Desert Mist TL Build

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Old 03-02-2015, 02:34 PM
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Desert Mist TL Build

Hi all,
Been a long time lurker and finally got some goodies to respost.

Picked up a 05 TL with black leather and navi Jan 14' with 99k miles for a great deal.



My progress over the year.





First thing I did was had the headlights polished.




Had my mid-muffler removed


Fixed chipped paint on rear bumper


Installed A-Spec Spoiler - still miss my flushy


Installed 07-08 tails. 04-06 were all red


Picked up a TL-S Lip - need to get it painted


Thule Rack Test Fit


Installed some OEM Visors - bad pic but they're there
Attachment 103951

Custom Fit TL-S Gauge bezel, had to cut holes for the cluster settings on the bottom right

Desert Mist TL Build-cr6l6zr.jpg

Ginger sleeps, dreaming of better days.


Exterior:
07-08 Base Tails
OEM Window Visors
A-Spec decklid spoiler
TL-S Front Lip

Interior:
TL-S Cluster Bezel

Plans:
18x8 A-SPEC Gunmetal Wheels
Buy TL-S Rear Lip
Quad Muffler Tips
Eibach Pro Kit
Blackhouse headlights
Old 03-02-2015, 02:34 PM
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Just installed the TL-S Front Lip, lots of cutting. Fogs soon!

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Old 03-02-2015, 03:45 PM
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Great progress...
Old 03-02-2015, 07:05 PM
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Great work. Now that Spring is around the corner, keep on going.
Old 03-02-2015, 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by DesertMistTL
Just installed the TL-S Front Lip, lots of cutting. Fogs soon!

How difficult was it fitting the type s lip?

-Car looks great btw!
Old 03-02-2015, 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by ct_ua6
How difficult was it fitting the type s lip?

-Car looks great btw!
Wasn't as bad as I thought

All the brackets on bottom line up, side brackets just need a hole drilled.

The bumper grills just need about 3" widened and cleaned up with dremel.

The only iffy part was cutting the slits for the stock zip tie holders. Just eyeballed it.

Other than that 20mins of cutting. And I was done prepping the bumper.

Last edited by DesertMistTL; 03-02-2015 at 09:40 PM.
Old 03-03-2015, 07:52 AM
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Have always liked the Type S bezel and was thinking at some point of adding it as well. Though I didn't realize it doesn't already have the two cutouts for the cluster setting buttons.
Old 03-03-2015, 07:55 AM
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Looks great! Not a color you see much on these forums. Only thing I can recommend to really bring out the front end to go along with that Type S kit is the Type S headlights. Something just doesn't look right with the older 04-06 headlights and that kit. Its not bad by any means, but I bet the all black Type S headlights would look amazing!!
Old 03-03-2015, 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by DarkTower19
Have always liked the Type S bezel and was thinking at some point of adding it as well. Though I didn't realize it doesn't already have the two cutouts for the cluster setting buttons.
I'm a barbarian so I went at it with a fine dremel for 15 mins and then epoxy studs for the switch. You need to also order the brightness setting buttons on the left otherwise your stock 04-06 may not fit. I love the extra rings.
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Old 03-03-2015, 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by JTS97Z28
Looks great! Not a color you see much on these forums. Only thing I can recommend to really bring out the front end to go along with that Type S kit is the Type S headlights. Something just doesn't look right with the older 04-06 headlights and that kit. Its not bad by any means, but I bet the all black Type S headlights would look amazing!!
Oh yea, type s lights would be great. I'm just going to blackhouse and put in a clear acrylic sheet cutout over the blinker area to clear it out . Debating about zkw-r but not sure .

Last edited by DesertMistTL; 03-03-2015 at 11:31 AM.
Old 03-03-2015, 11:37 AM
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Great progress so far!

Keep in mind the Gunmetal A-Specs are only 18x8.5 and were only made in 2004, so they can be a bit hard to find. Also, many members have experienced a rear rake when installing the Pro Kit springs, meaning the rear of the car is lower than the front. If you are set on buying springs and not coilovers, consider H&R or TEIN products.
Old 03-03-2015, 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by CLtotheTL32
Great progress so far!

Keep in mind the Gunmetal A-Specs are only 18x8.5 and were only made in 2004, so they can be a bit hard to find. Also, many members have experienced a rear rake when installing the Pro Kit springs, meaning the rear of the car is lower than the front. If you are set on buying springs and not coilovers, consider H&R or TEIN products.
Thanks for the tips! Probably h tech since s techs always ended up sagging and being lower.

Ah thought all aspec wheels came in all colors. I wouldn't mind any set.

I could pick up some tl-s wheels at the moment but not sure if I'm going for the tl-s clone look.
Old 03-03-2015, 12:58 PM
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Impressive and unique TL as you don't see your color very often here. Keep it up and post more when time permits
Old 03-03-2015, 01:33 PM
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Just ordered the tl-s rear . Should be painted and installed by next week
Old 03-03-2015, 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by DesertMistTL
Wasn't as bad as I thought

All the brackets on bottom line up, side brackets just need a hole drilled.

The bumper grills just need about 3" widened and cleaned up with dremel.

The only iffy part was cutting the slits for the stock zip tie holders. Just eyeballed it.

Other than that 20mins of cutting. And I was done prepping the bumper.
Hmm, well if it wasn't that bad maybe I should get the type s lip instead of the 05 aspec lip...thanks for the reply
Old 03-04-2015, 09:12 PM
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Picked up rear lip from Acura. Just dropped it off at paint shop. Such nice NHBP to be painted over.

Desert Mist TL Build-gkadutf.jpg
Desert Mist TL Build-cl44e8e.jpg
Desert Mist TL Build-kxllcp2.jpg

I already have the mesh waiting
Desert Mist TL Build-0mkdsxm.jpg
Old 03-04-2015, 09:27 PM
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......and the wait now begins.
Old 03-04-2015, 09:44 PM
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shop said to pick it up saturday
Old 03-04-2015, 09:48 PM
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Not bad!
Old 03-04-2015, 10:01 PM
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This is be the third dessert mist TL with aspec I ever seen here on AZ.
Old 03-04-2015, 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted by truonghthe
This is be the third dessert mist TL with aspec I ever seen here on AZ.
Nice! I haven't really seen any desert mist tls with the type-s a-spec kit.
Old 03-05-2015, 07:30 AM
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There used to be a guy, a Canadian guy had a 07 in dessert most color and he had aspec, wheel and the car is lowered too. He sold the car and get another TL.
Old 03-07-2015, 01:19 PM
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I can't even recall if I've seen one in person....
Old 03-07-2015, 05:11 PM
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Desert Mist TL Build-f0wu74hh.jpg

Just picked up lip from paint, looks gooood.
Old 03-07-2015, 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by DesertMistTL

Just picked up lip from paint, looks gooood.
Look forward to seeing it installed!
Old 03-08-2015, 01:37 PM
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The only time I've ever seen a TL in this color was (ironically enough) when I was picking up my 05 and there was an 08 sitting in the dealership. Its not my cup of tea (at least in stock form) but its certainly rare as hell...
Old 03-08-2015, 05:37 PM
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rare color, good start. I remember seeing one this color on some rpf1 aggressive ass shit 18s it looked so good
Old 03-08-2015, 08:33 PM
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I agree this color is uncommon, usually older women driving it whenever I see it. LOL

Finally mounted the rear lip and it was fun...

Everything went smoothly until I realized I was suppose to put on the new mudflap replacement brackets after I put the bumper on the car. i did it before and it was a pain in the ass to get the 10mm nut that holds the bumper to the car back on with the bracket in the way. Oh well..

I had a hard time trying to get the OEM type-s bumper mesh in and even tried epoxying it from behind--no bueno, JB weld epoxy doesnt want to stick to this. Ended up just shoving it in there after cutting it and zip tieing it to the tow hook.

Desert Mist TL Build-6m1mnum.jpg
Desert Mist TL Build-xkhqz0i.jpg
Desert Mist TL Build-ggymugq.jpg
Desert Mist TL Build-abvi3lk.jpg
Desert Mist TL Build-wnt05uw.jpg
Also bought front and rear sidemarkers from someone. The rear sidemarkers are oem type-s but the front sidemarker bulbs were replaced with white LEDS. Both are smoked, but I got a great deal on them and my oem front sidemarkers were burnt out.

Desert Mist TL Build-clwgpis.jpg

Tried mounting the fog lights without taking off the bumper..failed. I need to fab some brackets and take the bumper off. Too tired this week.

I need quads and need to lower it. Soon.

Last edited by DesertMistTL; 03-08-2015 at 08:44 PM.
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Old 03-08-2015, 08:49 PM
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Looks good! Thanks for sharing. I also have a DMM (07) and have been thinking of putting the TL-S front lip and rear on. Now I know what it will look like . If you don't mind, how much did you pay for the the front and rear to be painted?
Old 03-08-2015, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by joz00
Looks good! Thanks for sharing. I also have a DMM (07) and have been thinking of putting the TL-S front lip and rear on. Now I know what it will look like . If you don't mind, how much did you pay for the the front and rear to be painted?
I went to a body shop in Rosemead, CA called phillips auto repair - Philip?s Auto Repair - Rosemead, CA | Yelp

I paid $200 for each lip to be painted so $400 total.

Surprisingly DMM paint matches very well. My paint isnt great and has some minor oxidation but the new painted lip matched just fine.

All in all, I've dumped about $900 to get these parts new from Acura and paint them. I think if I would have brought the two lips together to the body shop they'd cut me a deal.

My wallet is sad.
Old 03-08-2015, 09:22 PM
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Looks awesome dude! Love the DMM the more I see it
Old 03-08-2015, 10:16 PM
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The kit looks great. Best of luck with the fogs.
Old 03-08-2015, 10:49 PM
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Looking nice, you've given that TL the TLC treatment and it looks like it will really have it's best years now.

Originally Posted by DesertMistTL
Nice! I haven't really seen any desert mist tls with the type-s a-spec kit.
It is a rare color indeed, along with the green. Here is one with A-Specs: https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...dmm-3g-918925/

I think the car everyone seems to remember up here is Desper's. DMM is really not my taste either but this car made me notice!


https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...silver-620278/

https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...aaaack-853410/
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Old 03-08-2015, 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by rockyfeller
Looking nice, you've given that TL the TLC treatment and it looks like it will really have it's best years now.



It is a rare color indeed, along with the green. Here is one with A-Specs: https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...dmm-3g-918925/

I think the car everyone seems to remember up here is Desper's. DMM is really not my taste either but this car made me notice!


https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...silver-620278/

https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...aaaack-853410/
Oh! I recognize that car, it gave me a lot of ideas.
Old 03-09-2015, 08:04 AM
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I've still yet to see a green TL. Now that is TRULY a damn unicorn. If I were to get mine wrapped I would definitely do a forest or kelly green
Old 03-09-2015, 10:36 AM
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I see the green all the time, they only made for 04 I beleive.
Old 03-09-2015, 11:02 AM
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I'd say DGP is probably the most rare color out there. Here's what it looks like: https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...tl-dgp-816711/

And with A-Spec: https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...dgp-tl-766598/
Old 03-09-2015, 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by rockyfeller
I'd say DGP is probably the most rare color out there. Here's what it looks like: https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...tl-dgp-816711/

And with A-Spec: https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...dgp-tl-766598/
True, a guy in my building has one as well. Cool color !
Old 03-09-2015, 11:35 AM
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Wow, looks great!

The only DMM I remember is dougboy's.
Old 03-09-2015, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by truonghthe
I see the green all the time, they only made for 04 I beleive.
05 as well seen a couple members with 05 DGP in their sigs, but I agree I actually see it more than DMM or KBP...


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