Sedan - Painted chrome on trunk and smoked the tails (pics).

[Herbicidal]

Well I finally completed my mods for the rear end. Earlier I replaced the badges on the trunk with Vios and 'S'. The next thing I wanted to do was paint the chrome piece on the trunk, body color. Finally did that. Then the last thing was to smoke the tail lights. I went back and forth on whether to paint them, buy replacements already tinted or use a film. Ultimately I decided upon the film from Lamin-X.

I carefully read the directions several times and finally decided I was ready to tackle them, including the 3rd brake light. The directions said the temperature must be at least 70 degrees out and to use a heat gun or hair dryer to work the film around the odd angles and contours. I ended up using our 500 watt halogen work lamp as it throws out quite a bit of heat. I started on the 3rd brake light as the seemed to me to be the easiest of the three to do. It was pretty straight forward and gave me the chance to work with the film. Man, that stuff is pretty thick! It does have an adhesive backing as well that activates when it gets wet. My kit was pre-cut to fit my car. It's a pretty darn good fit too, except for the 3rd brake light, that is a universal kit and would probably do two lights. The challenge was getting it on by myself! I ended up having my 12 year old daughter holding the halogen light about 6 inches away from the tail light while I was working the film into place with all my might! This is definately a two person job, especially if it's cooler weather. One to hold the source of heat and the other person to work the film. It is pretty forgiving and I repeatedly removed and reapplied it until I had it the way I wanted it. You have to keep your fingers wet and the film damp and the tail light misted and pull and stretch and squeegee and tug and pull and...well, you get the point. Whew! Finally they were on! A few little bubbles here and there and some fogging underneath from a little too much misting. The directions say that in a couple of weeks, depending on how much direct sun and the outside temp, it should all clear up. So I'll wait and see how that goes.

So, here are 4 pictures of the rear end so you all can see the different stages. Thanks for looking!

Stock, with the Vios and 'S' badges:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1827

Chrome trim painted:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1826

Smoked tail lights and 3rd brake light using Lamin-X film:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1825

Slight angle from the rear:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1828

[minired5stby]

Good job its coming along

[JBougie]

NICE!!

[JumpmanYaris]

SWEEEET ANOTHER GREAT SEDAN there is a few like this. Keep it up

[fujiwaru]

i like that painted piece you got on the back. How did u do it?

btw i got the same color as yours! XD its not the S version though.

[kustom play]

looks 100X better with it painted vs chrome

[kac]

looks awesome

[YarisSedan]

Thats one of the first cosmetic mods i did to my sedan too. The chrome makes the rear end look smaller and its already a subcompact its small looking as it is. Painting it gives it a more cleaner look and makes the rear end appear to be a little larger. I dont know why they made only that piece chrome its not like there is really any other chrome on the car except the toyota badge. It just feels out of place.

[JBougie]

Anyone want to make some money and smoke my tails for me? lol I'll pay anything ... well, within reason :)

Seeing all the smoked tails have made me absolutely want them.

I had almost forgot about that chrome strip back there, I really like it painted too. That has to be one of the best mods yet, IMO.

[fujiwaru]

The chrome makes the rear end look smaller and its already a subcompact its small looking as it is. Painting it gives it a more cleaner look and makes the rear end appear to be a little larger.

i would have to agree on that. :thumbup:

[ryota]

looks 100X better with it painted vs chrome

agreed!

[PETERPOOP]

from what i can see, great job!

[CtrlAltDefeat]

nice! :w00t:

[smofskra]

looking damn good! I myself am not a fan of chrome.

[GuySmily]

Which level of smoke is that? It came out very nice. That's exactly the shade I'm looking for.

I actually just need to make a few small circles. Do you have any of the universal kit left?

[tk-421]

Looks great! :thumbsup:
What is the best way to paint over chrome? Did you strip it first?

[Herbicidal]

Thanks everyone for the compliments! :smile: I have a few more pictures of the entire car in my >>>album<<< (http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/album.php?albumid=73) and my >>>garage<<< (http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/funkygarage.php?do=view&id=799). For those that asked some questions, let me see what I can do to answer them:

i like that painted piece you got on the back. How did u do it?
btw i got the same color as yours! XD its not the S version though.
First I removed it and used black electrical tape to cover the holes left in the trunk, just to keep out any water, dust, etc. I tried to sand the chrome with some 600 grit paper and it was too fine. I then tried 380 grit and this time I was able to scuff the chrome some. Then I used some Duplicolor self-etching primer and laid down several coats following the instructions on the can. I wet sanded it very lightly to get it nice and smooth, then I did about 5 light coats of the body color paint (again, following the directions on the can). After the appropriate dry time, I sprayed the clear coat and waalaah! It was done! The finish is not as smooth as the rest of the car, but the color in the sunlight is spot on. Honestly I didn't want to invest hours into wet sanding, buffing, etc so the finish it more of a 'matte' vs super smooth. I'm happy with it. Then I used some Meguires wax as the final step.

Which level of smoke is that? It came out very nice. That's exactly the shade I'm looking for.
I actually just need to make a few small circles. Do you have any of the universal kit left?
From the Lamin-X web page it is their 'smoke' version. Gun smoke is lighter and charcoal is darker. Yes, I have a piece left over that should do the 3rd brake light. Do you want it? Crap, at least I think I do, hopefully I didn't accidently throw it away! I'll have to check tonight after I get home from work...

Looks great! :thumbsup:
What is the best way to paint over chrome? Did you strip it first?
Thanks! Scuffed it up a little bit with 380 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Just enough to dull the chrome somewhat. Then I used Duplicolor self-etching primer, followed by the body color paint, then the clear coat.

I think that about covers it!

[KCALB SIRAY]

looks great!! any closer pics of the film?

[Herbicidal]

looks great!! any closer pics of the film?Thanks!

Not at the moment. I can take a pic or two in the next day or so. I'm kind of a perfectionist and to me, it's a little rough (in some places) up close, but I'm hoping it will smooth out as it dries out. My daughter (12) says it "looks great Dad!" and she wants me to do it on her car when she gets one. :biggrin: It's a real booger to get it smooth right from the get-go. Practice (and heat!) definitely makes a difference as you get a 'feel' for how it works. As I mentioned before, the product is pretty forgiving and allows you to remove and reapply multiple times to get it where you want it. Heat and wet fingers are key!

[KCALB SIRAY]

Thanks!

Not at the moment. I can take a pic or two in the next day or so. I'm kind of a perfectionist and to me, it's a little rough (in some places) up close, but I'm hoping it will smooth out as it dries out. My daughter (12) says it "looks great Dad!" and she wants me to do it on her car when she gets one. :biggrin: It's a real booger to get it smooth right from the get-go. Practice (and heat!) definitely makes a difference as you get a 'feel' for how it works. As I mentioned before, the product is pretty forgiving and allows you to remove and reapply multiple times to get it where you want it. Heat and wet fingers are key!

great, thanks!

[shaneeezy]

Looks fabulous :]

[fujiwaru]

is there a DIY section on applying the film on the lights?

[Herbicidal]

KCALB SIRAY - by the time I got home last night it was dark, so no close-up pictures. I'd rather use natural light versus a flash. I'll see how tonight goes.

Looks fabulous :]
Thanks!

is there a DIY section on applying the film on the lights?I haven't gone looking for one, but I think I mostly covered it in my initial post. The directions provided with the film are pretty good too. Just read them a couple of times and have a bowl of water to dip your fingers into and a decent source of heat. Lamin-X provided a tiny little squirt bottle that shoots a very fine mist, keep that handy to mist the tail light while working with the film. Lamin-X recommended either a blow dryer or a heat gun. I didn't use a blow dryer because I was afraid it would dry the water even quicker than my halogen work light. The film is pretty thick, and heat is your friend to help stretch and massage it into place, just not too much heat in any one place at any one time.

[Herbicidal]

Darn daylight savings time! I now get home from work just as the sun sets. :mad: Anyway, shot a couple of close up pics this evening. The sun was just about down and there were clouds in the sky too. So there is reflection in the lens. The film has laid down pretty darn smooth, only if you are really close can you see some small bubbles, hopefully those will go away. Not sure if you can even see them in the pics. So far, so good. :thumbsup:

Left lens:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1839

Close up left lens:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1838

Right lens, you can just see the edge of the film at the bottom of the lens as I didn't get it 'pulled' quite all the way to the bottom edge:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1837

[JBougie]

That is awesome! I had no idea there was a film you could just put on it ..... I thought you had to take the tail light apart and smoke it from the inside ... that is so awesome! lol

[KCALB SIRAY]

Looks like a great job to me. Thanks for the close ups. I really like the way it looks

[Herbicidal]

Looks like a great job to me. Thanks for the close ups. I really like the way it looksYou're welcome and thanks! I was a little stressed during the install but it seems to have turned out pretty good.

That is awesome! I had no idea there was a film you could just put on it ..... I thought you had to take the tail light apart and smoke it from the inside ... that is so awesome! lolThank you! Nope, the Lamin-X film has an adhesive that reacts with water (that's why they include a small misting sprayer) and these are applied to the outside of the lens. It took about 15 minutes per light. I have no idea if they will ever come off, not that I'm going to try. :tongue:

[fujiwaru]

looks good man. thanks for the close up pics.

[kimona]

Not a fan of smoked tails, but I do like the painted chrome and the new badges very much.

[YAR1S]

MUCH better!

[Herbicidal]

You're welcome and thanks everyone! The ol' Yaris has been totally transformed with relatively small cosmetic touches. When I'm driving around no one knows what the heck it is (other than a Toyota) and I like it like that! I've watched some other Yaris drivers looking and wondering WTF is that?!? Kinda looks like my car...but.... :biggrin: :laugh:

[Pitt Yaris]

Looks real good. I don't know what I like better, chrome or painted. Some yaris' like this look better painted, then others don't look very appealing.

[Herbicidal]

Looks real good. I don't know what I like better, chrome or painted. Some yaris' like this look better painted, then others don't look very appealing.

Thanks! May have to do with the cars body color, dark colors look better painted, lite colors maybe better with chrome? :iono:

[Herbicidal]

No one really asked, but I decided to take two nighttime shots so you could see what the Lamin-X film does to the degree of light coming from the tail lights normally and with the brakes on. The pics are kind of grainy due to it being dark. But you get the idea. I think they light up pretty well in spite of the smoked film.

With the lights on <no brakes>:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1842

With the brakes on:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1841

[slothman86]

Very VERY nice!

[CtrlAltDefeat]

No one really asked, but I decided to take two nighttime shots so you could see what the Lamin-X film does to the degree of light coming from the tail lights normally and with the brakes on. The pics are kind of grainy due to it being dark. But you get the idea. I think they light up pretty well in spite of the smoked film.

With the lights on <no brakes>:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1842

With the brakes on:
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1841

looks good...kinda evil like :thumbup:

[fujiwaru]

very nice!

[CtrlAltDefeat]

very nice!

lol for some reason I heard Borat say "Very nice!" when I read that...which is funny, because I've never seen that movie.It seemed to fit though...

[Pitt Yaris]

Thanks! May have to do with the cars body color, dark colors look better painted, lite colors maybe better with chrome? :iono:

Possibly. I'm not sure what it is. I've seen some flint mica sedans on here where I say I will never paint my chrome due to how theirs look, but then I see yours and say maybe I will. I'm basically 50/50 what I wanna do....get a body kit and keep my yaris or sell it and get a scion tc.