Is it necessary to buy a new tail light or I can just tint it red. Its much cheaper too. Anyone tried it?

Maybe it's just me, but I sense that the taillight thing has come full circle. In the early days of imported cars, Americans scoffed at the idea of amber rear turn signals. After all, when full-width taillights on American cars were all the rage (especially on T-Birds and Buick Electras), an amber light only added clutter to the space-age designs coming from Detroit. Then, suddenly, amber rear turn signals developed a certain cache', and many a Volvo owner proudly sat at a red light with red tail and brake lights lit (separate lenses), and with an amber turn signal blinking (and there was also the clear backup lens). In the late nineties, it suddenly became fashionable on European and Japanese cars to "hide" the rear turn signals within the backup light assemblies. Even Porsche came around with the '03 Boxster. Then the limited-edition '04 Boxster S came out with red rear lenses for everything. Now Porsche wants to sell us red taillights for Christmas. The ghosts of Harley Earl and Alfred P. Sloan must be yucking it up. Planned obsolescence has finally conquered Germany! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good light! 987f

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'07 Cayman, Cobalt Blue Metallic; Natural Brown leather; clear sidemarkers; Boxster S wheels; '06 SLK 350; '04 SL 500; '73 246 GT; '72 246 GT

There are quite a few threads on tinting tail lights and even some photos. Take a look in the modifications section using the search tool to see them.

I guess I look at it that if you muck it up and ruin your stock tail light then you have to go buy a set from Porsche anyway. The Porsche ones come with a warranty, let's say the red starts peeling off 2 months later, no problem I go to my dealer and swap for free, if you do it yourself, do you get your money back from Joe Blow on Ebay that you bought tail light tinting film from? Are you tinting the inside or outside? If outside then you have a film edge to catch dirt on to drag across when washing/drying your car and subject to UV rays directly fading it over time (yes those do it yourself films have been known to fade). If tinting the inside then you have to disaseemble the tail light which takes time, you could break a seal that will later leak water into the tail light, etc. etc.

It would seem that for peace of mind, warranty and ease of installation and a quality job the factory Porsche units aren't such a bad deal after all.

It's like those clear bra films being sold for $99 on Ebay, they aren't quality material, they yellow over time and don't have the same protective qualities of say 3M, Avery, Venture and other reputable companies, heck a friend of mine purchased some and it turned out they were pure vinyl. That stuff yellows within a year!

I'm the first person to try and save a buck or two when I can, but sometimes it just isn't worth the hassle or potential for later failure or lower quality to save a few dollars that will likely come back and bite me later. Just my opinion, I don't expect everyone to agree...

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Done, not from ebay though. The film is 3M. I did recieve an extra set that I am planning to sell. This can be taken off and will not damage the tailight.

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Cayman GT
369BHP 325LBSTQ
313WHP 276WTRQ
some people like the regular stock factory look, cool people modify the car.

I personally dont like the all red tail light on the Cayman but I've done it on my previous car 1.5 years later and the film was still in perfect condition and I wash my car every other week. Its very easy to do. use a piece of paper and stencil out the area you want to cover cut the white paper till it matches exactly what you want. trace it on the red vinyl and either do the wet application, like clearbra style or dry if you're confident. Easily removed if you mess up.

Taillight Red Out Universal Wrap Trim Kits <--- where I bought the film

I still have some left over from the Lexus maybe if I get bored one day I'll apply on the CS and post some pics.

Before







After

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2007 Cayman S 6spd | Midnight Blue | Stone Gray Interior | 35% sides 15% rear Suntek Carbon Tint | X-Pel Clear Bra

EBMCS03, thanks for that link.

While I think the $60 pre-cut tint film kit is more suited for this, I thought I'd be a cheap-*** and try this first since the film was only $5.99. I bought it the other day and am going to try it out... I'll let you guys know what I find!

i was wondering when you put the 3m vinyl on your tail light if you put it over the whole thing or just where it was clear befor.

I think he paste it only at the clear part. You can find the installation steps in the Articles.

I just put it over the clear part. This kit you found I saw in person and it is basically red window tint film made by SunGuard, SolarGuard or Johnson Window Films which costs $1.75 a foot (20-inch roll) used for windows.
-Yes it can be removed but leaves a thin sticky annoying layer of adhesive.
-The film does scratch and fade.
-It can be used outside the car but is meant for glass and the inside of the car.
I went with protective film because it is made to be exposed to the elements. When you remove it the adhesive stays on the film not your car.

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Cayman GT
369BHP 325LBSTQ
313WHP 276WTRQ
some people like the regular stock factory look, cool people modify the car.

ill post with how it comes out but it should come out pro since i own a sign shop and am Roland certified

did you just trace the clear part or did you get the outline from some where