The Graphite Ghost: TSX Wagon

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Old 03-10-2012 | 11:02 AM
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The Graphite Ghost: TSX Wagon

This will be my MOD thread. I will post the story of my 2012 TSX Wagon Tech GLM. Brought it home Feb 27.


I am NOT supposed to mod this vehicle; I went way overboard on my last one and we all know you get back about 50 cent on the dollar for mods so its not very profitable. Anyway, I have a 1k budget to get it off the ground.



Here is first day home; I still havent taken appropriate pics yet....but here is what I have.











installed the Black Weather Tech ....first 2 rows.












am off to get windows tinted now........
Old 03-10-2012 | 01:45 PM
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nice! more wagons! welcome man
Old 03-10-2012 | 03:12 PM
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Nice wagon! Darker colours really suite the wagon
Old 03-10-2012 | 03:29 PM
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congrats and another wagon
Old 03-10-2012 | 05:48 PM
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Mats look nice and fit perfectly! That mod is a good return on investment.
Old 03-10-2012 | 09:58 PM
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should be in photograph section, no?
Old 03-10-2012 | 10:32 PM
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Welcome man! the weathertechs are nice! how much did you get them for?
Old 03-11-2012 | 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by 1supafly
Welcome man! the weathertechs are nice! how much did you get them for?
places cannot SELL them for cheaper than the weathertech.com site price....they cannot be discounted. I was lucky and had a free shipping and loyalty coupon for 5% off a followup order.

so i paid 161.xx delivered. the WeatherTech price was 169.xx plus shipping.




they fit really well as the pics show. I bought the OEM tray for the hatch area. should be here Monday.
Old 03-11-2012 | 10:06 AM
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I bought the OE mats to make sure that I didn't void my warranty

I prefer the coverage of the Weathertechs but after my final negotiations with the dealer I said "I'll take it if you throw in a set of floormats and a license plate frame" so I ended up with the Acura mats.

The Acura driver side mat does lock in place so it fits a bit more secure than the Weathertechs.

Last edited by ceb; 03-11-2012 at 10:09 AM.
Old 03-11-2012 | 08:29 PM
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I have the OE all weather mats too. Like ceb, I got them as part of negotiations.

A friend gave us, as a gift, the cargo tray for my wagon, so now it's a matching set. The OE mats are quite nice and feel very durable.
Old 03-11-2012 | 11:01 PM
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i got my weather techs for $100, cause im a thief(front, back, and trunk liner). i love the fit, and just how they look/sit. though i do kinda wish it locked into place, i dont find that they ever move. they are made to sit perfectly in the grooves, so it should keep moving down to a minimum
Old 03-12-2012 | 12:16 AM
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what?? where did you get them? i want some for $100!!
Old 03-12-2012 | 01:07 AM
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Tinted all around at 20%. I also did a debadge but I am planning to put the TSX letters back on but at the bottom corner of the hatch......





Old 03-12-2012 | 01:10 AM
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i also started the Ghost's first full detail.

arm the foam gun /

Old 03-12-2012 | 11:21 AM
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Looks great! Looks a lot better without all the badges on the rear! What's next for it?
Old 03-12-2012 | 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Stylinhonda
Looks great! Looks a lot better without all the badges on the rear! What's next for it?
GLM splash guards

exLEDs interior

jlclightings CREE LED DRL

finish the detail

some clear bra

a bit on the handling.....progress rear sway.


later.........

wheels and tire; no bigger than 18's........like the ronjons....but we have time LOL
Old 03-16-2012 | 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by TSXy Luster
should be in photograph section, no?


yes I agree that i have placed this thread in the incorrect place.

can someone post or PM me a MODs ID so I may PM a request they move it to the Photograph area above.

or send one to a mod for this.

THX ALL
Old 03-16-2012 | 10:44 AM
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Nice wagon, and nice nickname for the wagon.

A lot of people post "progress" threads in the main section, it's not that big of a deal.

A lot of people post threads in the picture section, with no pictures. So, you're ok there too.

Lastly, the tint threads in the performance section will give you a good laugh.
Old 03-16-2012 | 11:01 AM
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thanks just trying to FIT IN



i like the cichlid pic......do you keep them?

I have a small African Cichlid setup
Old 03-16-2012 | 10:01 PM
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Thanks robpp! I was keeping some dwarf cichlids for awhile, but then work got in the way and I gave up all but one tank, which is a low-tech planted tank where the firemouth lives. I've always been interested in taking my hobby to the "next level", i.e. African Cichlids, Discus, or even SW, but just never had the time to do it.

Got any pics of your setup? Malawi or Tanganyikan?
Old 03-16-2012 | 10:13 PM
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Originally Posted by MrOtocinclus

Got any pics of your setup? Malawi or Tanganyikan?

All Tanganyikan. Its a 46 gal bowfront.
Current stock:

5 Tropheus Ikola
3 Marlieri
3 Chalinochromis Brichardi

and a missing Pleco.......I have a feeling ineed a new one/


here is one when i set up this iteration.



i have some coral and giant clam shell that i have been using in aquariums since the 70's

Old 03-16-2012 | 10:16 PM
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That debadge looks great. I debadged my first gen, but the "Acura" and "TSX" were each a single badge, and I always planned to put them back on before I sold the car, and rebadging single badges is alot easier than rebadging individual letters. So I'll probably leave these on.

I've got the GLM wagon too. Great looking car. I go weeks without seeing another TSX wagon, let alone in this color. Not sure if that is exclusivity to be proud of or it means that people don't generally want this car...

Looks great.

Originally Posted by robpp
Tinted all around at 20%. I also did a debadge but I am planning to put the TSX letters back on but at the bottom corner of the hatch......





Old 03-16-2012 | 10:23 PM
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Very nice, it'd be great if you could post a pic.

Plecos are great, I love 'em. Here's a pic of mine:



He fights with the firemouth all the time, but it's all in good fun, no real damage.
Old 03-16-2012 | 10:28 PM
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i put a pic in the above post/










@scheißterhöffer

thanks. I have not seen one other wagon ANY COLOR on the road.
no awd/4wd will limit sales in the Denver market.









so I continued my detailing today. above somewhere I have pics of shampooing the paint.


so today i got the hose out rinsed off any dust.

then i broke out the clay and lube and clay bar the whole wagon.

wash it again. get out the halogen light and find about a half dozen areas that need attention. get the PC. THe new hydro pads. Tangerine to start with some Ultimate compound. that took care of most defects. two were stubborn so I had to get out the m105.

then i got the crimson pad and the m205 and polished the WHOLE THING.

It really made the GLM COME ALIVE.

In the morning, I will

wash one more time.
seal with opti-seal.



I like to let the sealer dry for 24 hours so


we wait.......then on Sunday I will add 2-3 coats of P21S Carnuba


and call it




DONE/ well call the paint done.

then i need to treat the interior.
303 on all plastic vinyl.
Lexol on the seats.
Old 03-17-2012 | 08:13 AM
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Good to see someone else here who knows paint care.
Old 03-17-2012 | 09:04 AM
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Thanks. Good to know.

I need a hookup for some new micro fiber if you have any good links?

IMO Acura paint not that great. Plus my wagon wasbuilt in japan so traveled quite a bit to get here in CO. So I wanted to start with a nice clean canvas.
Old 03-17-2012 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by robpp
Thanks. Good to know.

I need a hookup for some new micro fiber if you have any good links?

IMO Acura paint not that great. Plus my wagon wasbuilt in japan so traveled quite a bit to get here in CO. So I wanted to start with a nice clean canvas.
I like the micro fiber from Detailers Domain. Use BMW for a 10% discount.

I am always amazed at the lousy job dealers do when prepping a car. Pretty sad.
Old 03-18-2012 | 09:31 AM
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GLM is obviously the best color. We lost our dog, Maggie Waggie ( her tail wagging made her whole body wiggle) to illness just after I got the car so it got named Maggie Wagon.

The following 2 users liked this post by Speed2000:
99blackhatch (08-09-2013), rockstar143 (07-07-2013)
Old 03-18-2012 | 09:57 AM
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sorry to hear about your dog......but a Great Tribute.


what is that on the lower front bumper area?

looks metal/
Old 03-18-2012 | 10:01 AM
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I got my order from exLed. great customer service.

i searched and found one type here and another there;

is there a sticky or one concise thread on how to remove ALL the lenses?


Are the license plate bulbs and the vanity both those small festoon bulbs?

I got 6K and Blue just for the 4 doors. i also bought the lens in clear so that should help with some of the glare but not change the temp.

Old 03-18-2012 | 11:16 AM
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Looks Great!!

Welcome aboard.
Old 03-18-2012 | 12:39 PM
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Its a brushed aluminum vinyl. I put some on my roof a while ago to help keep inside temps down here in hotlanta. The color is so dark I thought it could use some brightening.

Old 03-18-2012 | 01:23 PM
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https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tsx-2009-2014-143/brushed-aluminum-roof-828395/
Old 03-18-2012 | 01:51 PM
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very cool. was your grill vinyled as well?

I am thinking of colormatch at the moment ....
Old 03-18-2012 | 03:22 PM
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Very nice and distinctive - not your normal lemming

On a GLM, I'd paint the shield body color (leaving the chrome surround like here) but the black vinyl just doesn't fit somehow.
Old 03-18-2012 | 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by robpp
very cool. was your grill vinyled as well?

I am thinking of colormatch at the moment ....

I know its not a perfect match, but that's reflective vinyl and closest I could get.

Old 03-19-2012 | 10:06 AM
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Congrats on the new car, looks like GLM seems to be the color of choice for wagons. Looks great with the tint.
Old 03-21-2012 | 03:53 PM
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i have debadged the OEM letters from the rear hatch area.
Now I want to rebadge and put it on the rear hatch lower right.


Here is what i have so far. These are not FINALs but close.

These will be resin badges that will look SIMILAR to the ones below.


so the mockups in PS



and an example of how things might look.

Old 03-21-2012 | 03:58 PM
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Hmm, velly interesting. You're the first one here (I think) to try something like this. I look forward to seeing the result.

Also, you didn't ask, but I like the one on the left better.
Old 03-21-2012 | 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by robpp
I got my order from exLed. great customer service.

i searched and found one type here and another there;

is there a sticky or one concise thread on how to remove ALL the lenses?


Are the license plate bulbs and the vanity both those small festoon bulbs?

I got 6K and Blue just for the 4 doors. i also bought the lens in clear so that should help with some of the glare but not change the temp.




I have been doing the install. thexe are all in except for the hatch area and the license plate.

I am overall satisfied BUT I AM NOT HAPPY with the door lights. I got blue and since you can see individual LEDS down there it looks FUNNY. like a space ship or something.

I will ditch those for a more standard LED at some time.



I ordered 6K with BLUE doors.

here are the map lights. I used the lcear lens on these to help SPREAD the light out some



here is the vanity. these are always 3500K to keep the glare down some. i think these are great.




here is a shot where you can see the overhead as well as the front ones.






now we come to the doors. as I saiud I am not happy with the look of these. in the daytime it looks like a failed experiment





here is the look that I am not happy with: TO ME looks like a failed science experiment.





one door at night


Last edited by robpp; 03-21-2012 at 04:24 PM.


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