My OBP RL
 

Hey Acurazine,

Just figured I'd give you guys a down and dirty introduction of myself and my 2G RL. I picked up my '07 OBP Tech package with 60K back in mid-April for 18K from a private party. Dealer maintained, all it needed was a 60K maintenance. I must say I truly do love this car. I drove a miriad of options when I was looking and I fell in love with it.

First thing I did when I picked it up was swap all fluid and filters, as well as spark plugs, to establish my own baseline. Then opted with 28% solarguard window tinting, replaced the foglight lenses with polycarb (seems to be a common issue), had the stupid pinstripe that came on the car removed. Also just installed the USA Spec Ipod adapter. Definitely makes life easier! Anyways, on to the pics:

When I first picked her up:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...083e50d294.jpg


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...0e2c2d6900.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...c37a7266a3.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...209f5a8034.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...959070c665.jpg


This is after the window tint cured:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...7012e67247.jpg


Before of the fogs:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...9592d30422.jpg


After:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...3c3f2d7aac.jpg


Before I got the stupid painted on pinstripe removed (who the hell opts for light blue and pink? I mean, wtf????)

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...c4c6d2e0dc.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...5a4283d8cc.jpg


After it was professionally removed:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...58034b7e90.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...fd3a493fca.jpg

Also, here is my Gen 3 V6 Camry, which I still own to this day and plan to use during the winter:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...d7318cae39.jpg


The Camry is modded (slightly), full list if anyone is interested :) Keep in mind I did almost all of this with my own bare hands, as well as all of the maintenance, during my college days :thumbsup:

- New clear coat + mostly new paint
- Ignition Killer (Very fun, especially to fool friends!)
- Remote Start
- 2-Way Security System with Glass Breakage Sensors
- DEPO Headlight housing, with a TSX retrofit and 4300K HID's
- DEPO Black Corners
- Ebay strut bar
- TRD (Toyota Racing Development) Lowering Springs, 1 inch drop
- TRD Rear Sway Bar
- Polyurethane suspension bushings
- OEM Lip Spoiler
- Clarion DXZ375MP, with IPOD fully integrated, into storage bin below, full IPOD controls in headunit.
- Infinity Reference 800 Watt 6 channel amplifier
- Infinity 6022i 6.5" speakers in the front
- Infinity Reference 9603i 6" x 9" speakers in the rear deck
- Infinity Reference 860w 8" subwoofer
- Trunk Solenoid addition
- 20% tints on the rear, 35% on the front, 5% windshield strip

I must also add that the improvement from the 1G to the 2G is spectacular, it's night and day. The AWD is truly great, and considering I drove a few other AWD's in considering this car, including german cars, I liked this one the most. Smooth and reliable. And the Bose audio kicks ass too, even in the 1G RL. The 2G is like having a live concert in your car.

Very nice, enjoy.

very nice ... congratz on the new car

Thanks guys:yum: This car is probably going to take shape over time. It's going to be a constant evolution. Trying to mod this car while holding on to it's classy-ness is going to present an interesting challenge. This nice part is it already stands out in my part of the country- considering no one really knows what it is :tongue:

congrats, someone was stuck in the 80's with the stripe

Makes sense, the guy was in his early 50's, so he would probably be partying his was thru his 20's around then lol. My friend thought it was a "prevent breast cancer" stripe.

So I'm making a drive down to Cleveland over the week-end to pick up some 18" RL A-spec wheels. Slight deviation from my original plan, but it's a deal I can't pass up. Now, I was thinking of possibly getting them powder coated gunmetal or hypersilver. Any thoughts?

what are they now?

They are the factory chrome.

hyper

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice honestly.

nice RL and clean camry.

Nice RL. Congratulations.

Thanks guys :thumbsup:

So I picked up the wheels today in Cleveland, and they are in much better shape than I thought they would be at 300$. And the chrome is not the chrome I expected either, it's a bit deeper than I thought. I might revise my plans, I could see it working with the blue and chrome accents on the car. I was thinking I would have to refinish, but these are in good enough shape that I can get away without it.

The nice part is the tires are in re-sale condition. They are the wrong size for me (245/40R18), they are summers, and off-brands. They are still at 6/32's, so I'm thinking I'll offload them on craigslist as well.

My question in all of this is the following. I know Acura has NVD(?) Chrome application. In all honesty, what that is, I have no idea. Has anyone run these thru salt/winter? Do they pit and peel easily?

Not the best picture, I know:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...fa2cce85c3.jpg

I have heard experiences of Acura chrome Aspecs flaking, chipping, and falling apart on other models but not on the RL. The "deeper" chrome is most likely due to them being "Black Chrome" as called by Acura.

IMHO, they look much better painted. :2cents:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D550/ry%3D400/

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-tires-wheels-suspension-92/aspec-wheels-h-r-springs-installed-pics-854904/

So time for a long overdue update. I picked up two wheels from curbrash repair, cost me 80$. Since I decided to repair the curbrash, that puts me in a position of a mandatory refinish. I'll go with 007spy's advice and steer away from the chrome refinish.

Another idea I've been toying with, and I'd like to bounce this off of people here, is to wrap the headlights in XPEL headlight protector to prevent yellowing of the lenses. I've been quoted 120$ to do it. Resonable? Crazy? Useless? Good? Any thoughts?

NINJA EDIT: I also offloaded the tires on craigslist for 150$ with dismount on the buyer :)

Pictures I promised. The work is pretty good, there is no roughness at all. If you were to feel the edge of the wheels, it's almost butter smooth. The only transition felt is where the chrome begins again. The last picture is of the worst wheel, were they had to weld (!) a new piece in. Again, the work is flawless, with no imperfection. Shop is also standing behind their work 100% with a full warranty and 100% replacement if the wheels vibrate as a result of their work ( I was adament on that part).

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...e212541d8b.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...a0c8619648.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...c50c3a9cb6.jpg

Bump for an update. So the car has been sitting in a storage unit since early December. Before pulling it off the road I bought XPEL headlight protection film kit. I initally thought I could install it myself, but after seing how thick the film was, I opted to pay to have it professionally installed. Kit came pre-cut for the headlights, foglights and the turn signals on the side mirrors. NINJA-EDIT: I also took the plunge on some Osram CBI's :)

I also had the wheels powdercoated as I had originally planned. I opted for pewter and 2 coats of clear coat. I must say, these guys came recommended to me multiples times for a VERY good reason. No amount of pictures do the work any justice at all. It's a flawless finish! I also purchased the factory lip spoiler. Next update to come in one month when the car goes back on the road and I slap everything on. In the meantime, here is the car's resting spot, and a shot of the wheels:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...069ef78594.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...66e9d82a5d.jpg

:suite:

I caught that your a ninja. I was beginning to think I was the only one here. :ninja:

:ninja: The first two pictures wer taken on Friday night, before I had a chance to install the lip spoiler. It's very odd how sensitive this wheel color is to lighting. It oddly works the same way as OBP does with lighting, it changes dramatically in appearance.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...4398762cbf.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...6406e37599.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...3e37d47690.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...2cd9c58410.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...a5c408a9cc.jpg

needs to be lowered NOW

As much as I'd like to, pulling in and out of work is already a problem with this car. I can't even begin to imagine how it would be with a drop :haha:

looks sharp, that low stuff looks cool but gets old when you ride on it.

Time to paint up the center caps.

:stupid:

Thanks guys :) I'd have to agree with Heavy on the lowering. Having done that on my Camry, it gets old really fast.

As for the center caps, I assembled all of the pieces needed and did a test run yesterday with 1 cap to test the colour match. So far so good. I'll do the rest and construct a DIY out of it for the forum. I should have that done by the end of this week :thumbsup:

Finally got around to posting the DIY:

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-2005-2012-76/l-004-diy-painting-your-centercaps-886303/

I was having some trouble with my photobucket account, hence the delay! I also have some good news, I called Tim from OEMacuraparts on Friday, and after a conversation with him, he gave me a good deal on an Aspec lip kit, so I took the plunge and ordered it. It should be here sometime next week per our conversation :) I'm going to install the skirts myself, but as I have a fear of drilling into car bodies, I'm going to be going around for quotes on the install for the front and rear. It's actually kind of funny, I already had 2 shops turn down the work because they have never done this kind of work on an Acura :annoyed::rolleyes:

If you don't mind, how much was the A-spec kit?

1118$ shipped with all the hardware. I think list price on their website was 1190$. Small discount, but a discount nevertheless, 70$ is a tank of gas :) Curryacuraparts is 1249$ shipped as I recall.

So just an update followed by some pictures soon. Tim accidentally sent me two rear pieces on my Aspec kit. Really cool guy, didn't make me jump thru any hoops when I told him, just corrected the problem right away. I thought he handled it very well. After getting a few quotes, and getting outright turned down by more than a few shop for the install, I chose Speed Industry in Troy, MI. They did it for 275$ OTD, as compared to 400$+ I got elsewhere. What really got me was that he had done an Aspec install on multiple TL's and 2 RL's that he could back up.

On the install of the skirts, I found something interesting. Where the mudflaps rest on the fenders, they had marked slightly into the paint. I'm contacting a pro detailer (Autolavish) to see if they can help me, as I'm too scared to tackle this on my own :lol: Pictures as soon as the car gets detailed!

:popcorn:

So I met with Marc from Autolavish on Saturday, he's a really cool guy, I must admit. Knows his stuff right down to a science, and is truly a car guy in every aspect of the term. It looks like I'll be dropping it off next week to finalize everything :) If you're interested in seeing some of the work Marc does, here is there site:

http://www.autolavish.com/Showcase_V..._Vehicles.html

And now for some preliminary pictures of how the car site now :)

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...528934cd5f.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...0df9315e05.jpg

Man, your whip is coming up nice. I was not too sure about the OBP at first but what you have done with it is commendable. Good job. Are you on A-spec springs too ? It doesnt look too high for stock springs...

Looking good. The ASpec kit did wonders for the front end. Any other plans?

Thanks man, it doesn't turn heads like other cars, but it still make me smile everytime I look at it :) Must me a Montreal thing, we know how to build cars :haha:

I still remember when I first started looking, OBP wasn't that high on my list until I stumbled on this one and saw it in person. Seeing it in person is when I truly fell in love with the colour.

It's actually still on stock ride height, surprisingly!


Indeed, it doesn't really jump out on the rear, but did wonders on the front end. I'm still debating an exhaust, but I told myself I'd ride out the summer months as is, and give myself 2-3 months to decide on what I want.

I'll be dropping the car off at Autolavish next Monday and let Marc and Jacob do their magic. As part of the process, they are removing the logos and I was presented with the option to do a full debadge or they could re-install fresh logos for me. I'm leaning towards re-installing the badges, considering the anonymity problem this car has...

Any thoughts?

Legend rebadge. Remove the SH-AWD.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m...9%2520copy.JPG

Didnt u know u've come from MontrÉal :thumbsup:

i prefer the chrome/polished oem Aspec wheels but your new color is nice as well

So just a small update, the car is still sitting at Autolavish. I was supposed to pick up the car on Saturday, but I got food poisoning and I JUST barely made a recovery. Apparently, something didn't sit well with me at Friday's dinner at a restaurant :rolleyes: Anyways, I'll be picking the car up shortly. Marc has been great about giving me some photo updates as the car makes progress. Mind you, these are CELL PHONE shots! The first pic shows what the finish looked like to start with, and what it looks like after his first step of polish. Taken under a light.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...3a8336f753.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...433e8dbb84.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...57953cf39b.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...a15530aa8b.jpg

:popcorn: