S13 hatchback tails question

[okinawa180]

i ordered a set of euro style kouki smoked tails w/out knowing they didnt come with the lower panel

is this really needed? cuz i put them on and there were no clearance issues, though the tails stuck out further than the panel a bit

and does anybody know where to get one? i found ONE website that carried them for 89$

also im curious as to why everybody hates the euro's so much. who can really afford OEM koukis? as long as the euro's arent chrome i think they look fine, alot better than stockers..

[Ken Park]

Yea, you need the panel because of the shape of the kouki lights. Where did you get these euro kouki lights anyway? Wouldn't look half bad all red like some people do the other types of euro lights.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Is euro style the same as "teezas?" I can't keep up with this ricer lingo. And btw, if it is the teezas, do what ^ said, paint/cover the brake lights with red and the center garnish with black. They actually don't look too bad.

[Darkness and Light]

You need the lower piece for real kouki lights because they are smaller then the original ones. You don't need a new piece for the eBay/Altezza whatever lights because they are the same size as the original lights.

People don't like Altezza lights because a) it is a matter of taste on whether its an improvement so some people just don't like the look, b) it is so played out that some people think its boring and unattractive, and c) some people are so caught up in being trendy "non-conformists" that they hate it on principle.

I personally don't care much for them because it has too much chrome and not enough chrome on the rest of the car for it to match. I think the red/black ones would look okay on my black and white fastback with a black wangan wing.

[simmode1]

You need the lower piece for real kouki lights because they are smaller then the original ones. You don't need a new piece for the eBay/Altezza whatever lights because they are the same size as the original lights.

That's not true. I have a set. The Euro center garnish will poke out a bit. It's not a big deal but it's there. Here, I was gonna buy this, but I don't need it right now...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...41585

Are you gonna go all red on your lights or leave them euro style? If you decide to go all red, don't paint them. Use translucent red vinyl. Like these...



Here are some painted examples. They're pretty good, but it is all to easy to go tragically awry this this route...

I r helpful!

[okinawa180]

wow those actually look pretty good, almost like cheap OEM koukis, where would you pick up the red vinyl? i was jus plannin on leavin them the way they are, i dont have anypics on here but here is an ok pic of what they look like http://viewmorepics.myspace.co...00967

i like them pretty good, but those red ones you posted look nice actually.they arent real ricer looking to me, cuz they arent chrome. they have chrome backs from what i can tell but the lenses are smoked so it covers up most

[okinawa180]

i see what your saying bought the tails, but as i said these arent the chrome ones, believe me i wouldnt buy those either. these look nice in person tho.

simmode 1 gave me a pretty good idea about covering the euros with red to make them look like OEM koukis, you can tell they arent OEM but they look pretty good

so you said for the alteezas you dont need the lower panel? cuz i test fitted the center and left tail light and it fit without problem, tho the tail light stuck out a little more than the lower panel

[okinawa180]

well they are like alteeza style koukis you could say, they are the kouki shape and they came with the center piece but i did see the euro style with all red and they looked pretty good actually, you can kinda tell they arent OEM but still look good.

i test fitted the new tails and they fit without problem, tho the tails stuck out a little more than the lower panel

[Darkness and Light]

I wouldn't be surprised if there are minor fitment issues, you're buying an eBay brand and quality assurance probably isn't a top priority for them. Stock lights and the Euro lights are the same shape and take up the same space which is why you aren't supposed to need a new lower center panel. The light housing on the Kouki aren't as wide so a different center panel is needed. I don't see how buying the kouki lower center panel would fix the problem because its the wrong shape and size.

[simmode1]

Instead of doing the center portion black, I'm going to use opaque body colored vinyl. The stuff shouldn't be too hard to find. Try some Hobby stores...

[nicc_dett]

WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF i really need that bottom piece? i bought just the 2 kouki lamps without the center or lower piece..

any way i can work with my usdm lower piece?

[Chris28]

Just look at it. Where the lights "connect" to the center garnish the usdm ones go straight up, where as the jdm and ebay ones continue the 45 degree angle or w/e. You can cut your current one at that angle but it's going to look like crap.

[2chuki4u]

so whered u get this translucent red vinyl? does it go on the lens or the back cover?

[simmode1]

I don't really know where to get it yet, I i haven't look around really. I guess I'll visit some vinyl shops in town. You should only need to apply it to the surface of the lights after you've thoroughly cleaned them. BTW, that isn't my car that I posted...

But if you search google, you get quite a few results/options. Like this...

http://www.rvinyl.com/wrapkits...oogle
Modified by simmode1 at 11:37 AM 12/1/2008

[okinawa180]

no, they say you cant make the USDM ones work, i found one company that sells them. its 89$ for the lower piece. and where did you find jus the left and right koukis anyway?

[simmode1]

Anyways, I said it before and I'll say it again... I have a set of those eBAY/D Max styled euros. The altezza's are the same dimensions as JDM kouki tails. Here's evidence: Vinyl'd altezzas on an actual SuperMade 180sx...



See how it's flush with the JDM center piece?

I linked you an ebay auction for the lower garnish so you could get it for $55 shipped, but no one listened to me, so I bought it myself.