Wow! Black really looks good after shining it!

 

i think he's just jealous

 

I see the TL as a refined sports sedan for young professionals; not an 18 yr. old's car. Heck, where do all you 18 yr. old's get all the money to buy a car like this?
The car looks good, but the lowering thing is a bit much in my book. I was just in a mood last night and popped off. Please forgive me.
I probably don't belong here because I do love the TL, but I'm not really a car enthusiast; I'm not going to be modding my car, just getting rid of the junk tires.

 

nickademus, no problem. Thanks for the response. Sure you belong here - you have an opinion on the tires. Most could probably care less. That makes you an enthusiast.

And hey, I'm 41 and I love the way rkilian's TL looks!

 

I'm in favor of accepting the apology.

I'm also a little ripened compared to alot of guys on here (40), and not fond of pimped out cars. I personally think the TL takes pretty well to a mild lowering like the Pro-Kit. The SSR wheels are perfect in my opinion; they really set the look of the car off.

I say "Well done"!

 

Thank to all who came forth in defense of the mods. I added the springs not for the drop but for the performance. I drive pretty aggresively in windy roads. I like a firm ride. I don't like body roll. The only way of getting the performance was accepting the drop. The sring combintation I chose was the Eibach Pro Kit which lowers the car 1" but significantly (and I do mean significantly) reduces body roll and brake dive. As you can see from the modifications I am very diligent about returning the car to specs. I added the camber kit to return the camber to original specs.
In fact if you read the reviews on the car, the thing that gets repeated over and over (aside from FWD) is that it has soft springs suitable for a touring sedan but not for a 270 HP sports sedan.

 

Theslik1:
The car rides incredibly better with the spring kit. Be aware though that if you change out the springs only, you will significantly reduce the life of your stock shockabsorbers.
The car is not bouncy or otherwise uncomfortable. It is however very firm.
I do think next year when they come out with Bilstein or Tokiko performance shocks I will upgrade to those.
I do recommend the camber kit. I keep hearing everyone posting results from manufacturer's conversations that repeatedly quote you don't need any camber adjustment. All I can tell you is that after I dropped my vehicle, you could tell just by looking at it that it needed a camber adjustement. I didn't need computer allignment to tell me that. The allignment though indicated -1.8 degrees of negative camber which is way out of spec. this much negative camber would have increased tirewear, noise, understeer, etc. while not contributing at all to the performance of the car.
If you're going to do the drop, invest an additional $300 (installed) on the specialty products camber kit. I don't like the ingalls because it reduces the tire track.

just my 2c

 

Did you ever think about us young people having jobs..oh, I don't know...saving our money, or should I call it allowance? to buy our cars? Why is it that every time a young person has a nice car..everyone f***king automatically thinks that we are just bumming off our parents?

Don't judge a book by its cover.



Oh, btw...SWEET CAR!

 

rkilian

I'm "old" too (38), but I like the looks of these mods.

Can you itemize the cost?

The mods must have come close to the cost of the A-spec mods and the 18" acura sold rims/tires. I think the clear bra is great, but worry about it in the heat of Florida where I now live.

Can you compare the specs and cost of the A-spec mods to the ones you did?

Just wondering. I don't know much about modifying a car - never done it. I've only bought different rims/tires.

thanks - great looking ride

 

3M did testing on their film in both Arizona and Florida and didn't notice much of a problem. They have the results somewhere on their website (don't ask me where - I don't remember! ).

 

Wow! would like to see the interior as well

 

rkilian, Beautiful TL!! Please tell me interior color and what tint? Thanks

 

Thanks for the reply. You're correct that you'll need upgraded shocks for the new springs. I installed a Pro-Kit on my Eclipse Spyder and went the same route, although in that case a camber kit wasn't necessary....that's why I asked.

I do question whether -1.8 degrees is excessive on the rear. I know it's not "spec" but a little more negative camber, especially in the rear, can significantly improve the car's behavior in corners. I'd leave the front setup at spec however. The thing you really have to watch out for when doing suspension mods is the toe adjustment. A slight toe-out condition will clean the tread off your tires much faster than a slightly more negative camber.

 

All i can say is WOW...that looks so beautiful...Its so shiny!

 

Damn! Best Pics Ever!

Now don't you dare drive it! HA, yeah right!

 

 

Stunning...

The car looks great. :bowdown:

 

Damn! looks HOT!! I'm thinking of trading in my 2nd Generation for the new TL now!! Great job!!!

 

OK, Itemized costs: All costs are installed

Llumar 35% Stealth Tint: (A tint of Class in Fountain Valley) $185
Eiback Pro Kit with SPC Camber Kit (Wheel Warehouse )$600
Body Kit (Self Installed) $750
Clear Bra (Sheeld Industries in Huntington Beach) $500
Wheels and Tires (Internet Purchase Tire Rack) $2500
Total for Modifications ~$4,500.
Having the car just the way I want it ... Priceless (I had to throw this in after the list)

 

Theslik1:
Negative camber on the rear increases understeer. This car already has a lot of that to begin with, so adding negative camber in fact affects FWD cars.

 

that is the most bada$$ TL i have seen yet. 2004 that is.

 

I like the way they hid the exhaust system. Wish there was something to do about it on the '03.

 

rkilian,

Where did you get the body kit for $750? The cheapest I've seen it for is a bit over $800 online. How difficult was it for someone who's never done something like that to install??

 

Roketsfan:
I have a buddy that got it for a really big discount. Installation of the sides is a snap (literally) 30 minute job. the front is a little more complicated but really easy too 45 minute job. The rear requires you to pull the bumper cover (next time you see your tl, see how big this is) so handling it is a little bit of a problem. All it takes is 4 bolts and about a dozen pop plastic fasteners. Drilling is tricky but nothing to fret about. after that you place the spoiler over the bumper and attache it with 6 bolts and a couple of pop fasteners, then you replace the bumper on the car and reassemble, a 60 minute job.
The really complicated one is the trunk lip spoiler, this one you have to undress the trunk lid, drill the sheet metal, then undress the deck cover and pull one of the trunk torsion bars. Reinstalling the new torsion bar (part of the kit) can only be done with a special tool. You can always leave the kit without the sring but the trunk will not "pop" up like it used to. Then you redress everything 90 min job.
All of them are doable (except for the torsion spring) by simply following the instructions. Very good instructions.

 

Beautiful car, best looking on the site.

 

You're correct...my bad.

Watch that toe adjustment though. Alot of modders either don't know or forget about that until it's too late.

 

Add my .02 as stating this is the nicest TL I have seen yet. Even the tint didn't go overboard, and nicely splits the difference between privacy/sunblocking and safety. Very tasteful...I have seen several posts along the lines of "that is exactly what I want to do to mine." Count me in among that group (well, at least when I actually HAVE a TL!) Which won't be until September or so (stuck in Korea till then). Great work rkilian.

Does anyone know how to bookmark or save a thread for future reference? Good stuff in here I would like to use later. Apologize in advance for the noob question (me and my 5 posts...)

 

Any poblems with a 48mm offset being that the stock offset is 45mm? I have some 19X8 with a 50mm offset that I would love to put on but I was worried about the offset being 5mm off.

 

All I can say man, is DAMN!!!

Makes me want to go buy new shiny stuff for mine!!

And for the record, I don't think age has anything to do with buying this car. I am under 30, single and live in Seattle. While I do pretty good, I have this as my only debt. I think as long as you look at this as an investment (I spent as much on this car as my mom did on our first house) then you will do okay. Don't forget that insurance goes up (it is a luxury vehicle, regardless of how damn fun it is...) and that you will spend more on gas (you MUST drive it) and you will be more likely to get a ticket... you just can't help it... the car screams DRIVE ME!!!

Great pics, have you thought of any mods for the interior? what else are you planning on doing?

Remember, copying is the highest form of flattery... you should feel really flattered!!!

Now that is more like 4c...

 

Umm, no car, not even one as cool as a 04TL, is an investment. ;-)

However, an under-30 girl w/ a TL, where were you 20 yrs ago?? Oh, yea, under 10. never mind.

 

man that thing is [size=huge]AWSOME[/size]
man now i really want a 2004!

 

NO, no problems with the 48 mm offset. I had 5 adults (OK one was a 120 lb female coworker, but still) in the car and got no rubbing whatsoever.
I don't know about 50, with the 245/40/18, I have about 1" between the tire and the fender. I will take some measurements and post something here.
Here's an additional picture from the back so that you can see the offset clearance

 

Okay, let me clarify.... when I mean investment I mean you don't go drop 30K on a car without looking at your financial situation... and if you do, my digits are xxx-xxx-xxxx...

No seriously, you have to look at the overall cost, loss in depreciation, fun stuff like mods, maitenance, care, etc...

Technicalities, they'll get you every time!! Sheesh!

And uh, I was only dreaming of driving 20 years ago... and never thought it would be this much fun!!

 

That car is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

 

Some big brake rotors and you're all set! Looks great so far!

See if StopTech has a kit that will fit. Probably more affordable than Brembos and performs just as well.

 

that car looks amazing!

 

You did a fantastic, tasteful job. As much as I am a fan of light colored cars, lookng at yours makes me want to get a black one just to show off the Zaino!!!

The wheels are the same ones I have been looking at - this clinches it for me.

I also like that you chose the F1s. For some reason, these have not been discussed very much here. They are the #1 rated performance tire by Consumer's Reports.

Keep up the good work!

 

i would say that the car is awesome but the fact that i saw a purdue license frame just takes it all away awesome car BTW, did you happen to catch the IU/ Purdue game last night???

 

Fantastic!!

I can look at your TL all day.

 

:thefinger
damn there she is. car jacker, thats enough give me my car back.

naw anyways isnt it illegal to have your car that shiny? i mean you have to be considerate to other people driving on the street. Having such glossy paint. jesus your gonna blind side someone on the street. pull that man over:cop:

just beautiful.