Hella universal LED daytime running lights on my '06 TL

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Old 02-16-2012 | 12:30 PM
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Old 02-16-2012 | 09:10 PM
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The LED's look classy on the 4G.
Old 02-18-2012 | 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by LaCostaRacer
^yep - same year as you too. This has been my best car and I still love it after 5+ years. Hopefully, I'll get those lights by Friday- they shipped out of LA on Tuesday via USPS.
So did they arrive? Are you going to use the exact same location for the install?
Old 02-18-2012 | 12:56 PM
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^ Yes they arrived. I got the lights on Thursday. I will need to cut into the black plastic inner cover as well to get a flush install. My new lights have a 74mm max depth which is actually less than the Hellas are at 86mm (according to the Hella website).

I was hoping on doing the install by just removing the grill inserts instead of the entire bumper so I'm planning this a little more.
Old 02-18-2012 | 02:22 PM
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I think I'm going to abort this install and actually get another type of light from iJDMToys instead. They have an Audi A6 Style light that looks like it will fit much better for our space cavity. Here's the link: http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Audi-A5-A6-..._drl_sku77.htm

This light is longer but has a much less depth requirement so I shouldn't need to cut that back bumper plastic too much if at all. (I might slice it to use a bracket provided by the light though). I was worried about the cutting and also just how the light would be installed.

I have to say the JDMToys lights look of good quality and are very bright so I want to continue my efforts- just not with this Hella light style. Even if they don't take my return, I'll be ahead. The Hella's should work good on my Pilot.

Last edited by LaCostaRacer; 02-18-2012 at 02:24 PM.
Old 02-18-2012 | 02:46 PM
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Well done! Clean mod, props!
Old 02-18-2012 | 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by LaCostaRacer
^ Yes they arrived. I got the lights on Thursday. I will need to cut into the black plastic inner cover as well to get a flush install. My new lights have a 74mm max depth which is actually less than the Hellas are at 86mm (according to the Hella website).

I was hoping on doing the install by just removing the grill inserts instead of the entire bumper so I'm planning this a little more.
Yeah the Hellas are quite deep. I removed the entire bumper to install mine so I could trim the ducting behind the grilles to fit the lights. It wasn't to difficult. Having the bumper removed made wiring much easier too.

Originally Posted by Acuraluvr
Well done! Clean mod, props!
Thanks.
Old 02-18-2012 | 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by LaCostaRacer
I think I'm going to abort this install and actually get another type of light from iJDMToys instead. They have an Audi A6 Style light that looks like it will fit much better for our space cavity. Here's the link: http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Audi-A5-A6-..._drl_sku77.htm

This light is longer but has a much less depth requirement so I shouldn't need to cut that back bumper plastic too much if at all. (I might slice it to use a bracket provided by the light though). I was worried about the cutting and also just how the light would be installed.

I have to say the JDMToys lights look of good quality and are very bright so I want to continue my efforts- just not with this Hella light style. Even if they don't take my return, I'll be ahead. The Hella's should work good on my Pilot.
again...interested in the results
Old 02-20-2012 | 05:54 PM
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Sorry for jacking your thread, your picture your car and lights



Yes or no?

Photoshop challenged sorry.
Old 02-20-2012 | 06:02 PM
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sorry but NOOOOO !!!!

Xmas is still 10 months away....try to keep it clean....I have been a victim of "over" modding....i would rather spend the $$$ on a front aspec lip
Old 02-20-2012 | 07:30 PM
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^Yes- that's a bit over-done and will cost you 450 for Hella or almost 200 with ijdmtoys. You would be wacking most of that back plastic backer panel too which is used for clipping in the inserts.
Old 02-21-2012 | 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by CHISOX1
Sorry for jacking your thread, your picture your car and lights



Yes or no?

Photoshop challenged sorry.
Looks a bit excessive IMO.

Originally Posted by LaCostaRacer
^Yes- that's a bit over-done and will cost you 450 for Hella or almost 200 with ijdmtoys. You would be wacking most of that back plastic backer panel too which is used for clipping in the inserts.
^What he said.
Old 02-21-2012 | 06:45 PM
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Yea that seems to be the consensus at least here. I photoshopped the lights on four different locations and have been getting opinions. I'm used to the big 2nd gen fogs with 6000K Hid's in them. Yours still looks the best to me but the quad one leads the non-acura office pool 2 to 1 did you consider the bottom row?
Old 02-21-2012 | 06:52 PM
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I figured the bottom row would be too low for decent visibility.
Old 02-21-2012 | 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by CHISOX1


It doesn't look that bad, but I have to agree its a bit much.
Old 02-21-2012 | 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by splew
I figured the bottom row would be too low for decent visibility.
you wont be able to see anything even if you put 5-6 DRL modules....they are DRL...DAYLIGHT RUNNING lamps....key word, daylight !!!

they are not FOG lamps.....

just my
Old 02-22-2012 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by swoosh
you wont be able to see anything even if you put 5-6 DRL modules....they are DRL...DAYLIGHT RUNNING lamps....key word, daylight !!!

they are not FOG lamps.....

just my
By visibility, I meant other drivers' ability to see them. If the lights are too low, other drivers won't be able to see them very well, hence defeating the purpose of DRLs.

According to ECE (European) regulations, you're not supposed to mount DRLs any lower than 250mm (9.8 inches) from the ground, so I think mounting them in the lower slot of the grilles would put the below that. Granted, here in the U.S. we don't have such strict regulations governing DRLS, so it doesn't really matter, but I still think the European regulations are good guideline to follow.
Old 02-22-2012 | 04:38 PM
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^^^ aaah....sorry i did misinterpret you statement....
Old 02-22-2012 | 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by swoosh
^^^ aaah....sorry i did misinterpret you statement....
No problem.
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Old 02-22-2012 | 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by LaCostaRacer
^Yes- that's a bit over-done and will cost you 450 for Hella or almost 200 with ijdmtoys. You would be wacking most of that back plastic backer panel too which is used for clipping in the inserts.

I'd love to see an install vid or pictures. I'm considering these
http://www.carid.com/universal-light...ts-326562.html
the 004 ones which look like the jdm ones you bought.

I'm trying to figure out how to wire it. what did the JDMs come with? I'd like to have the lights stay on all the time when my car is on without turning on any lights but turn off when my car is off. Without me hitting any switches.
Old 02-22-2012 | 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Thorin78
I'd love to see an install vid or pictures. I'm considering these
http://www.carid.com/universal-light...ts-326562.html
the 004 ones which look like the jdm ones you bought.

I'm trying to figure out how to wire it. what did the JDMs come with? I'd like to have the lights stay on all the time when my car is on without turning on any lights but turn off when my car is off. Without me hitting any switches.
I wired mine using a relay and tapping into the green windshield wiper wire (which only has power with the key on) for the power to trip the relay. The way I have it set up, the lights come on only when the key is in the on position, so no switches involved. You can see this thread for the location of the green wiper motor wire: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...&highlight=drl

I hope that helps.
Old 02-22-2012 | 08:20 PM
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Oh, awesome idea. I never thought about that relay.
Old 02-22-2012 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Thorin78
Oh, awesome idea. I never thought about that relay.

Yeah, here's basically what I did (excuse the crudely drawn wiring diagram). Note the relay shown in the diagram was a part included in my Hella kit, not something that originally came with the car. The green wire has 12 volts when the key is in the on position. The power from the green wire is used to energize the relay, which closes the switch, sending power to the lights.

Old 02-22-2012 | 09:40 PM
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do the black wire from the DRL and the relay hook up to each other? Does the relay come w/ the drls?
Old 02-22-2012 | 11:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Thorin78
I'd love to see an install vid or pictures. I'm considering these
http://www.carid.com/universal-light...ts-326562.html
the 004 ones which look like the jdm ones you bought.

I'm trying to figure out how to wire it. what did the JDMs come with? I'd like to have the lights stay on all the time when my car is on without turning on any lights but turn off when my car is off. Without me hitting any switches.
I used an Add-A-fuse to wire my current lights and will continue with same scheme for new lights. Here's a picture of what I did with the fuse box near the air cleaner:



No need for a relay since the lights draw very little power and I want them always on anyway.
Old 02-23-2012 | 11:46 AM
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I just found this, which will allow me to not have to do any wiretaps

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Daytime-Run...uto-switch.htm
Yay
Old 02-23-2012 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Thorin78
do the black wire from the DRL and the relay hook up to each other? Does the relay come w/ the drls?
No, the symbol at the end of the black wires indicates a chassis ground. Sorry it's poorly drawn, I was going for this:



And yes, my Hella DRL kit came with a relay, but I don't think the knockoff kits do.

Originally Posted by LaCostaRacer
I used an Add-A-fuse to wire my current lights and will continue with same scheme for new lights. Here's a picture of what I did with the fuse box near the air cleaner:



No need for a relay since the lights draw very little power and I want them always on anyway.
I guess that's another way you could do it. Which fuse location did you use?

Last edited by splew; 02-23-2012 at 12:26 PM.
Old 02-23-2012 | 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Thorin78
I just found this, which will allow me to not have to do any wiretaps

http://store.ijdmtoy.com/Daytime-Run...uto-switch.htm
Yay
If you want to spend $40 on a module then feel free. Either mine or Lacostaracer's, method will work just as good if not better and costs a whole lot less.
Old 02-23-2012 | 06:36 PM
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i got some LED's also





Old 02-23-2012 | 07:09 PM
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Looks awesome. Can you take some more close ups of the light of? Does the DRL protrude from the bumper?
Old 02-23-2012 | 09:37 PM
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whats happening to the TL's ??? are they getting wayyyy to affordable ?
Old 02-23-2012 | 11:27 PM
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What are you talking about?
Old 02-23-2012 | 11:56 PM
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Oh, btw, looks like JDM is having a sale on those LEDs
$47.xx only
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/ProductDeta...SKU77&CartID=1
Old 02-24-2012 | 07:57 AM
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I got the flexible strips (from JDM) and hope to install this weekend. They are 3x brighter than my current strips and should look pretty good. I'm going to install them on the top/outer edge of the black grill inserts. I still like the 'stealth' look where the lights are not so obvious when the car is parked- this new placement will fit that design goal for me because the bumper lip will hide the strip pretty well.

Photos will be coming later in the weekend.
Old 02-24-2012 | 08:31 AM
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is it possible to remove the insert w/o removing the bumper?
Old 02-24-2012 | 11:18 AM
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^yes
Old 02-24-2012 | 11:37 AM
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^what he said. Taking the bumper off isn't that hard though and it gives you more room to work.
Old 02-24-2012 | 12:29 PM
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True, though with 2 kids under 2yr old and this being the family car, I can't afford to take the bumper off.
Old 02-24-2012 | 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by LaCostaRacer
I got the flexible strips (from JDM) and hope to install this weekend. They are 3x brighter than my current strips and should look pretty good. I'm going to install them on the top/outer edge of the black grill inserts. I still like the 'stealth' look where the lights are not so obvious when the car is parked- this new placement will fit that design goal for me because the bumper lip will hide the strip pretty well.

Photos will be coming later in the weekend.
Are you going to use zip ties? or make a bracket?
Old 02-24-2012 | 02:24 PM
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^^^ those are the ones I have on mine, they just pulled ut.the insert, measured and cut and placed it and used hot glue or epoxy to hold it in place


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