Tail lights, tint, & badges.

Sharkeyd

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Just finished all of my exterior mods. I put smoked vinyl on my tail lights and reflectors. I also changed out my rear and front badges. Plus window tint and GT stickers on the wheels. I'm pretty happy with the results.
 

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Nice! Will do the same thing on my TailLights and rear reflectors.
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
How hard was it to replace wheel emblems and putting the new emblem on the back hatch? Im a little nervous about using a heat gun and messing up the paint.
 
Looks great. Premium Auto Styling do good work. Best 28.00 dollars spent.
Smoke Tint Tails & Smoke Rear Reflectors
Easy install.

Stinger.webp
 
How hard was it to replace wheel emblems and putting the new emblem on the back hatch? Im a little nervous about using a heat gun and messing up the paint.
Never use a heat gun. Dental floss/fishing line and a lot of patience. Goo Gone to remove the residual. But the most important component is patience. Take your time.
 
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never use a heat gun. Dental floss/fishing line and a lot of patience. Goo Gone to remove the residual. but the most important component is patience. Take your time.

Same here. Dental floss(safer but longer) and goo gone. No heat gun or any prying tools.
 
______________________________
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
It would be nice if the company selling the badges posted a current DIY video of all the removal and installations of their products. I purchased from K8stinger/k5optima and the package said to refer to online links at their web site. Well K8stinger has NO links and the K5optima site has a pdf labled 2014-2015 Optima????? When I emailed the company they were quick to respond that all KIA cars are the same and the installation is the same. Then why not label the instructions as such? There isn't any information regarding wheel hub application and Youtube shows the horn emblem being available to be covered by the new emblem or to remove the KIA and just stick the new one. Another email to K5/K8 and they said ignore the old youtube and REMOVE horn badge and stick new badge. There are MANY videos available on installation but if they are not specific to your badges you could get it wrong.

I started with dental floss and injected Goo Gone behind the badge and let it sit for 15 minutes. The floss broke, tried four types, all failed, doubled the floss and it worked better but ultimately the best was fishing line 50# that I tied loops at each end and used two old tooth brushes as handles to saw the line. Once removed used goo gone to clean the many layers of foam sticky pad. Used alcohol to wipe all goo gone and grease from the surface leaving a smooth clean spot for the new badge. I used a paint can opener to pry the horn badge up. Filled holes in the front and rear with caulk to prevent water seepage. Badge removal completed. After reading the many problems with heat guns/hairdryers I felt it was better to use more time sawing with fishing line.

Good luck on your upgrades!
 
It would be nice if the company selling the badges posted a current DIY video of all the removal and installations of their products. I purchased from K8stinger/k5optima and the package said to refer to online links at their web site. Well K8stinger has NO links and the K5optima site has a pdf labled 2014-2015 Optima????? When I emailed the company they were quick to respond that all KIA cars are the same and the installation is the same. Then why not label the instructions as such? There isn't any information regarding wheel hub application and Youtube shows the horn emblem being available to be covered by the new emblem or to remove the KIA and just stick the new one. Another email to K5/K8 and they said ignore the old youtube and REMOVE horn badge and stick new badge. There are MANY videos available on installation but if they are not specific to your badges you could get it wrong.

I started with dental floss and injected Goo Gone behind the badge and let it sit for 15 minutes. The floss broke, tried four types, all failed, doubled the floss and it worked better but ultimately the best was fishing line 50# that I tied loops at each end and used two old tooth brushes as handles to saw the line. Once removed used goo gone to clean the many layers of foam sticky pad. Used alcohol to wipe all goo gone and grease from the surface leaving a smooth clean spot for the new badge. I used a paint can opener to pry the horn badge up. Filled holes in the front and rear with caulk to prevent water seepage. Badge removal completed. After reading the many problems with heat guns/hairdryers I felt it was better to use more time sawing with fishing line.

Here is a picture of the smaller front badge installed and the original taped above it both aligned next to a straight stick.

Good luck on your upgrades!
IMG_5503 (1).webp
 
I think I'm going to go with the red tail light tint
 
They do look good in red but the reverse light turn red.
Yeah, I don't mind that so much, I rarely put it in reverse and when I do no one really see's it.
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
ivansito......wicked ride.
 
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I love the black rear badge. Since I am probably opting for the yellow repaint, I need to replace mine.

Where did you get it?
Importshark.com The company is receiving a lot of flak atm, so thread lightly. I have not found any other site that sells them painted in gloss black.
 
Thanks, and thanks for the heads up on the current situation with them. Was your personal experience with them, erhm.... difficult? If you would rather not say, I get it.


*** Edit ***

I looked at the forums and I have my answer. Thanks anyway.
 
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I've had no issue with importshark. I've order 3 items from 3 different times and all have been received. Not saying they were perfect and yes they could probably take some Customer Relation lessons but in the end I receive the products which I pay for.

I tend to focus on the goal and not worry about the path on which I get there. But that's just me.;)
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
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