So I've bought 3 sets of overlays so far and I STILL do not have smoked tail lights. No matter what the instructions say, these things will not stick. Anyone else have this problem? I just bought the bats overlays and I only have 1 left. Trying to resolve that. I followed the instructions. The vinyl just will not stick on my lens.

I used a 3m wax remover prior to starting.
I heated the vinyl and dipped it in a bucket of soapy water. I positioned it on my light. I then started wiping the overlay to get water off and out. Then the lower corner wasn't sticking. I tried using a squeegee after trying and trying to get it smoothed down. These things just won't wrap the tail light curve.

In his defense, Bat's overlays do seem more durable but I'm wondering if maybe these overlays aren't going to fit the 06+ lights? I didn't know they were shaped differently but maybe they are?

 

hmmm. i don't know what to tell ya, you are doing everything right.

 

man just use that spray.its so much easier and looks just as good.plus there is no bubbles and **** like that.and you can also take it off whenever you want.

 

i got mine from bat and they went on like a charm.... 10 min per light... i used a spray bottle with soap mixed in .... and squeegeed it out ....

 

I took my Bats overlays to a local tint shop and they installed it for me for $20. And I have an '06.

 

What if you just take your car to a tint shop and literally have them apply some tint

 

I assume you used Heat

 

won't work. there is no possible way to shrink out that much slack with the curve of the taillight. you want to tint your taillights use lamin-x, it's made specifically for light applications. easier than hell to work with, did both my lights in about 15 minutes, www.lamin-x.com

 

Well, I'll have to say you're wrong -- I took my front headlights & rear taillight overlays to a tint shop and they used heat gun to expand the overlays to fit the curves.

 

What was your soap to water ratio?

it sound like you may be using too much soap.. you only need a dab.

It also soundslike you need a bit more heat. either hold your hair dryer on the curve for longer... or go out and get a heat gun.

 

Mine went on without a problem. I just used a heat gun to wrap all the corners.

 

it doesn't seem like he did. he didn't mention it and that's when they stick. when you use heat. the water drys up and they stick. it's the heat that wraps it around the the curves too.

 

I did the same thing, and they turned out great

 

I fought with mine for a while but i did get it. i would just keep at it.. walk away for a while to keep from getting mad. Its what helped me..

 

Well, I'm not risking another "$35 donation" for a product that doesn't specify an exact amount of soap to use. I just think the instructions were too vague for a product that costs so much for so little. I think I'm going to get the niteshades if I even mess with it anymore. I've already spent too much money trying to get my tail lights done.

 

, i barely applied any soap to mine, actually used my finger and rubbed water with soap on the overlay. GL though

 

As several other members have said here, the key to getting vinyl overlays to wrap and to stick is using HEAT in the process. I've installed Bats overlays on my FX, and you have to use a blow dryer or a heat gun when installing them.

There is nothing wrong with the overlays. It is operator error.

 

I have not done the overlays yet (but soon) and I have only done window tint many times. The soap to water mix I have always used is one drop of dish soap to one spray bottle of water, and it has always worked great.

 

I used heat. I even used heat when the overlay was on the light. No dice. Operator error? No. Inferior product. Yes.

 

IMHO I guess you just suck at putting on overlays. If he sent you three sets of them and you couldnt do any of them, while other members have gotten it done in a short time on the first try ...then its user error.

Ive done my sidemarker and roof overlay myself without any huge issues...