket sound; opor sliders; pedal commander, viper smart start mobile tracker, Canvasback Liner; Rago rear window molles; victory 4x4 center console molle; cbi front skid steel; cbi aluminum tran skid; rci fuel aluminum skid; rci dif skid; rago rear shock skids; rci lower link skids; tenton workshop shift knob; yoga shop grenade trans knob;alpha rex headlights; USR blacked out tails; USR turns to turns; blacked out sequential mirror turn
    Also, since I'm using turn to tail the right/left brake lights are crazy bright!
     
  17. Apr 25, 2021 at 11:49 AM
    #17
    j4unner

    j4unner shootz brah..

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    I also ordered from USR but experienced water/condensation within 12 hours. Currently waiting to hear back from USR customer service after they requested me to send in photos. Took them off and put stock tails back.
     
  18. Apr 25, 2021 at 11:50 AM
    #18
    j4unner

    j4unner shootz brah..

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    Nice! I assuming no issues with water/condensation like I did with mines from USR.
     
  19. Apr 28, 2021 at 12:40 AM
    #19
    dricko

    dricko New Member

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    I would put one coat of Nite-Shades to give them a classic vibe.
     

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