Due to the fact that the last thread reached almost 30 pages and it was tough to keep track of everything for someone who is interested in getting their headlights worked on I am starting a new thread with revised details/pictures.

Prices

Cleared headlights-- $125
Blacked out/cleared-- $150
Color Match/Cleared-- $150 (member would have to buy a 12 oz can of color and clear coat and have it shipped to me from www.paintscratch.com)
CCFL and ZKW/ZKW-R lens swap is free of charge if you are getting your headlights cleared or painted.
Carbon Fiber Inlays are installed free of charge as well if you provide the CF, If I have to use the CF from my stock then it is an additional $25.

Each set will come with a set of custom made washers to go around the ballast and create a perfect seal; these washers will replace the flimsy factory foam washers.

Trade-In/Core Exchange program

This is a Very simple and efficient way of getting your headlights worked on without putting your car out of commission. I have with me a few sets of 3G TL headlights that I can modify and send of to the customer and they can install them and send their headlights back to me. This way your car wouldn’t be off the road for more than the installation time

Since the trade in program is time consuming there is a service fee of $25 on top of the above labor charge.

Customer will be responsible for shipping cost which I'd endure to send the headlights to them.

In terms of what can be done to the headlights, you have a few options beside just color matching, blacked out, cleared etc. These three mentioned mods are purely aesthetic rather than performance oriented.


ZKW swap

ZKW swap include swapping the fresnel TL projector lens with one from an 04 BMW 330 XI projector made by ZKW, hence the name ZKW swap.
I am sure you guys know how your headlights perform right now, following video shows how each projector will perform with the lens swap.


Video at 30 feet

Flicker affect at 10 feet

Video at 150 feet



At the moment I do not have any ZKWs, but if you provide me with a pair I'd install them free of charge.

ZKW replica lenses.

Due to the high price of ZKW clears recently the replica ZKW lenses were introduced to the market. A set can be bought for as much as $70 a pair from ebay, although these arent as good as the real ZKWs but they are eons better than the stock fresnel lens. Search for "ZKW replica lenses" on ebay.

Bulb upgrade

The fact is that the stock D2S HID bulb just sucks, they are made by Osram and they loose their intensity after 100 hours worth of use i.e. they color shift. Right of the box they produce 3200 lumens each and after color shifting the output goes down to as much as 2800 lumens. One of the best HID bulb present on the market is the Phillips D2S model 85122+ not to be confused with 85122. These bulbs are rated at 3400 lumens and are known not to color shift so they retain their output level. Just to take care of any ambiguity, these are not your smurf colored blue bulbs, osrams are 4300k and phillips are 4200k. I personally would NEVER recommend using a higher kelvin bulb since they are VERY poor in adverse condition driving.

HIDplanet.com is a very reputable and cheapest place on the net to buy a fresh pair of 85122+ bulbs. http://www.hidplanet.com/philips5000k.html
Note that the bulb is liste to be 5000k but it in fact is 4200, they havent fixed that fact on the website yet.

CCFL rings.

I'll install these free of charge if the customer provides a set. www.umnitza.com is the place to buy these from, I think they have an ebay store as well.

for details on my work and pictures kindly check the following thread.

Modified headlights group buy

Turn around time for the headlights depends on transit time, if you want them done sooner then I would suggest USPS Priority mail since it takes two days for them to get to me using USPS priority mail and its the cheaper way to ship compared to Fedex and UPS 2nd day delivery option. I can do a set in one day, so if I get your headlights today then most likely they will go out the next day evening. So the turn around time depends on how soon you want them and how much money you are willing to spend on shipping

Liability: DOT laws vary from state to state, kindly check with your states laws before opting for my services as I will not personally be held liable if you are in violation of any DOT codes.


Limited Warranty: Work is guaranteed against leaking/fogging for one year.

Link to my old thread for reference: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/custom-headlights-jnc-641022/


Different options:

Link to my gallery with more pictures : https://acurazine.com/forums/members/jnc-26894-albums-custom-headlights-jnc-586/

This is how the stock headlights look like



Cleared (04-06 headlights)



Cleared (02-03 TL headlights)



Blacked out Version 1 (V1) : Turn signal reflector is completely blacked out



Blacked out Version 2 (V2) : Turn signal reflector is partially blacked out, some of the reflective surface is left chrome.



Blacked out Version 2 (V2) with pained fog light bulb cover



Blacked out Version 2 (V2) with painted fog light bulb cover and Type S clear diffuser (amber pieces in the OEM type S clear diffusers are painted black as well).



Blacked out Version 2 (V2) 07-08 Base Model TL




Color matched Version 2 (V2), Satin Silver Metallic





Color Matched Version 2 (V2), Anthracite



Blacked out V2 with CCFLs


Blacked out V2 with OEM amber diffuser and chrome strip across the diffuser painted black as well.



Blacked out V2 (07-08 base TL) with Carbon fiber inlays



Blacked out V2 (07-08 Base TL) with CCFLs





Blacked out V2 with OEM amber diffuser, silver OEM bezel painted Anthracite, Flat (matte) Black finish

 

04-05 TL

RedDevil74-- Blacked out V2, LED, CCFLs
dimebag128dean-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs
PlayaTL-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs,
bone420TL-- Blacked out V2


06 TL

07-08 Base


07-08 Type S


How it works?

If you are interested in getting your headlights done using the core exchange program then copy the above list, add your name at the end of the year/type TL you have and I'll take care of you once your turn comes.

List is just for me to keep track of things, if your headlights requires additional mods such as CCFLs, lens swap etc then the sooner I get your parts in the quicker you will get taken care of .

Once your headlights are done I'll ask for a $400 deposit sent to my paypal account, once deposit is made I'll ship your headlights out and you can install and ship your OEM ones back to me. I will issue a partial refund through paypal once I receive the headlights back from you.

Refund = Deposit - Labor - Trade in charge - shipping

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Core exchange program is a way for member to avoid putting their car out of commission while they have this mod done by no means its a way for someone to ditch their damaged headlights for a set of good ones. Headlights that will be shipped to you would be in good, if not great, condition and that is what I expect in return. Most people realize this and so is why I havent had any issues in the past with people sending me damaged headlights. If your headlights have above than normal wear then get in touch with me and we'll discuss if I can offer you the trade in or not. Also, I have been asked in the past if I can exchange older model headlights for new ones, the program is for exchange with same year TL headlights i.e. 04-05 for 04-05, 06 for 06, base 07-08 for base 07-08 and same goes for Type S headlights .

 

07-08 Base TL headlights
Blacked out V2 Glossy Black
ZKW replicas
Carbon Fiber Inlays
Quad projectors

 

04-05 TL

RedDevil74-- Blacked out V2, LED, CCFLs
dimebag128dean-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs
PlayaTL-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs,
bone420TL-- Blacked out V2


06 TL

07-08 Base


07-08 Type S
Juruki-- Blacked Out V2

 

JnC great job Can't wait to put these in!

 

hehe should i add my name there too or no?

well it said you signed for my head lights =)
well i cant wait to talk to you bro and see what we can do

if i dont pick up please leave a msg i'll return your call asap

 

Did you get my PM about holding onto my paint for a few weeks until I can ship you my lights??

Thanks

 

Yessir.

 

hmmmm...i really wanna see some color matched WDP's

 

THis should give you an idea

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/custom-headlights-daniel123588-what-do-you-think-710512/

 

that actually doesn't look half bad. i wonder how it would look if they were done by you and didn't have those ugly led pin holes

 

oh hey bro can you not remove the diffusers on the headlights

I would like the diffusers to stay there. Thanks

 

4-05 TL

RedDevil74-- Blacked out V2, LED, CCFLs
dimebag128dean-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs
PlayaTL-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs,
bone420TL-- Blacked out V2
asdf0123 --
Blacked out V2 with OEM amber diffuser and chrome strip across the diffuser painted black as well. (copied from photo; I am also interested in zkw if you have any? I checked ebay I keep coming across clear "like" zkw..)

06 TL

07-08 Base


07-08 Type S
Juruki-- Blacked Out V2

 

4-05 TL

RedDevil74-- Blacked out V2, LED, CCFLs
dimebag128dean-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs
PlayaTL-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs,
bone420TL-- Blacked out V2
asdf0123 --
Blacked out V2 with OEM amber diffuser and chrome strip across the diffuser painted black as well. (copied from photo; I am also interested in zkw if you have any? I checked ebay I keep coming across clear "like" zkw..)
6MTProwler: Cleared, Blacked out v2 CCFLs


06 TL

07-08 Base


07-08 Type S
Juruki-- Blacked Out V2

 

http://high-intensity.org/forums/showthread.php?t=495

I dunno.. the replicas seem to look really good.

 

I hate my stock fresnel lense! My only regret when doing my headlights is that I did not upgrade the lense...word to the wise for anyone doing their headlights.

P.S. JNC does amazing work, if you want your headlights done right this is the man to send them to. He seals them up so good you would think it was done by the factory.

 

yummmmm...i like i like. how much is for the quad projectors? do i need the ballisters as well?

 

JnC, are you not doing the LED strip mod anymore?

 

No hes not. He stopped doing them due to the fact that they were not reliable.

 

Quad projectors? It's about time there's been a successful one completed!~
That would work so sick with 'o4-'o6 where the DRL would be fogs instead.
Damn. Lucky USDM TLs =[

 

Yeah those quad projectors look awesome.

 

anyone have experience with buying the phillips bulbs on ebay? Price seems too cheap but they are garunteed to work and be real...

 

4-05 TL

RedDevil74-- Blacked out V2, LED, CCFLs
dimebag128dean-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs
PlayaTL-- Blacked out V2, CCFLs,
bone420TL-- Blacked out V2
asdf0123 --
Blacked out V2 with OEM amber diffuser and chrome strip across the diffuser painted black as well. (copied from photo; I am also interested in zkw if you have any? I checked ebay I keep coming across clear "like" zkw..)
6MTProwler: Cleared, Blacked out v2 CCFLs
Lucnex: Cleared, ZKW Lense Swap, 85122+, Switchbacks (of course I will provide the last three things mentioned)


06 TL

07-08 Base


07-08 Type S
Juruki-- Blacked Out V2

 

How much would you charge for the double projectors or to make the halos red and ithe halo do they come on when the lights come on or turned on with the fog light switch? Also I see you make quality work so I and ready to make a purchase...

 

Details on these Quad Projectors please JnC. You know I would rock the shit out of that! R they for realz? What did you use, another brand of (smaller) projector or MASSIVELY cut up the back side of the housing to make it fit?

kthxbye lol

 

^^

Details will come later but here is what showed up in the mail today

 

ooooh la laaaa!

dem' er purrrrrrty. lol

Pics of the guts please

 

I'll dig it if it's do-able!

 

hey jnc..i am putting in those headlights i bought off of you and i wanted to sent you my old 1's..i sent you an e-mail...thanks

 

Let me know when u want the payment JNC. Ive been wanting to do this mod forever.

 

Wow those look familier, and made it across the country fast!!!

 

^^ Sent you a PM showing all the guts, lets see if we can come up with some ideas .

 

Hey JNC

Just wondering what would it cost me to trade in my 05 cleared lights for the SSM color matched application?

 

Newb question..

Could someone please define all of these short hand terms you guys use.

Switchbacks -

CCFL -

V2 -

??? I've been reading these threads for months but still have no idea. A picture with an arrow would help me greatly. I'm interested in these headlights.

 

Scroll up and look at the pictures.

 

I called Oznium and talked to them about the LED strips going out. They apologized and said anyone with problems should contact them. I asked if they had any LEDs that they would recommend for this application. They stated that the superflux 4 chip LEDs are what they would use. They stated that these are very reliable and don't fail. Unfortunately they don't come in a pre-made strip. He also mentioned the ribbon type strips but main focused on the superflux ones.

It's to bad, I really wanted to put in the LED strips. I have to open mine back up as one angel eye fried and the other side is leaking/fogging. I am thinking about doing the Oracle Angel eyes to get them to match the switchbacks but don't really want to spend the money as I already have the extra set of angel eyes that I need. I might just fix the lights this weekend and put off the Oracles until I can experiment further with another set of lights.

Glad to see you are still doing this JNC! May send you a PM tomorrow with a couple questions about how to get the headlight to not have fogging issues.

 

Switchbacks - turn signal bulbs that are white and then switch to amber when blinking

CCFL - halos, angel eyes - PIC

V2 - JNC coined term for partially blacking out the corner but leaving the inside reflective. - PIC

 

Any information on those quad projectors? I'm really interested in knowing how that was accomplished. Are those TL projectors or were they smaller projectors? And are they also bi-xenon?

 

The real Superflux are only available in Red and Amber, there are imitation ones available on ebay that are white but they are only as good as an imitation can be, I have found another alternative LED array that come pre wired but the problem is that they are not as flexible as the ones I used to install.

As far as the fogging issue, I had that problem with the earlier batch of headlights that I did last year. You'd notice hazing/fogging on cold/muggy days and may be after a car wash, its due to the humidity inside the headlights that condensates on the lens and once the temperature stabilizes it fades away.

This doesnt happen due to two reasons, the headlights when manufactured are made in a humidity free environment and are also installed with new clay desiccants, because of this you dont see this problem with stock headlights.

When I work on headlights the arid air inside the headlights gets replaced with air from my surrounding, which btw is not arid, so eventually that humidity within the headlight causes hazing on cold days.

I have since rectified the problem and if your issue sounds like the one I explained above then PM me and I'll take care of it, you dont need to send headlights and neither you have to take them off of the car .

 

will you post updates in the order you finish headlights? or just send us PMs