Hello, hello, hello again guys

Here's another (silly?) question about tinting the rear lights on a MK1 Punto. Well, a couple actually.

First, are you supposed to prime the inside? Or is it a matter of just spraying the tint on? (For all those about to ask, yes, this is DIY)

Second, are the any restrictions in place? ( I mean covering up the reflectors and so on; if you could tell where they are, pics will be very greatly appreciated , you're THE man :worship: )

And any tips or hints are always more than welcome

Thanks in advance everyone!!

Check your insurance company are happy with you blocking light output before you do anything

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Check your insurance company are happy with you blocking light output before you do anything

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I would but they don't even know about the alloys good shout though!
Can you help me though, brother?

Not really, I'm all for them being outlawed

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Not really, I'm all for them being outlawed

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Cheeky!

Best to just remove the lights, rub over with very fine sand paper so the tint sticks well without scratching the light itself, then spray over with thin coats and build up very slowly. No need for a primer.

When done and given them a couple of days to fully dry, give a couple of coats of polish for a much better look.

As for the reflectors it would definately help maintain some legality if you can retain some.

J.R Racing said:

Best to just remove the lights, rub over with very fine sand paper so the tint sticks well without scratching the light itself, then spray over with thin coats and build up very slowly. No need for a primer.

When done and given them a couple of days to fully dry, give a couple of coats of polish for a much better look.

As for the reflectors it would definately help maintain some legality if you can retain some.

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Thank you dude! Are you suggesting to apply the tint on the outside of the light? Because I thought you had to spray inside, but when it came to taking the lens off there was some kind of a adhesive keeping it all in place?

Give a few coats of polish you say... :chin: Good idea!

Haha, I will definitely try to!

Thanks again man :worship:

No if you buy the makeshift light tinting spray you spray on the outside.

Just mask the light up well around the edge, no need to take the light unit apart.

J.R Racing said:

No if you buy the makeshift light tinting spray you spray on the outside.

Just mask the light up well around the edge, no need to take the light unit apart.

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Dude! You are the man! :worship: You saved me hours of pulling bits apart! will start on the tinting tomorrow!! and of course keep everyone updated!

Thanks again man! :slayer:

BigBadPunto said:

and of course keep everyone updated!

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Except for the insurance company................. You expect to retain your driving licence for how long?

Hardly like these kids doing engine conversions on basic insurance cover though is it? The worst case scenario is he swaps in some standard units which are cheap as chips and readily available......Nothing illegal about tinting as long as a sufficient portion of the OE reflector is left un-tinted.

Were you young once? No-one is perfect.

fingers99 said:

Except for the insurance company................. You expect to retain your driving licence for how long?

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In reality, like JRR Racing said, "What is the worst thing that could happen?" All they will say is to put some standard lights in, which are, what, £15 each? :chin: Or leave the reflectors untouched.

J.R Racing said:

Hardly like these kids doing engine conversions on basic insurance cover though is it? The worst case scenario is he swaps in some standard units which are cheap as chips and readily available......Nothing illegal about tinting as long as a sufficient portion of the OE reflector is left un-tinted.

Were you young once? No-one is perfect.

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On the engine subject, the only conversions I'm planning on doing are legal anyway
Thanks for the support mate!

He's young, so likely to be pulled as a matter of course. If the police sniff attitude or worse, they might contact the insurance company -- I've known them to actually ring them. "Did you know this car has non standard alloys and tinted rear lights?" -- "Er, no, we'll withdraw cover".

Ooops!

Fact is, it's much harder now to get away with stuff I used to get away with when I was a yoof, or even 10 years ago.

fingers99 said:

He's young, so likely to be pulled as a matter of course. If the police sniff attitude or worse, they might contact the insurance company -- I've known them to actually ring them. "Did you know this car has non standard alloys and tinted rear lights?" -- "Er, no, we'll withdraw cover".

Ooops!

Fact is, it's much harder now to get away with stuff I used to get away with when I was a yoof, or even 10 years ago.

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To be honest, I know a lot of the fuzz around my area and they're alright because there are worse kind of drivers than the one's just cruisin'! Plus where I live I'd be EXTREMELY unlucky to be pulled over because they're never there
As for the alloys, they're standard Fiats just off a Bravo, rather than another Punto
Thanks for the input anyways though Every little helps, I suppose!

BigBadPunto said:

In reality, like JRR Racing said, "What is the worst thing that could happen?"

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You're joking right?!

Worst thing that happens is you kill a person, actually, lets say a 52 seater coach full of people. Each road death on average costs an insurance company upto a millon pounds all in. So potentially there is a £52,000,000 cost that you won't be covered for and you'll be responsible for personally should said insurance company decide to void your indemnification!

But then again, don't worry, your young.......


People stupidly seem to think insurance is a game, and it simply is not, and its not just yourself your mucking about with, but lots of other people.

Get a grip and get correct insurance, if you can't afford to have legitamate insurance with your modifications noted then either don't drive, or don't modify your car. You never know, there may not even be a loading for said mods, so just pick up the phone and do the correct and legal thing!

If you can't be bothered then you may as well cancel your insurance and drive around without it and save a few ££ a year.

or motorway night time heavy rain and spray you stop due to a line of traffic and the hgv can't make out your substantially dimmer lights.........





also depending on the mot mans mood


inoperative or less than 50% of the light sources illuminating

d.
obscured so that less than 50% of the lamp illuminating surface is visible from the front or rear as appropriate

e.
not visible from a reasonable distance due to excessive damage, deterioration, or having products on the lens or light source



end of the day it's your car your life and liberty

a better option would be to find a aftermarket set of lights which are e marked that are darker or smoked but again insurance should be told

Wow. That was unexpected. I went for dinner came back and found people having a go. Can every one just chill? I don't want blacked out, UBER-tinted lights, only a 'slight' tint, say 40%, like MAXIMUM, so it doesn't look like stock lights but really they are. That's all. I mean, guys, chill your beans.

I thought this forum was all about giving advice on a specified question, not telling people how to live their lives....

Light tinting is NOT illegal if basic common sense is applied, yet just because he chooses to modify his car in this way you all come down on him like a ton of bricks.

It is such a hypocritical view anyway - there is nothing legal about speeding yet I guarantee you all will have broken a speed limit at some point, the risks are as punishable and in certain circumstances have worse end results...........

J.R Racing said:

Light tinting is NOT illegal if basic common sense is applied

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But it isn't. Deliberatly holding information is not using any common sense, and insurance fraud / driving without insurance is illegal.

For all we know OP's insurance will be fine with it and then there will be no issue, but OP still decides to stupidly ignore this. This is all I (and most others) are getting at!

BigBadPunto said:

Wow. That was unexpected. I went for dinner came back and found people having a go. Can every one just chill? I don't want blacked out, UBER-tinted lights, only a 'slight' tint, say 40%, like MAXIMUM, so it doesn't look like stock lights but really they are. That's all. I mean, guys, chill your beans.

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But how can you prove the level of tint you applied to anyone? Unless you have a calibrated light meter?

Not having a go but think its wise to check as tinting takes them out of type approval
Last year a member had his car seized by vosa for a defect which the mot didn't pick up on

recvery charge fine and storage