Why do owners tint their headlights and taillights?

[OILFIELDTRASH]

post up what you drive so I can have perspective

Ferrari brah. He balla. Alpha male/monster.

 

[Bacstar]

I can't imagine doing it anywhere where weather conditions have lots of snow or fog. I have a hard enough time seeing unmodified taillights in those conditions, and having tinted lights is just asking to be rear-ended. When conditions are bad, my car even has an option to turn on my rear foglights which just make my taillights brighter...

 

[iamwiz82]

I like the LED brakelights that flicker for a few seconds when activated, they definitely help grab attention better.

I have one of these in my MINI. It looks like this one, except I have mine set to long duration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EDGu9exorM

 

[HeXen]

I have one of these in my MINI. It looks like this one, except I have mine set to long duration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EDGu9exorM

Awesome, i'd like to find one for my Fit. I'll get around to searching for one when of these days, just never been much of a priority, i just think how nice it would be to have them whenever some jackwad rides me.

 

[cyrinda]

I recently purchased a black 2002 Nissan Altima and the previous owner had it blacked out. He did take most of the paint off the headlights and tail lights but there is still some on it. Does anyone know how I would get the rest of it off without costing me a ton of money?

 

[DrDoug]

Same reason why they get fart cans and colossal subwoffers, to be a giant douchebag.

The fart cans should be called shit cans because they make the car sound like shit. I also like to laugh at the guys who bolt a wing onto a FWD car. There's nothing like introducing instability and less traction at high speeds to make driving exciting!

The subs can be a great laugh when some idiot installs them and doesn't realize his car sounds like it is rattling apart as he's driving down the road.

 

[Leyawiin]

Same reason why they get fart cans and colossal subwoffers, to be a giant douchebag.

Or ridiculously high lift kits, balloon tires, "smokestack" exhausts behind the cab, etc...

 

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah I don't like the look either. Had a friend in high school that bought black plastic covers for his Explorer (front and rear). He would at least pull them off at night though.

I recently purchased a black 2002 Nissan Altima and the previous owner had it blacked out. He did take most of the paint off the headlights and tail lights but there is still some on it. Does anyone know how I would get the rest of it off without costing me a ton of money?

He painted them black? I thought it was usually just tint or a cover.

Did you try the usual? Rubbing alcohol/fingernail paint remover/etc.

You can buy those headlight refurbishment kits where you sand and polish the plastic. But you'll need a power tool or a powered buffer to do it right. Might be worth it to buy replacement headlight housings. I bought some for a relative a few years back and they weren't bad (~$80 for both front housings with bulbs, have held up well and still working fine since).

 

[thescreensavers]

In florida your brake lights need to be seen "X" amount of feet.

Taillights with bright LED's will still make that "X" feet even if tinted pretty well.

Its cars with normal Bulb tails that do that and now you can hardly see them.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

I recently purchased a black 2002 Nissan Altima and the previous owner had it blacked out. He did take most of the paint off the headlights and tail lights but there is still some on it. Does anyone know how I would get the rest of it off without costing me a ton of money?

Can you get the housing out of the car? That would for sure make it easier for removing.
You may be able to sand it off. Paint stripper you might risk wrecking the plastic.
It might require you getting them clear coated.

 

[Zargon]

I had the right headlight covered in see thru yellow vinyl on this bike, no idea why I cant find a picture of it.

 

[exar333]

I figured the fact that combined, they have 4 turbos, and make over a 1050 whp, they would be textbook legit, but hey, stereotype away based on the tail lights.

Any G35 could be considered D-bag-ish off the lot... just the nature of the car. This G is is just a clean car. the wheels are a bit much, but are a decent wheel and were on the car when he bought it. We actually just took it out of storage today.
up on the hoist doing the oil change just this afternoon

IMHO, one of the best 350s I have seen. Huge :thumbsup:

I like the G, but not a fan of the wheels. A standard 5-spoke silver/alloy (not chrome) would be awesome. Different tastes though, as long as your friend likes it, right? We all like different things...

 

[Zenmervolt]

Depends on where you live.

Anywhere in the US they're illegal.

Lights must meet Federal standards for brightness and color. If a car does not meet the Federal standards, it's not legal for on-road use. States may have additional laws specifically dealing with tinting lenses, but those are on top of the preexisting Federal requirements.

ZV

 

[Midwayman]

Tinting tails is a DB move. There are other ways to get a unique look, but its more spendy since you need new houseings. Its like the DBs that put HID bulbs in halogen reflectors.

 

[Throckmorton]

They don't realize it looks terrible

 

[Throckmorton]

I had the right headlight covered in see thru yellow vinyl on this bike, no idea why I cant find a picture of it.

Why?

 

[Throckmorton]

mine are tinted... do they look gross, cheap, autozone-ish, or D-bag-ish?

edit:

my buddy's G35 tinted tails. 1/3 darker than mine.

Lit up - center brake light is untouched. still pretty even output

kind of a small/crappy pic, but here are the two side by side in the sun

Looks like a Chevy Cobalt when you can't see the shape of the taillights

 

[Hartle4]

I recently purchased a black 2002 Nissan Altima and the previous owner had it blacked out. He did take most of the paint off the headlights and tail lights but there is still some on it. Does anyone know how I would get the rest of it off without costing me a ton of money?

Go to the store and get some berry man's carb cleaner. Get the stuff in the aerosol can. spray it on there wait a few seconds and it should wipe right off. I own an inspection station in missouri and you can not pass inspection with tint on your lights, the carb cleaner has cleaned paint or tint off of lights with no problem at all.

 

[Zargon]

Why?

it was the high beam, that I pretty much never used.

and little 3rd eye LED in between the 2 headlights had it as well. I had clear vinyl over the regular headlight


because race bike?


I liked how it looked, and it was easy to remove and non-permanent

 

[BurnItDwn]

They tint them because it makes it harder to see at night.

 

[casper9133]

I see no major problem with tintin headlights or nothin... I have double layer 5% all around including the eyebrow on my 97 sentra soon be side mirror single layer an i plan 40 or 50% the rest the windshield.....

 

[jlee]

I see no major problem with tintin headlights or nothin... I have double layer 5% all around including the eyebrow on my 97 sentra soon be side mirror single layer an i plan 40 or 50% the rest the windshield.....

I hope you never drive at night.

 

[996GT2]

Honestly, some newer cars with LED taillights are WAY too bright at night and hurt my eyes when I'm stopped behind them at a stoplight. Tinted taillights wouldn't be a bad idea on a car like that.

 

[HeXen]

It's a freaking car for crying out loud. Who cares what someone else does with theirs.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

It's a freaking car for crying out loud. Who cares what someone else does with theirs.

ummm...everyone