OK, I have a stock plain '01 CL-S. I love the car. I love driving it. I don't want to put a lot of money into it and I am not a young guy like a lot of you here. I'm 52, but I'm not a boring old fart (I hope!). I'd like to spruce the car up a bit and make it look better, but not real radical.
It is NBP, so I love the color. I think the back end looks too plain. I guess not all S types had spoilers. It has stock wheels.
Any suggestions?

 

lowering it will make it look better right away.

honestly a nice set of rims and a good drop will improve the look by alot

 

I also have an 01 NBP CLS. Just get some nice (prefferably non-chrome) wheels. That should hold you for a while. I have a wing and I think it really finishes out the plain backside of the car well, but I understand that a lot of people don't like the stock wing. If not try to find a "lip spoiler"

...so yeah, a set of 18's or 19's and a wing/lip spoiler.

Do you already have tint?

 

getting wheels without lowering his car will just make it look worst. Suspension is a must, no one digs the 4X4 look

 

id say lip spoiler, for some reason they really set the car off. that with a drop (s-techs) would look killer bro. And if you like the stockies keep em they look good when the cars lowered

 

Drop it a bit...will def. improve your handling and overall driving comfort.

 

dropping it, (with a good setup) will make it more fun to drive as well as improve the overall appearance. nothing dramatic, maybe a 1 3/4 or 2inch drop by eibach and some konis. and grab a set of 18s or so and you will fall in love w/ the car all over again.

 

cl-slick does. hes from alabama

 

I'm working on lowering mine. Hoping to go pick up springs this weekend.


A good look for NBP would be a subtle drop, a nice set of 18" black rims with a polished lip, lip spoiler (or oem, whatever you prefer), debadge, and tail light tint. That's just my

 

03 tail lights

 

wash and wax it......then add headers :P

 

Well considering youre not a "boring old fart" lol you could lower it like everyone is saying but sinnce you are 52 yrs old, you might not wanna go too low this is a nice spring/shock combo that gives better look and handling to your car: TEIN H.Tech(http://www.tein.com/products/high_tech.html) with KYB GR-2/Excel-G (http://www.kyb.com/products/shocks/gr2.php)
Along with the handling aspect you can also had a set of sway bars to the car.
You can find a set of 2003 Headlights and Taillights to give it an "updated" look. Also maybe check out excelerate for a different temperature HID bulbs. Also maybe get it tinted so the seats arent as hot in the summer
If you wanna add a spoiler the OEM looks great and gives it the sportier look.
These wheels would look great on a NBP:

 

....and 03 headlights, 03 split 6 spokes, etc.....

Next thing to come is a drop.

I know what you mean though, I still love this car!! It still turns heads...

 

Get me a pic. I didn't know they were different.

 

03


01-02

 

yea it does!
See below
03>01-02

 

03>01-02

 

Do the '03 lights bolt on or is there some mod to get them to fit?

 

New question:
How do you lower a CL? How far? Does it need a kit?
I've worked on Corvettes my whole life. Never even changed the oil on the Acura.

 

Personally, I would recommend a set of Tein H-Tech Springs. The drop is enough to give the car a nice stance, increase the handling and fun factor. The drop on the H-Techs is approximately one inch at all four corners. A camber it is not required, since drop is minimal.

Then purchase a nice set of 17" wheels. Since the car is your daily driver, I would recommend you look at Ron Jon wheels and go from there. You may spend some $$$ for a nice wheel and tire package, but you will be pleased at the end results.

Finally, get under the hood of your car!!!

 

I just noticed, what is the "Trader Rating" on our Avatar info box?? Mine is a "0"

 

Direct swap...only thing that isn't perfect about the swap is the bulb socket for the turn signals.

They are actually a bit smaller on the 01-02 style...still work though.

Simple remedy is to either purchase the '03 socket or secure them with some tape so they don't bounce around.

There are different options for lowering.

Depends on budget and preference.

* Aftermarket spring + Stock Strut

* Aftermarket Spring + Aftermarket Strut

* Coilover Kit = Spring/Strut Assembly

The best setup (IMO) would be an aftermarket coilover which would allow you to "tweak" the dampening and height to suit your preferences.

Coincidently...this is usually the most expensive.

You can browse the Wheels/Suspension threads under the 2nd Gen CL Forum to get a better sense of feedback on various manufacturers.

If you weren't looking to spend a whole lot...I would consider the Eibach Pro Kit.

 

I'd go with either one of the neuspeed kits, they both lower moar than eibach and they're only around $200 new

 

^ Well then...what he said.

 

no offense but h techs are hardly even noticeable, waste of money in my opinion

 

I already have 17" wheels. They are stock CL-S, I guess. Not bad looking, but I've seen better.

 

if you go tein get s techs, perfect for a 17 inch rim and if you have a nbp dont get a black rim, if you want an all around dark look get some gunmetal colored rims. too much black looks tacky.
also if you want the car to look a bit more on the sporty side you can always buy some black out trim brite tape and black out the chrome around the doors. you can also get 03 door handles which are body colored, they are about 25-30 a piece

 

honestly if the type s rims arent all curbed then dont worry about changing them, they look alot better when the cars lowered

oh and a carbon fiber engine cover would just set off the car totally lol

 

true, but only if the hood is popped. i'd def go for a drop first, maybe S-Techs / Konis?

 

My $0.02.

Lower and lip spoiler on the trunk, if anything just get the 03 rims only, don't try to make your car something it isn't (03 head lamps/tail lights... its easy to pick out the 01's and 02' that try to be 03s.) The car had a good classic design, let it be a 01 CL-S, it will look good...

 

i highly doubt people who put 03 parts are "trying to be 03's" they just like the look of certain things better then 01 styling. For example i think the all red tail lights look better on some coloured CL's then the 03's.

 

k-sports springs drop pretty nice.

 

nice paint = nice black car


all i could say.

 

 

-A lowering kit is pretty much a must

-Black/Gunmetal rims really set off NBP (see RonJonwheels.com , the legend GT looks nice with the blue)

-the OEM spoiler or a nice lip spoiler (about halfway down https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-photograph-gallery-53/update-white-cl-s-712542/) are great for fixing the boring back end.

-Partial De-badgeing is your friend (ie. removing the A-C-U-R-A)

-NBP looks okay with the 01 tails, but the 03s or a tint kit (http://stores.ebay.com/YOUR-COVER-CO...QQftidZ2QQtZkm top on the right) looks great

just my opinions

have fun with it

 

oh, and don't make my mistake. chrome rims = teh failxorz (...bad)

 

yeah no chromies for the Cl, only sporty rims...and everything is pretty much covered above so I say:

PICS!! whenever you finally add stuff to your car...

good luck with everything.

 

'03 parts just look better....

 

Will do.
If anyone sees a NBP '01 (with MD plates) between Baltimore and Chicago tomorrow 3 Mar and returning on the 4th or 5th flash the lights and wave.

 

I'll be the one in the bad ass CL passing by @ 140 mph.

If you see flash your lights!