DIY $15 E90 Pre-LCI to LCI/MARS Style Tail light Mod

Due to the many PM's I've gotten, I decided to post up a quick little DIY on how I modified my OEM pre-lci tails to have more of an LCI/MARS style look and get rid of the outdated white inner tails. It's uber easy and can be done in 30-45 minutes. This DIY uses a permanent red spray paint, that retains a much cleaner look over the vinyl wrap approach.



Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage that may be done to your vehicle. This is purely information and you are doing this at your own risk.



Time: 30-45 minutes



Materials/tools needed:

- Masking tape - $3

- Krylon Red Stained Glass spray paint (can be ordered on Amazon or found at Hobby Lobby- pic below) - $12

- Razorblade



Red Krylon stained glass spray paint (it will have a red cap):





Note before starting: If you only plan to do one coat, you only need to spray the inner tails only. Do not spray the outer tails unless you plan to do two coats on the inners! One coat on inners = no coats on outers. Two coats on inners = one coat on the outers, otherwise they will not be an exact match! Muy importante!



STEPS

1) Mask off the tails with tape and use newspaper or paper towels if necessary. Be sure to mask off enough to avoid getting overspray on your car.



2) Clean off your tail lights. I just used a clean old T-shirt and wiped down the tails until they were completely clean. You can also use some kind of cleaner, but I didn't find that it was necessary. If you do, just make sure that the tails are totally dry before spray painting them.



3) Now it's time for the "hardest" part of the job: the clear reverse light section. I placed masking tape onto the tail light and used a pen to get an outline of the shape. I found it easiest to follow the contour of the tail light for the outline. Here's what my masking tape looked like for the passenger side...







4) I kept the tape on the tails and cut the outline out with the razor blade very lightly. If you mess up, you can always apply more masking tape. Once finished cutting, make sure the tape is pressed on firmly especially around the edges.



5) Now you're ready to spray paint. If you've never sprayed before, it might be a good idea to do some test sprays onto something else to practice.



Once ready, give the inner portion of the tails a spray. Give the inners a nice coat but be careful not to hit them too much or else they will drip. Once done, allow them 30 minutes to dry.



6) Once dry, remove all of the masking tape/newspaper. You may want to use a razor blade to remove the tape from the reverse lights. VOILA! You're done!