S4 Tail Light Restoration
 

If anyone has thought about restoring their S4 tails, go for it. It was not that challenging and I am quite pleased with the results. This was my first paint experience.


Before

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207806160
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207806160


After

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207806160
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207806160

Nice. I don't think most will go for it though, the "JDM Drifter" look of S5 tails on everything is too popular.

What did you use???
What kind of paint? primer??....sanded?
Show the process.................






S5 tails are wayyyyy over priced!!

I've got pics of the whole process.. Give me some time and I'll throw some more up here. Thanks.

Sanding started with light grit hobby paper, non scratch scotchbrite, and gradually decreased the grit until it was as smooth as I could make it. Then Cleaned with alcohol.

1st Stage of sanding.
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207808038

2nd Stage of sanding.
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207808038

Painting Gloss Black
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207808038

Starting Clear Coats
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207808038

Just for fun.
https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207808268

4 coats of gloss black, sanded between. 4 coats of clear coat.

I know S5 tails are the norm as far as aesthetics are concerned, but I like my S4. I'm proud of it. I'm actually going for a total restoration.

you should wetsand the clear, maybe you can get that black trim to shine like the car!
idk, i think it would be funny to have the trim hella shiney, totally not stock!
good job though man, a+

peace

Sweet, this doesn't look too bad to do. My tails need this restoration badly, too.

I actually have a plastic compound that will restore the shine to the trim and spoiler, but it only lasts 6 months, its been 9 since I last applied it. I'll do that soon and post it on this thread.

lookin nice, ive done this before but i used clear coat and jus buffed it, got the same results

Black them things out.

I have a friend that works at a body shop. Mix up a 4:1 ratio of clear to black and paint them in the position they are on the car (for paint flow reasons.)

I like the look...heres a pic
<a href="http://img186.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s5000010uf6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2294/s5000010uf6.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img604.imageshack.us/content.php?page=blogpost&files=img186/2294/s5000010uf6.jpg" title="QuickPost"><img src="http://imageshack.us/img/butansn.png" alt="QuickPost" border="0"></a> Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!

Very nice work. I also like the S4 tails a lot. Nothing at all wrong with keeping things original.

BTW, the red paint on your car looks really fresh. Is it original, or a repaint?

If I was going to get black wheels I would, With the black door handles that I just installed, and with all the other black accessories ; black spoiler, black trim, black mirrors, I am afraid to over do it. Wheels come last, I still need some interior parts, RB catback.

good job. i like them blacked out, but when i do the restoration on mine, I'm gonna add something like these...

http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/i.../L58SM-SEQ.JPG

repaint, sunrise red 1999. Thanks.

If you do make sure to post the write up here. The S4's are really east to take apart. I would like to somehow replace the turn signal lense (yellow one) with a clear lense, yellow bulb. But that sort of thing is beyond me right now.

I also did the same thing with the Head Light Surround.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207849831

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207849831

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207849831





FTP lenses are next...

s far you are doing everything i did i makes mthe car look so n ew its crazy

i like the look of color match on CERTAIN colors. like white.

What paint did you use on the headlight surrounds? One of those "trim black" paints, or something else? Looks great. Probably should do mine.

The process for the headlight surrounds was the same as the tails.. although I only gave them 2 coats black, and 2 coats clear. I didnt want them to be as shiny/flashy as the tails.

Here's all I used paint wise. The Duplicolor Clear was the only thing even remotely pricey.


This is all I used. minus the non-scratch scotch-brite.(which I tossed already) The large cans are standard Gloss Black. It bonded with the plastic quite well. I was surprised actually. Ask me again in the fall and I'll let you know how they do after this summer. Water immediately beads, no absortion whatsoever.

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1207893868

Also, its common to lightly sand between coats, However I did not. Rather than having their texture flawlessly smooth, I negated the sanding in order to produce a slight visual texture. Almost reminisant of the texture below the body trim.

Very nice....and for gods sake dont black them out!!!!! ........

I think a slight tint of the tails would be nice.... But im gonna have to do this with mine soon....

As far as the tails go Im done. Theres already enough black accessories (Black door handles,trim,spoiler, etc.); one more and It would be overdone. I will get new wheels at some point... but thats way down the road.