Desert Mist TL Build
#1
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
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
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
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
The following users liked this post:
EvilVirus (03-03-2015)
#3
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Great progress...
#4
Team Owner
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Great work. Now that Spring is around the corner, keep on going.
#5
Instructor
#6
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.
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.
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#8
Safety Car
iTrader: (4)
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!!
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DarkTower19 (03-03-2015)
#10
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!!
Last edited by DesertMistTL; 03-03-2015 at 11:31 AM.
#11
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
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.
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.
#12
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.
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.
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.
#15
Instructor
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.
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.
#17
Team Owner
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Join Date: Jan 2008
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......and the wait now begins.
#19
Team Owner
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Not bad!
#20
Suzuka Master
This is be the third dessert mist TL with aspec I ever seen here on AZ.
#22
Suzuka Master
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.
#23
Team Owner
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I can't even recall if I've seen one in person....
#26
Confusing Name Guy
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...
#28
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
#29
Intermediate
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?
#30
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.
#32
Team Owner
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The kit looks great. Best of luck with the fogs.
#33
King of NYC
iTrader: (6)
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/
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/
The following users liked this post:
Slpr04UA6 (03-09-2015)
#34
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/
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/
#36
Suzuka Master
I see the green all the time, they only made for 04 I beleive.
#37
King of NYC
iTrader: (6)
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/
And with A-Spec: https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...dgp-tl-766598/
#38
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/
And with A-Spec: https://acurazine.com/forums/photogr...dgp-tl-766598/
#39
Race Director
iTrader: (8)
Wow, looks great!
The only DMM I remember is dougboy's.
The only DMM I remember is dougboy's.
#40
Instructor