I did this quite some time ago and I know that there are alot of new S197 owners here so I thought I would post it again.

I removed the the tail lights taped them off and sprayed them with flat black paint. I always thought that there should be something to seperate the lenses alittle. Anyway here's the process and after 2 years of painting them they still look like they did that day. BTW, the most time consuming part is taping off the lenses.

 

Yep, I recall the original post. Still a really nice and very nearly free mod

 

A good buddy did that mod as well and it still looks good.I've considered the same mod only because it flush and does not stick out like most plastic bezels.Thanks for posting the pics.Did you scuff the areas you painted for some adhesion?

 

Thats something I would like to try.

 

Nope, I just cleaned them real good with some dish soap.

 

What kind of paint did you use? I was thinking this would be a good time to use the Krylon Fusion for plastic, I wonder?

 

Looks great! Cheap and good-looking, just perfect for me!

 

Thank You, Thank You. Perfect timing. Going to pull them off the BULLITT tomorrow, and do it. I'll let you know how the process goe's for me. I love doing things MYSELF to my cars.

 

This a great mod. I finally did this last week. Got a compliment from my neighbor as I was reinstalling them, but not what you think. Said "Wow I couldn't tell you even did anything, it looks factory". Taping it up is a pain in the *** though.

 

Do you cut the tape at the base of each light? Or just on the top surface of the light?

 

And what kind of paint did you use? Any prepping needed to be done?

 

I cut the tape at the base of each lense. More work on the masking but I wanted the whole lense to show, not just the top. I can't remember what brand of paint I used but it was flat black. I didn't want the black glossy.

I'm glad I reposted this because it is an easy mod and you can do it yourself which always makes me feel better. I thought some of the newer guys could use the info.

 

I cut the tape just like GRAYPNY did in the pics (towards the base of each lens, about halfway down the bevel (where it curves into the base). I used Krylon indoor/outdoor satin black. prepped with rubbing alcohol but soap and water would do just fine. No sanding involved.

 

Great mod!
I just used some vinyl striping tape, did it in about 5 minutes, just seperated the lenses.

 

that looks great, simple yet effective

 

I used Duplicolor from Autozone, and roughed up the areas to be painted with my wife's fingernail file.

 

this is on my 'to do' list...I'll use pactra R/C car polycarbonate spraypaint - tiny spray cans available at most hobby shops, I use that for reverse painting(from the inside) lexan helicopter canopies, and it really bites into the polycarbonate plastics, never had any U.V. issues with it either...the taillight trim along with the blackout trunk panels really looks great!

 

I did this a couple of months back also, and I remembered seeing your write up. I used a basic paint from Auto Zone, but I used glossy.

 

Great mod.

 

Pic of satin finish if anyone's interested: