Hi Guys,

I bought this MDX last week on July 14th. 2004 MDX Touring w/ Nav, Sage Green Metallic with grey interior. This thread will document all my mods and pictures.

1st thing I did: Meguiar's Clay Bar, Ultimate Polish and Tech Wax:


Next: installed Pioneer DEH-7100BT deck. Has bluetooth connectivity for my phone and I can stream music directly.


Testing out my AME FS-01 wheels (from my old TL) to see how they look. Looks great, now I just need the right sized tires. I'm refinishing them to have a machine/polished face before I get the tires mounted


Today: DDM Hid Slim ballast kit. 5000k for low beam and 3000k for fog lights.

Low beam cutoff:

Low beam and Fogs:



Only a few mods left:
-install stereo:
-Zapco CK16.2 components front and rear (already have),
-JL HD900/5 5 channel amp to run everything amp (need to buy)
-fiberglass sub enclosure for JL 10w6v2 in stock location (need to buy)
-15 farad cap (already have)
-Finish re-finishing wheels
-Buy summer tires 255/55/18 and buying snow tires from a friend Blizzak DM-V1 for winter
-Tint front windows to match rear
-OEM Acura window deflectors

Wish list (things I want in the future)
-20" wheels/tires
-H&R Odyessey springs
-adjustable upper control arms/kits

 

Looking good so far. Only complaint is that those wheels will be way too small.

I've never seen an SUV build before, so this should be interesting

 

That's true the 18" are small and I do want 19's or 20's. For now I'm looking to use what I already have and go for performance than bling. I plan on doing a lot of driving (long road trips and snow trips) and don't want to worry about bending wheels or potholes. The 18's will be perfect for what I want in a daily...looks good, not stock, and enough side wall to not worry about potholes.

 

Silver is cleaner and more mainstream. Black is more aggressive and different. 2 pretty different choices if you ask me. Either way, they'll be sharp looking. Now, tint those front windows before you do anything else!!!

 

Lol, my friend who does tinting has been backed up, I'm trying to squeeze in after hours but he's been so busy. I'll attempt to get tinted after my trip to Socal.

Yes, the paint options provide to great options and my friend made a good point. The black will make an illusion that the wheels are smaller than they truely are, so now im leaning towards silver.

 

 

just took the X on a Norcal (Dublin) to Socal roadtrip. We went to Anaheim for Disneyland, Santa Ana for a wedding, LA to hang out with friends, then Pismo Beach and SLO for hanging out with other friends. It was about 1100 miles round trip and the car was great. Only complaint was the soft rear suspension with 6 people when driving around Anaheim and Santa Ana. Other than that it was a very comfortable drive compared to my 2001 CRV that we usually take for road trips. MAJOR upgrade.

 

Decided to install an alarm because last week someone took my wallet and iPhone 4 out of my car when I forgot to lock it. I'm an idiot, I know...lol. So I now have a CompuStar 2W900FMR car alarm with 2 way pager, remote start and a proximity sensor to prevent potential thieves from looking into my car. Big plus is that this alarm does have an automatic lock after 30 seconds to protect my dumb butt when I forget to arm the alarm.

 

Nice progress, subscribed for sure. Just wondering, why did you order an HID kit for the headlights? Aren't they already HID's?

 

If I'm not mistaken, they're just projectors, but not HID's.

 

Correct, they're projectors not HIDs.

 

Yesterday I went to an exhaust shop to get the exhaust modified. I had the mid pipe removed and added a 2.25" piping from cat to the stock y-splitter. Original piping is puny at just under 2". Now the exhaust has a bit more balls to it and sounds similar to an fx35.

Today, I had an opportunity to get the front windows tinted. Looks much better.

 

^
thats awesome! video clip?

 

yea, i'll try to get a video clip with my iPhone 4.

 

here's a quick sound clip for the modified stock exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnuEo_n_L6c

 

You can add a dynomax res to give you a deeper tone. The 3G TL have an extensive thread on it. Sounds good though!

 

sounds great, thx for the clip!!!

 

No problem. It's still really quiet from inside the car, but at least it's got some balls now.

 

I did get the idea from the 2g/3g tl guys, I used to have a 2g tl. I may get new rear mufflers later down the road, so if anything I'll do that first prior to getting the resonator so I can tune the amount of exhaust noise to my liking.

 

Update...my baby got new shoes! 19x8.5" +35 Varrstoen wheels that is! I think it looks great, kinda wish i went with a more aggressive stance like the 19x9.5 +22 that i was thinking of before. But overall, I like it alot.

Sorry for the iPhone pic, I'll take more/better shots later when the weather clears up.

 

Not feeling the black rims.

Do you have hub rings for the rims? How does it drive on the highway at 60mph?

Had some aftermarket rims, plus hub rings, and at 60mph on the highway, my steering wheel would shake like a mutha, lol! Went back to stock, and all's fine now.

 

^^^Quitter!
You love the rims, you GOTTA MAKE EM WORK!
I chased a vibration up and down with so many different fixes...at the end of the day it ended up being defective tires.

DUDE, Let I really LOVE the direction you're going on, Any plans for suspension, do they make anything for the MDX? Lowered, although not functional for an SUV...would likely be helpful for ease of entry AND, would make those 19's look, well, like 19's! Plus, don't worry about the offset, you're better off going safer then getting Type II spacers to get the stance, then if you rub, remove them!

I think you made the right decision on the black rims, although I'm a little biased. I was never into them, but now that I have black wheels...they NEVER look dirty and the car looks so mean when rolling...all you see is the sun shimmer off some of the spokes and the brakes behind it.

J.

 

vybzkartel...not a problem, i figured not everyone would like this look. It turned out pretty good for me so I like it, but not love it. I do have hub centric rings. It does vibrate more than the stock wheels but not much more that it's a crazy difference and annoying.

rockstar: thanks, i like how it turned out. I have considered lowering it, but there aren't any springs available for the mdx. I heard we can use odyssey springs but don't feel like venturing out and trying it. So as it stands, I'll enjoy the MDX as it is.

 

I love the exhaust and the wheels! Also, how difficult was it to get that headunit in there? Did you do it yourself, I wanna try to do the same thing.

 

Sounds great bro. You look great btw. I'm 6'1 175. Takes a LOT for folks like us to keep fit. Most of mine is from surfing all summer...lol. Ever thought about getting to black oem molded running boards or would that make the distance from wheelchr to car seat too far for a safe transfer?

 

The wheels look pretty good. I think if you did black chrome on the exterior trim pieces and blacked out the taillights it would flow a lot better.

 

I noticed in your video you have a remote start... What kind is it and how do you like it? I'm thinking of getting one

 

I have a CompuStar 2w900fmr-3a alarm with remote start and I love it. Its convenient, has a two way alarm/pager, and proximity sensor.

Here are some better pictures of my dslr.

 

Lookin good, man...
Wasn't saying it NEEDED a drop...but I am into lowered cars. It looks great as is..and IMO, you don't need spacers even.

PS...good friend of mine is a quad and I have a lot of respect for the fact that you guys work with what you got without bitching about it. Funny how people with "more" are always complaining...if you know what I mean.

Take care,
Jeremy.

 

thanks, I know what you meant about the drop. I've considered it and feel like I can use a 1-1.5" drop but don't want to venture out with an option that isn't used regularly (odyssey springs). So for the time being I'll leave it as she stands. Also I just try to live it up with my obstacle, I'm not going to let it win.

 

Good shit man...I wouldn't venture anywhere for a 1.5" difference...it looks just fine as is.

 

Yea I'm happy with it. I wish there were stiffer shocks though like Koni Yellows so it can ride and handle better.

 

I'm pretty much done for now. May just tint the rear tail lights, but not really trying to take the headlight apart to black it out.

 

OMG exactly... I'm diagnosed a c-6/c-7 quad but have improved to t-1 which would be a para so thats why i put para in my sig. I'm still what i'm diagnosed... a quad. But i don't complain abot ANYTHING. I was given a second chance to live so I make the most of it. I work full time in my trade (cert. flight instructor), live alone in a town house, and of course drive. Just because i'm having a difference of opinion doesn't have any baring on the fact how proud i am to see another person on the board with a similar injury as me.

People ask me all the time "house life being disabled?" I answer that im not disabled as far as I'm concerned or any of my friends and family think. The ONLY thing I ever ask for help with is "can u get that down fowr me". I dont think anyone is calling short people disabled...lol.

It's funny a kid contacted me on AZ thats a new para from a motor cycle accident. He googled hand controls on Acura and one of my threads popped up. So he called me and hes looking to get a 2nd/3rd gen TL. I told him the hand controls i use (Menox www.menox.org nsweet controls) and how he can go about getting his license etc.

Anyway keep pushing bro. Your MDX looks like a truck based suv after the mods. Looks great!!!

 

Right on Bro.

MDX looks great, keep up the great work...

 

I remember when you first started this thread! I agree with Jeremy, I downright admire you (both of you) for your capabilities and strengths. Keep on, keeping on man.

This really really makes me want an MDX again.

I also had no idea the 04 MDX came with projectors but no HIDs.. LAME

 

so OP, again, what you got in mind next? I know you said no headlights, I don't blame you, took me a while to decide to do it...then I had to get the balls to actually put them in an oven!

 

I'm a personal trainer at my local golds gym if you wanna fly over...lol.

 

Outkast, get those headlights split ASAP. Matte black to match the rims?

 

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