NathanJax

So I bought my car a week ago today. Moving kinda quick on it. It's the Nite Hawk Black Pearl with tan interior. Everything but Active Cruise Control (ACC) and the collision mitigation braking system (CMBS)

So far I've ordered/received:

All interior, trunk and tag LED bulbs
Nokya yellow fog light bulbs
New center console leather
OEM Wood Steering Wheel
H&R lowering springs
Debadge rear trunk


and stuff ordered/purchased and on it's way:


NavTool
Weathertech floor mats
Acura TL wood grain shift knob


I've already stripped to 35%/20% tint that was on it and replaced with 5% tint all around and 35% on the entire windshield, de-badged the trunk except for the Acura symbol.

Here's a couple pics from the dealer





And here's a few pics of stuff that has been delivered

Replacement leather center console, LED bulbs, fog light bulbs


OEM steering wheel


H&R lowering springs


Here's a quick picture of the interior while I was swapping out the vanity bulbs for LEDs.



And here's a picture of the glove box. The Acura dealer is swapping this out for a new one for free next week (major condition of the sale)



it's been raining the last 2 days so no pics since the tint or with LEDs.

Still need to order reverse bulbs, back up bulbs, and rims. The chrome on all 4 bumpers and front grill is messed up so I have plans to fix/replace them. Probably painting the grill black and keeping some chrome on it. Also plan on ordering the 09+ rear sway bar & bushings. I need to polish up the headlights and have a couple dings,scratches, chips looked at as well.

Debating ordering a trunk spoiler & roof spoiler, but I don't think I'm going to do the A-Spec kit. We will see later. I'm also not sure on the wheels yet, but I'm leaning towards the Vossen CVT's. Hopefully figure it out within the next few days. I'm going to put the H&R springs on before the rims. Since it's got 90,000 miles on it I'll probably swap out the shocks at the same time. I have full access to and grew up around a shop (fathers a mechanic) so I'll do all the work myself. I have some other ideas for mods so I'll be making threads when I get those completed


Thanks for looking and enjoy!!!

Nathan

NathanJax

2 things accomplished today, dealer called and will be installing my new glove box on Wednesday, and I was able to recover my center console arm rest. Still need to get the black panel underneath the console fitting just right, but I an out of daylight and warm weather

Before


After

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Good stuff happening here man!

BDoggPrelude

Nice. Best year for the RL IMO. All of the kinks worked out and still looks classy.

NathanJax

Well I haven't got the steering wheel installed yet, hopefully tomorrow.

I ordered new KYB shocks to install at the same time the lowering springs are going in since the car has 90,000 miles on it. The car goes in Wednesday for the glove box replacement and we leave Thursday on a cruise for a week so the springs will go on the following weekend.

Weathertechs will be here Wednesday.

NavTool should be shipping this week.

Will be test fitting some Vossen's Wednesday evening. Haven't 100% decided on wheels but at least this will give me an idea about them...





And I received the TL shift knob today. I'll be trimming it down like others have done, but here's a quick shot.

NathanJax

Floor mats are in, will pick them up tomorrow.


Steering wheel installed today. Wood color looks a hair off though...




Also swapped my cabin filter out... yuck

NathanJax

So the glovebox was fixed today, I received/installed the WeatherTech floor mats, and I lowered the shifter 1" so it sits exactly where the OEM shifter sits using the https://acurazine.com/forums/second-...rl-diy-872433/

charlesm23

Good job on the center console. What did you stuff the console with and what did you use to glue it so it was tight? I'm looking to do mine soon. Thanks

NathanJax

3m super 77 spray. Just took the old one off and carefully put the new one on. There's a DIY somewhere on here as well

oo7spy

The steering wheel color is off because it's not real wood like the rest of your car (minus the doors). In direct sunlight, it looks very close, but I can just about guarantee you won't ever regret that mod.

If that interior was Taupe, I would probably be getting all choked up and shit.

KenB350z

Nice!

NathanJax

While I was on vacation, some parts came in.

All 4 of the chrome moldings were flaking off on the front and rear bumper as well as the lower portion of the grill so those came in.


Also my NavTool came in.



Going to try to get the NavTool in today, but we leave tomorrow morning to go out of town again until Monday. While I'm gone, my H&R lowering springs and new KYB struts will be installed and car realigned. I also ordered some chrome bulbs for the turn signals and LEDs for the reverse bulbs that should be here soon.




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kcjohnnyboy

where did you get the center console leather from? oem? or aftermarket? ebay?

NathanJax

eBay Fits 05 10 Acura RL Real Leather Center Console Armrest Covers Beige Tan | eBay and took about 10 minutes to install.

NathanJax

Alright so I just picked my car up. New KYB front struts and lowered on H&R springs.




If the rain holds off I'll have a couple more things done today as well...




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justnspace

iTrader: (1)

suite!!!!!!!!

looks great!!

NathanJax

Here's a stock pic for comparison. I don't like that we can't edit out own post

Stock


Lowered





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projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

You do have a 15 minute window Looking good!

oo7spy

Brand new members can't edit for some period of time (I think you're past that.) Registered members can edit with 15 min like he said. The button is to the left of "quote" at the bottom right of the post.

If you really want something edited, I will do it within reason, so just let me know.

Car looks good!

NathanJax

Had a break between the rain and swapped out my rear bulbs real quick. Reverse bulbs are now SuperBrightLED 7440 High Power LEDs. I was worried they would be too long, but they fit fine.

The turn signals were swapped out for some chrome covered amber bulbs. They still blink clear but looking from the rear you can't see the orange reflection when they are off.

Bulbs



Before



After



I'll try to get some pics tonight when it gets darker



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1CLNRL

Nice work. Looking good, clean subtle mods, that's what I like as well.

NathanJax

So last night I test fitted some Vossen CV7 rims that another member on here has laying around (from his TL). The offset was too high (stuck out about 1.5in F&R) and the tires were too tiny, but I like the style of rims...

MSW 6SP

Meh... you could do better. Are those barrel's filthy or are they painted?

oo7spy

Don't know if it's the style, size, or tiny tires, but I'm glad it was a test.

NathanJax

They are a two toned rim...




They were tiny tiny tires. They are 20x9 up front and 20x10.5 in the rear on the first two pics. The last pic was the 20x9 in the rear. That 20x9 was on a 225/30/20 tire. Like I said, too small of tire for me.



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NathanJax

Just got my "shipped" email for my JDM headlights... says they should be here between the 9th and 18th of March.

MSW 6SP

Those are the sizes of my CV3, and I decided to get my new set of CVT's in the same size because I have brand new tires. The roads around me are getting very bad. I don't think my Vossens would last more than a week before getting cracked in a pothole.

Where did you purchase your JDM headlights? Are you upgrading the cut off shields within the projectors? And finally, if you don't already know, you must fabricate the directional/ turn signal socket because the JDM version uses a different bulb.

NathanJax

Finally installed the NavTool today. Pretty easy and straight forward. NOt sure of a video source yet. I have an old iPod touch for now. Might go ahead and grab an AppleTv though so I can mirror my iPhone 6.







There was just too much rim outside the car for my liking. Looking at other options now.

eBay from Hong Kong

I'm not sure yet. I know about the cutoff being opposite and the socket, but I haven't decided if I'm going to open them up and do anything else to them. My stock ones have condensation inside and need sanding/polishing outside so I might just swap these out and then look at playing with the stock ones.

Mr.Tea

Nathan when are we gonna see the NOKYA fog light install?

NathanJax

Actually still haven't installed them yet. Been busy. Test fitted some more rims today and car goes to the paint shop hopefully next week to fix some dings, dents, and rock chips.


Will post more pics later tonight...

NathanJax

So I test fitted some Vossen CV3's today. Started with the 20x9 +35 offset because I wanted to see what a 20x9 +35 offset would look like all around. Not bad, and it is an option, but I went ahead and tested the 20x10.5 +42 offset and I kinda liked the staggered look. I know it's AWD and I've read all the comments on here, just not sure which setup I want to go with...

Also I'm hoping these new springs will settle just a little more.


Doner car was a member on here "user error"





20x9 front






20x9 rear











20x10.5

NathanJax

Ordered the 09+ sway bar, bushings, and the OEM trunk mat today. Will be in Thursday or Friday. So close to pulling the trigger on the A-Spec kit...

Mr.Tea

The progress on the car is coming along nicely +

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

NathanJax

Rolled my fenders today in anticipation of some new rims...

It goes in the paint shop Monday. Hope to have it back by Thursday, but definitely by Friday. I'm close to ordering the Vossen CVTs for it, just hard to pull the trigger on them as well. Wish I could see some in person. Once I get the rims on I'll make up my mind on the A-Spec kit.



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oo7spy

What's the question with the Aspec kit? OEM bumpers leave a lot to be desired, Amuse is a bit over the top, and Mugen is $$$ (Amuse is too). I mean, if you are debating Mugen, I understand, but otherwise it's a no-brainer. (Assuming you aren't going custom. )

Matts_Acura

Haha Nathan, I was Google image searching for some Vossen CVT pics and then I saw your test fit pic with my other set of wheels. Yea the CV7's with the lower offset (10.5 +27 and 9 +20) looked a little crazy, waaay to much poke up front. The 10.5 +42 and 9 +35 look like they fit pretty nice though.

NathanJax

Still so undecided... Sucks

MSW 6SP

You can have my CVT's next year if you want

NathanJax

I just want you to put them on your car NOW instead of waiting till April

I think I'm going to go ahead and get them