kocyk123

Hello,

Has anyone ever did TSX-R lens retrofit on their TL? I am really curious since I really love the difference between stock and the retrofitted lens.

Thanks

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

good luck fitting a 2.5" lens in a 3" projector lol

kocyk123

It makes sense why I couldn't find anything on TSX-R swap in a TL headlamp. How about ZKW-R ?

350

iTrader: (4)

A bunch of us have done ZKW-r lenses. They fit fine but the base is a little thicker than stock so odds are the retaining clip will break if you're not super careful with it. Mine broke but it still holds in fine, kinda hard to explain I guess. If you can, try firing it up and tune the lens a little before reinstalling the headlight cover, they don't always get the sharp cutoff/color band just thrown in, might have to tweak the lens a little. Mine looks fine but not as blue as some of the other ones I've seen because I didn't do that. Honestly I liked the TSX-r lenses better, my last vehicle had a 2.5" projector retrofitted, I got a way nicer color band, like a full prism instead of just blue/yellow on the ZKW 3".

kocyk123

I got it. Do you think it is really worth spending time removing bumper and crack opening the headlight for the swap?

350

iTrader: (4)

For just the lens probably not, but if you want to customize the lights then definitely. I removed the amber part and painted all the trim black, I figured while I'm in there why not? It's a lot of work and risk of breaking something for just the lens, the actual output isn't a lot more, but it is a little wider with a sharper more colorful cutoff.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Although the finished results can be very nice, IMO the mod is no longer worth it to me on my latest Type S for a few reasons. First off, like you mentioned it is a lot of work. Bumper removal, headlight disassembly, lens holders breaking like mentioned above...and it happens almost everytime. I have done two lens swaps and one side snapped on both installations and I was being super careful. The possible condensation problems if not sealed perfectly etc etc.
The next problem is that these lenses aren't truly plug and play. They will require a lot of "tuning". Infact just dropping in a zkwr lens with no spacing or rotating won't be all that better than stock. Spacing and rotating is required for best output, then you gotta try to replicate that output on the other side which is also time consuming or you will have different cut offs between the two sides.
The last issue I have noticed and it really sucks is that the cutoff will be so sharp that oncoming drivers constantly think your flashing your brights at them. Any hill even just minor is enough to put oncoming drivers under your cutoff and the razor sharp cutoff going up and down through their field of vision looks like high beams being flashed. 3 of my shifts end at 10pm with hills on my commute. I'm not trying to piss off every car on my way home.

So like I said, a properly installed and tuned zkwr will give some very sweet looking cutoffs that I love, but the drawbacks listed above simply make them not worth it, to me anyway. My current type s actually has a damn nice cutoff with good color as is, plus I don't want to take things apart on this car, because 98% of the time when taking things apart like this something will always go wrong or get screwed up in the process, even if it's minor it just won't be as good as it was stock.

Hope this helps.

kocyk123

Copy that! Well I really love the cutoff of my headlights and OSRAM CBI's. If it doesn't make a big difference then I won't do it since I already took apart my Audi's headlights multiple times and I broke some pieces even though I was really careful. I also agree with sharp cutoff vs. hills!

Thank you very much for your opinion!