DIY: Black Signal Light Edges (56k Hell)

[N35QU!K]

So I picked up a set of Black Depo headlights yesterday, and my clear Depo bumper lights came in today. After installing the clear bumper lights, I felt that they didn't match the look of the black Depo headlights as well as they could, especially in comparison to the corner headlight.


So I decide to myself, "I'll try and see if I cam emulate the look of that corner headlight on the clear bumper lights." And maybe after reading this DIY, you will too


Materials you will need:
Black electrical tape (or of you want a different color, use a different color)
Scissors
Phillips head (+) Screwdriver

Step 1
Unscrew the screw that holds in the side-most signal light (the one that's closest to the wheel well) (see above picture)

Step 2
Carefully remove the side-most signal light (dont be afraid to pry it out, it's held in to the side of the front bumper light by a snap-in peg latch)

Step 3
There is a screw that holds the front bumper light to the bumper, right next to where the peg-latch was hooked in; unscrew that.

Step 4
Remove the front bumper light. Pull from the side, towards the direction that the car is facing to unhook it from the bumper, then off to the left [on left side] or right [on right side].

Step 5
Apply electric tape to edges. I started with the top and bottom, and did the sides last. Just start the tape covering where the bumpy section on the inside of the light ends (cover the gray part)


Step 6
Bend the tape over around the edge of the light, and stick it to the plastic housing on the back


Do the same for bottom and sides of each light.




Step 7
After completing taping and folding over of any side, cut off any excess tape that hangs off the end


You should basically go from this:

To this:


Step 8
Once you've completed all the taping you want to to, reinsert the bumper lights the way you took them out, securely screwing in the front bumper light, and snapping the side bumper light back into the peg latch (put your palm against the side bumper light, and gradually apply additional pressure until you hear the "pop" sound of the peg latch-in) Don't forget to screw in the side bumper light as well.

At the end of the day, it should look like this:


And I'm sure many of you will agree that it goes much better with the black Depo headlights

[groovemasterodi]

Looks sweet man, good write up.

[shajbot]

Yep, nice work man. Loving ur DIY's/

[Zviator]

My car is black so i'm not sure it's gonna work for me, but anyways brilliant men !!!

[MyFreeCamry]

I am wondering how well this will look over time dealing with weather. I may just use paint so that it would last longer and not fade.

But deffinently good job and great creative thinking. Props to you.

[N35QU!K]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys

Originally Posted by MyFreeCamry

I am wondering how well this will look over time dealing with weather. I may just use paint so that it would last longer and not fade.

That's definitely something I've been considering since I put it on; if they do start to come off, then hey, it's just electric tape, right? If it comes down to it, though, I am actually considering just straight up painting them. We'll see how they fare over the winter first, though.

[TheKevin]

looks good but i think i'll pass on this.

[eurohazard]

Neat idea! Can you take a finished shot from further away? The only thing I'd be worried about is the illusion of huge gaps, when really it's pretty tightly assembled (for early 90's).

[N35QU!K]

Glad to see the positive responses from everyone

Originally Posted by eurohazard

Neat idea! Can you take a finished shot from further away? The only thing I'd be worried about is the illusion of huge gaps, when really it's pretty tightly assembled (for early 90's).

Pictures added at your request

[deezeejoey]

so uh.... what happens when it rains? or you wash your car?

[N35QU!K]

Originally Posted by deezeejoey

so uh.... what happens when it rains? or you wash your car?

The tape is on there pretty snugly, so I'm not to worried about it coming off in case of rain or washing my car.

Besides, at the end of the day, it's just electric tape, right?

[deezeejoey]

I just noticed you live in CA.
You don't gotta deal with cold weather/snow. The temperature changes would surely make that shit come right off.

[uibalnme]

Looks ok from a distance, but if someone takes a close up look, they'll see it's just electrical tape.

If my car wasn't black, I might consider doing something like this with actual paint.