2007-2014 “Blackout Treatment”

[JExpedition07]

Question for you 07-14 Limited owners. You guys have what Ford calls “Blackout Treatment” Headlights. In short I’d like to add this look to my Eddie Bauer which has the chrome headlights. Does anyone know how Ford applied the “treatment” as they call it in the brochures. Did they simply use tinted plastic (Would a light tint work?) or did they remove the chrome from inside the assembly? Would a lighter tint look close enough and not impede light? Or would new assemblies be the way to go and anyone know a good stock style replica A/M that holds up?

What I have:

What I want:

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Tinted plastic. If I was going to do it aftermarket I would go with Lamin-X or let a pro do it w/ paint. If you must do it with the rattle can tint, at least coat it afterwards with USC SprayMax 2K. https://www.amazon.com/SprayMax-Glamour-Gloss-Aerosol-Clear/dp/B0082LJMC6

 

[Aspen03]

Previous vehicles that I've had light tinting done I had a shop shoot them w black base mixed w clear and it gave it a great look, headlights mimicked what you see in that pic and tails were a very deep ruby red when sun hit them but close to black normally. Light output was fine for brake/turn signals. It really set the car off being black. The black interior on those is a different reflector housing. You'll need to source the housings or disassemble your own and paint them. Having done a disassembly before I would absolutely buy replacements and have someone tint them for as inexpensive as they are for these years. Film will degrade fairly easily, depending on your driving environment.

 

[JExpedition07]

Thanks for your input guys, so the Lamin-X regular tint doesn’t look too extreme and seems to match the Limited look on the outside. My current headlights are in good shape (no haze), so I’m thinking maybe for a project I’ll take them out clean them and apply the regular tint Lamin-X to give it a shot. If it starts checking and wearing down I’ll likely just order up two Limited headlamps since stock ones are pretty reasonable on eBay.

 

[JExpedition07]

So of course I’m still open to suggestion, but as of now I’m leaning toward the Lamin-X that ManUp mentioned after looking into it. They make a tint kit specifically for 2007-2014 headlights and it’s pre-cut for easy installation....here is the regular tint applied to a Ranger

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

Plastidip makes a smoke tint you can apply. I've used it on taillights before with super great success. It only cost $7 per can and one should cover both lights. It won't look as pro as the eom option, but for the price.... It's an okay option

 

[Anchorclanker]

My 08 Limited didn't have any tint on the lenses. The headlight buckets were black. I think tinting will dim the chrome some but won't give you the same look.

If you look at aftermarket lights check the parking/turn signal area for a reflector in the pocket. Many do not have one and it makes the light very hard to see, especially in daylight.

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[JExpedition07]

So I’ve watched some YouTube and looked at images/done research and have decided against tint. Just going to order 2 takeoff OEM Limited headlamp assemblies. Tinting from the outside isn’t going to give the same look as the stock Blackout Treatment since the buckets are black.

 

[JExpedition07]

Talk about blackout treatment

 

[kyleaaronburkett]

Talk about blackout treatment

View attachment 33565

That expedition is gorgeous [emoji7][emoji177]

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