Painted housing for tail lamps

[RJW]

I have a 2026 Mustang GT on order, and I've been thinking about some customization options. I know that it is a popular mod to have tinted taillamp lenses, so that the whole assembly looks black when the lamps are not illuminated. I am thinking of doing the opposite and making the whole assembly anti-black. Leave the lenses alone, but paint the housing so that the currently black part around the lenses is body colored. Like a throwback to this old Mustang look, but without the chrome bezels.

Has anyone seen this done on an S650 before? Do you suppose the black housing part of the factory taillamp assembly CAN be painted, or is it a type of plastic that paint isn't going to want to stick to?

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[Mr Hyde]

Not sure what they are covered with but it can peel so im not sure what kind of meterial it is. I would recommend a set of trim overlays that go around the lights and paint match.

 

[Ken H.]

I have a 2026 Mustang GT on order, and I've been thinking about some customization options. I know that it is a popular mod to have tinted taillamp lenses, so that the whole assembly looks black when the lamps are not illuminated. I am thinking of doing the opposite and making the whole assembly anti-black. Leave the lenses alone, but paint the housing so that the currently black part around the lenses is body colored. Like a throwback to this old Mustang look, but without the chrome bezels.

Has anyone seen this done on an S650 before? Do you suppose the black housing part of the factory taillamp assembly CAN be painted, or is it a type of plastic that paint isn't going to want to stick to?

That’s a good looking rear end! Better than Kim Kardashian’s!

 

[RJW]

Not sure what they are covered with but it can peel so im not sure what kind of meterial it is. I would recommend a set of trim overlays that go around the lights and paint match.

The only overlays I have found are these carbon fiber ones from Lethal Performance, and they don't say anything about being paintable. I may be out of luck.

 

[Mr Hyde]

Not sure why all these companies have gone all in on the carbon fiber thing. found these their hydro dipped not real cf https://www.ebay.com/itm/2672442485...oMV7E6NzBR7z3D0OuH5sSUO156|tkp:Bk9SR9qj0YDmZw

any carbon fiber can be painted its no different from fiberglass.

 

[RJW]

Not sure why all these companies have gone all in on the carbon fiber thing. found these their hydro dipped not real cf https://www.ebay.com/itm/267244248583?fits=Year:2024|Model:Mustang&_skw=2024+MUSTANG+TAIL+LIGHT+OVERLAY&itmmeta=01KWR0MA6YCB53N7V75TG8QFPX&hash=item3e38ff9e07:g:Mu8AAOSwePVoHKXJ&itmprp=enc:AQALAAAA4GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xCoIKU+mqBj6TfjYkrXinjxc98yypp4r39o0hwWvZDsl/xj3MKMPDRZLUt4UsfJwagUiL2qXS2+vRu+PVBbSbs3l7jdMfPPfpnSEOJhxERUNktlImdfNGh7sr6hAeJWAEPTCqQ3m3g6FmF+6IqgzX5Bp2I2CJrFzyoJMbW3fMUxQGEpcSZysbaR1Drky+atnYcHMytFEsDKqRXTDgaA/3REITTK/LU+BuA7Q24XBhPC9jelIMHEqOtMohUnaaoMV7E6NzBR7z3D0OuH5sSUO156|tkp:Bk9SR9qj0YDmZw

any carbon fiber can be painted its no different from fiberglass.

Thanks. I will keep that kit in mind.

 

[GrabberB]

The links provided above say carbon fiber but they're actually ABS plastic. The color is Carbon Fiber - Misleading to say the least. In this case, I see that as a good thing. I recommend going this route vs. painting the actual tail light. This route is reversable should you change your mind. Partially painting the taillight is forever and expensive should you change your mind. ABS is a paint friendly plastic. Use a quality adhesion promoter (i.e., SEMS). You can buy a rattle can mixed to match your OEM color. In addition, you can get 2K clearcoat in a rattle can too. The rattle cans are pricey but as good as it gets vs. a spray gun etc. There is a caveat to DIY painting in that you need to have a fair amount of experience spraying. If not, I still recommend this route and a body shop for the painting.

I like when people think outside the box when it comes to customization. I'm on the fence as to how this will look. Sometimes great ideas turn out not so great. Ask me how I know.

 

[RJW]

The links provided above say carbon fiber but they're actually ABS plastic. The color is Carbon Fiber - Misleading to say the least. In this case, I see that as a good thing. I recommend going this route vs. painting the actual tail light. This route is reversable should you change your mind. Partially painting the taillight is forever and expensive should you change your mind. ABS is a paint friendly plastic. Use a quality adhesion promoter (i.e., SEMS). You can buy a rattle can mixed to match your OEM color. In addition, you can get 2K clearcoat in a rattle can too. The rattle cans are pricey but as good as it gets vs. a spray gun etc. There is a caveat to DIY painting in that you need to have a fair amount of experience spraying. If not, I still recommend this route and a body shop for the painting.

I like when people think outside the box when it comes to customization. I'm on the fence as to how this will look. Sometimes great ideas turn out not so great. Ask me how I know.

Thank you, GrabberB. I am planning on having some stuff professionally painted, such as the grill surround, as @Wiley Marmot did and told us about in this post. I am also trying to decide if I want the rear diffuser painted completely, or to leave some of it black. I know that having large slabs of black trim is popular this century, but I don't care for it. So if I do the taillight thing, I would definitely have it professionally painted at the same time as the other painting. The car will be Adriatic Blue, by the way.

My thought at the moment is to buy inexpensive overlays, such as the ones @Mr Hyde suggested. I could even ask the shop to paint them, but not stick them on immediately. Then I could go to the shop and have someone hold one up to make sure I like how it will look before sticking them on.

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