I want to remove all chrome from my rear 2004 tail lights. I know some people have done this. I have everything needed for the job but I can seem to break the seal between the plastic glass and backing. Do I need to heat them for something? Please help, thank you
Mario

 

Hey Mario! I've done this one mate, looks great after you've done it. I found it real easy with a dremmel. I think thats what most other folks have done. Put a circular cutter on the dremmel and cut straight into the seam at a corner. Once you are through, get a couple of screwdrivers in there and start prying it apart. It makes some pretty bad noises but is fine!

accetone takes the chrome off (its spray paint). Then scrape off all the old sealant to give a clean join, put new black sealant and squeeze together. I then taped it and left it to set for an hour. Got no fogging or any indication that I ever took it apart.

Gimme a call if you want.

Cheers. N

 

The first time I tried it I did the dremel hole and pry method. Made it almost all the way and the CRACK. Split the lens. Found some replacements on Ebay (OEM '03) and tried again. his time dremeled all the way around, no prying. Pulled the lens off and smoothed eveything out. Dremeled/punched out the little tabs holding the colored lenses to the chrome. Wiped off chrome, scuffed up with steel wool, and painted. After dry, put colored lenses and chrome back together with a few drops of black silicone. Ran a bead of black silicone all the way around the edge of the housing and reattached the outer lens. Wrapped a couple of pieces of painters tape around the whole thing to keep it in place while it dried.
Looks pretty cool and you can't tell it did not come that way.
Of course I then tinted the lens which killed the effect, but I was doing it for different reasons. With the tint on the chrome underneath looks a little greenish. So I was just doing it to remove the green.
Jason

PS. If you bust the drives side and need a new one let me know. I have a replacement.

 

I baked them Joey mod style with an 05 set, justhave to watchvery closely as, there isn't much support and thelens will sag with theheatif you leave it too long.

That softens it up then took a razorblade andeventually a screw drive working around prying off the lens.

 

http://www.newminiclub.nl/forum/about5765.html

scroll down this thread

 

Thank you, good thing there are pictures. I will start on Thursday when my second pair of lights get here.

 

hahaha " this thread i worthless without pics right? ".....

Have fun!

Coen

 

thats a nice link. Just wish it was in English. Maybe a web translator will help.

 

just pop your questions here

 

Very nice write up coen, I know this may be alot to ask, but maybe could you post this here in english for all of us?
Thanks, Chris.

 

I never thought they were that close together.

 

Some people in the HiDPlanet LED Forum use heat guns rather than bake the entire lamp. For example, see this thread.

 

I've opened up three pairs so far using the dremel+prying technique. Quite easy if you just tell yourself to take it slow.

Here is an example of a chili red set with slightly tinted lenses.

 

Great looking car as always Rally. I may have to undergo this mod, unless I go with the clear OEM tails...

 

I just used a hobby saw to make the cut at the seam and then a screw driver to pry it apart. Very easy. Just be very careful and take your time. Looks like the 2006 tail lights are a bit different though. The chrome is just painted on the red part of the tail light. Scuffed the chrome part up, taped the red center part of the lens, painted with an etching primer then flat black, and then glued them back up. No heat or baking in the oven required.

 

Mine:

 

Not that I want to open mine back up again,but what paint was that you used to get rid of the amber dome? Wish I would have thought of that a few weeks ago.
Thanks

 

I bought mine at a hobby store where they sell RC cars. Candy Cherry red I think. works great!

 

Here in the netherlands you can buy special rearlight paint.. works great and in "every" color available!

Cheers

Coen

 

Thanks