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Old 08-07-2009, 12:37 AM   #1
Super_HKS
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Default DIY: 2009 wrx tail light mod (only 10 dollars!)

2009 wrx 5 door DIY tail light overlay mod:
Conducted by Super_HKS

So let me start out by saying this mod is AMAZING. So after thinking of some cheap tint overlay ideas at work while
being bored out of my mind, I googled transparent red paint and sure enough I ran into the Krylon stained glass
spray paint. I knew right away for 9.99 I couldnt not try it. Well after telling my buddy about the mod, he told
me that a couple guys on nasioc had already done it. I was a little bummed cause I honestly thought I was going to
be super innovative and genius but someone already beat me to the punch. Well good news is that all the DIY mods
for the tail light on nasioc are for a 2008 wrx and the 2008 and 2009 wrx are a little bit different in terms of
removing the lights so basically in this demonstration, I will show you guys step by step on what to do. Hope you
enjoy because I sure did. Best 9.99 spent on the car yet.

Materials needed for this mod:

-Window cleaner (Lights need to be clean when being painted)
-Krylon transparent (color code is 9020) (I purchased mine at Michaels)
-A small ratchet
-10 MM small socket
-8 MM small socket
_An extender to reach the bolt to remove the reverse lights (Extender is shown in pix)
-Painters or masking tape
-Towel or a clean material for cleaning lights (preferable microfiber cloth)
-Phillips screwdriver
-flat head screwdriver or some type of flat item
-Clear coat enamel spray paint

Directions for removing both lights:
1. Start by popping the hatch open.. For the outer lights, start to loosen them by using the 10MM socket. Once
loosened (doesnt take much), take your flathead screwdriver and remove the bolts out.

2. Use a little force and remove the lights. (dont be affraid to show the light whos boss, your not going to break
it). There is no other bolts of screws holding it in place. Once the light is removed, remove the clip that
connects the lights up. (Put light aside and repeat with other side)

3. Now we will move on to the revease lights, remove the plasic covers on the inner hatch liner. (use a flathead or
another item that can get it open)
4. Remove the clip that connects from the car to the rear bulb

5. Also remove the bulbs so you can lay the lights down flat instead of having them slant. (To remove the bulbs,
just twist slightly to the left)
6. Now this is probably going to be the hardest part of the whole mod. Removing the liner in the hatch. Basically
just yank and pull it around until the clips snap out. Dont be affraid to pull it hard. It will sound like your
breaking it but it is very very sturdy plastic. Once you yank the liner out, move on to the next step.


7. After that is done, take your ratchet and your 8 MM socket and remove the 2 bolts connecting the tail lights

8. Now left is 1 more nut and this is a tricky son of a bitch. What you will need to do is throw on your extender
and reach up into the area and loose the nut and get it out.

9. After you remove the nut, remove the light (repeat on both lights), now we can move on to prep and paint
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Old 08-07-2009, 12:38 AM   #2
Super_HKS
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Directions for prep and paint:
1. First spray your window cleaner on your lights and wash them off with a clean towel or cloth (insure they are
super clean)
2. After all lights are cleaned, get your masking tape and start marking off the reverse section and anything else
you would like. there are 3 or 4 different variations of this mod so if you want to paint it all red, forget about
the masking off section. When completing the masking off section properly, it will look like this:



3. Take your transparent red spray paint and start spraying the lights. (for a lighter red, only use 1 coat of
paint on the lights, for medium darkness, use 2 coats. And for a really dark red smoke, use 3 coats.) <=== I only
used 2 coats of spray paint


4. After the spray paint has dried 100% or close to it, take your clear coat/enamel and spray 1 coat of clear coat.
(You can use more than 1 coat of enamel/clear coat but do keep in mind, if you do this, the light will be more
textured
5. After that has dried, remove the masking tape if applied and now install your lights back into your car.
6. Step back and look at your lights for 2 hours and take lots of pix.

FINISHED:






Thanks for taking the time to stop by and checking this mod out. Hope I helped and if you need any help please ask
Sincerely
-Daniel
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Old 08-19-2009, 07:12 PM   #3
k3lh3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Super_HKS View Post
Directions for prep and paint:
1. First spray your window cleaner on your lights and wash them off with a clean towel or cloth (insure they are
super clean)
2. After all lights are cleaned, get your masking tape and start marking off the reverse section and anything else
you would like. there are 3 or 4 different variations of this mod so if you want to paint it all red, forget about
the masking off section. When completing the masking off section properly, it will look like this:
3. Take your transparent red spray paint and start spraying the lights. (for a lighter red, only use 1 coat of
paint on the lights, for medium darkness, use 2 coats. And for a really dark red smoke, use 3 coats.) <=== I only
used 2 coats of spray paint


4. After the spray paint has dried 100% or close to it, take your clear coat/enamel and spray 1 coat of clear coat.
(You can use more than 1 coat of enamel/clear coat but do keep in mind, if you do this, the light will be more
textured
5. After that has dried, remove the masking tape if applied and now install your lights back into your car.
6. Step back and look at your lights for 2 hours and take lots of pix.

FINISHED:
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and checking this mod out. Hope I helped and if you need any help please ask
Sincerely
-Daniel
i used this same red paint for mine about 18 months ago and they fade over time so youll probably need a wetsand and respray after about a year. just what i have noticed.
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Old 08-23-2009, 12:24 PM   #4
JGard
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Quote:
Originally Posted by k3lh3 View Post
i used this same red paint for mine about 18 months ago and they fade over time so youll probably need a wetsand and respray after about a year. just what i have noticed.
Did you use any clear coat, too, though?

I've got some of this paint coming on Tuesday, but I'm becoming a bit dubious about the long-term durability of doing this mod.

Part of me wants to pop open these lights and paint the insides...but I also don't want to deal with putting them in the oven and risking leaks in the future, etc.
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Old 08-23-2009, 11:32 PM   #5
Bark3rd
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I did this today using Testors candy Apple red and a UV resistant clearcoat. It looks really good but the finish lacks the glossy look you got here. What should I do to get it to look glossy? Plastic-X maybe? Wetsand? On my white 09 the red lights are very dramatic, I hated the clear ricer lights.
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Old 08-24-2009, 05:09 PM   #6
reddoak
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bark3rd View Post
I did this today using Testors candy Apple red and a UV resistant clearcoat. It looks really good but the finish lacks the glossy look you got here. What should I do to get it to look glossy? Plastic-X maybe? Wetsand? On my white 09 the red lights are very dramatic, I hated the clear ricer lights.
I wish you'd seen my post about 2 weeks ago... The Testor's comes out dark but dull.

If you find a way to make it glossy post it up!
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Old 08-07-2009, 12:54 AM   #7
chen5108
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Very nice tut, I might just give this a go.
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:03 AM   #8
@NT
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Looks good, just have to make sure you mask it nice n tight.
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:22 AM   #9
Super_HKS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chen5108 View Post
Very nice tut, I might just give this a go.
Do it. I was kind of nervous about doing it but I really wanted to get rid of the altezzas!

Quote:
Originally Posted by @NT View Post
Looks good, just have to make sure you mask it nice n tight.
For sure!!!!! That would suck if you left a little slit and it got paint on it. I overlapped the tape to insure that from not happening.
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:42 AM   #10
pDubs
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The good thing about this stuff is you can get it right off with some lacquer thinner and paper towel. Just rub pretty hard and it slowly comes off. I used this stuff on my foglights (but in yellow) and just recently removed it.



edit: I wish they sold it in black at Michael's though, I want to do my reverse lights.
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Old 08-07-2009, 08:02 AM   #11
thegreenthief
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pDubs View Post
edit: I wish they sold it in black at Michael's though, I want to do my reverse lights.

Look up VHT Nightshades. It's a transparent black paint made specifically for taillights. I used it on older cars I owned and it works well.
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Old 06-27-2014, 01:13 AM   #12
Tomekkplk
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Quote:
Originally Posted by @NT View Post
Looks good, just have to make sure you mask it nice n tight.
Nice and tight huh..
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:45 AM   #13
codesoccer
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Well damn that looks amazing. Good job man!!
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:50 AM   #14
booster 11
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nice job
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:52 AM   #15
chen5108
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You live so close, i might just have to strike up a deal for you to do that to my car =)
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Old 08-07-2009, 02:36 AM   #16
Super_HKS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by codesoccer View Post
Well damn that looks amazing. Good job man!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by booster 11 View Post
nice job

Thanks guys I really appreciate it


Quote:
Originally Posted by chen5108 View Post
You live so close, i might just have to strike up a deal for you to do that to my car =)
Sure man. You can swing by my place and we can work something out
Are you too nervous to do it yourself? PM me and we can get something going
-daniel
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Old 08-07-2009, 03:03 AM   #17
No_Brakes23
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That looks so much better. If I had the hatch I would definitely go that route. Where did you get the color-matched center piece?
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Old 08-07-2009, 04:49 AM   #18
Super_HKS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by No_Brakes23 View Post
That looks so much better. If I had the hatch I would definitely go that route. Where did you get the color-matched center piece?
Comes stock with the 2009's. The 2009s I hate to say it but are 100 times better than the 08s.

Upgraded turbo (faster in a 1/4 mile than a stock STI!!!!!)
red stitched interior
no chromy pieces on the car
gunmetal rims
etc, etc,etc. The difference between the two cars is very significant. Check out cars101.com for all the differences. Also check this out!!!! 2008 vs 2009 wrx. The 09 absolutly walks all over the 08. Subaru really did do a phenominal job with getting customer feedback on the 08's and really made something special with the 2009's. I hated the 2008's when they came out because of all the chrome and all the bling than when the 2009's were released, they really caught my eye!

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Old 08-14-2009, 12:15 AM   #19
wrxstibyebye
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Super_HKS View Post
Comes stock with the 2009's. The 2009s I hate to say it but are 100 times better than the 08s.

Upgraded turbo (faster in a 1/4 mile than a stock STI!!!!!)
red stitched interior
no chromy pieces on the car
gunmetal rims
etc, etc,etc. The difference between the two cars is very significant. Check out cars101.com for all the differences. Also check this out!!!! 2008 vs 2009 wrx. The 09 absolutly walks all over the 08. Subaru really did do a phenominal job with getting customer feedback on the 08's and really made something special with the 2009's. I hated the 2008's when they came out because of all the chrome and all the bling than when the 2009's were released, they really caught my eye!

YouTube - CarAdvice.com.au - Subaru Impreza WRX - '08 WRX vs '09 WRX Drag Strip Run





Sorry to tell you but the red one is an sti and the black one is a wrx. Phenominal job !
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Old 08-14-2009, 04:17 AM   #20
NorthBayResident
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrxstibyebye View Post
Sorry to tell you but the red one is an sti and the black one is a wrx. Phenominal job !
The red one is definitely an 09 WRX, Unless they started making STi's without widened fenders, quad tip exhaust, and 18" wheels..

Phenominal job !
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Old 05-14-2010, 04:03 PM   #21
PARANOID56
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way to answer the guy and put him down all at the same time LOL sure he allready knows about the differences in power.


also, i have no issues with my 08 faster then your 09

and yes, i know this is an old thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Super_HKS View Post
Comes stock with the 2009's. The 2009s I hate to say it but are 100 times better than the 08s.

Upgraded turbo (faster in a 1/4 mile than a stock STI!!!!!)
red stitched interior
no chromy pieces on the car
gunmetal rims
etc, etc,etc. The difference between the two cars is very significant. Check out cars101.com for all the differences. Also check this out!!!! 2008 vs 2009 wrx. The 09 absolutly walks all over the 08. Subaru really did do a phenominal job with getting customer feedback on the 08's and really made something special with the 2009's. I hated the 2008's when they came out because of all the chrome and all the bling than when the 2009's were released, they really caught my eye!

YouTube - CarAdvice.com.au - Subaru Impreza WRX - '08 WRX vs '09 WRX Drag Strip Run

Last edited by PARANOID56; 05-14-2010 at 04:09 PM.
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Old 08-07-2009, 08:36 AM   #22
STi Hockey Guy
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looks very clean. nice job man.
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:12 PM   #23
Mr_Hox
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I just went from
six to midnight...

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That looks fantastic Daniel! Basically perfect***8230;

Can't wait to see it in person. (Maybe next Tuesday?)
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:28 PM   #24
elwray
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Looks awesome!

It's a very smooth finish -- no sanding? Cool!

Extra THANKS for the color code too, maybe I can ask them at Michaels since they don't have it around here/don't know what the hell I'm talking about. I like the results from the Krylon better than the Testor's.

How long ago did you do this? Are you waxing the paint on the lights or leaving it as is?

And those shiny UR flaps are growing on me... looks great!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by thegreenthief View Post
Look up VHT Nightshades. It's a transparent black paint made specifically for taillights. I used it on older cars I owned and it works well.
I've heard good things about the VHT nightshades. It was very very popular on the honda/acura boards I was on before this.. I've since grown wiser and traded up to a WRX
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:37 PM   #25
BuggeyEYED
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did you clear over the red only or did you take the tape off and clear the entire light?
looks great BTW, they should have really came like this already.
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