Hey guys. I have a leased 2008 TL. I know I should contact the dealer about this, but I figured I could get some quick answers from this first. I was just wondering if I can do mods to my car since it is leased. I already put tints on and smoked my tail lights and head lights. I really want to paint my roof black but I dont know if I should do this with a lease. Any comments are appreciated. Thanks

 

You can paint your roof but you will then have to paint it back to the original color when you return the car so I wouldn't.

 

Thanks for the info. So I would have to change my head lights and tail lights back also? I feel like since I leased the car I own it, so I should be able to do anything I want lol. But I guess not. My friend who had a chrysler 300 did a ton of mods to it and said they didnt give him any trouble when he returned it when the lease was up.

 

My car's a lease, and I've modded the hell out of it. Every mod I've done is reversible. You can even add a supercharger, just remove it when you return the car and don't expect to be under warranty.

 

Just do the vinyl roof mod... you can get the black roof look minus the paint job!

 

do the vinyl....its easy and no paint involved

 

The dealer is going to want the car back in it's original form less wear and tear. If you swapped any parts...hopefully you kept them to swap out later when your lease is up. And you're essentially renting the car from the dealer. You don't own it. Even if you think you're putting on more expensive/better parts, the dealer would most likely charge you for replacing any items not in original form.

Do the vinyl roof like everyone said.

 

Read your contract.

If Acura wants to they will charge "excess wear and tear" to return the car to stock. Or you can do it you-self prior to turn in.

There is also (probably) a clause that says the car has to be legal in the state in which you it is registered. This is because you don't own the car, AHFC (or whichever lease agent) does and they don't want you riding around in their car in an illegal condition. That can include tint, exhaust, lighting, etc.

That's the letter of the law. In reality stuff like tint or exhuast will never come up - until the turn-in inspection. Even then you might get a pass on some stuff.

 

I think as far as your head light and tali lights mods go they wont even notice when you turn it in.

Things like a black roof on a white car is just a little more noticeable go with vinyl..

 

nah they get someone from the outside to inspect the car when its being returned so the dude will notice everything. headlights are illegal to tint anyway (not like i care) so theyd def write u up on that....whats the point of having headlights and HIDs if your gonna tint them and hide the light?? might as well throw them in the garbage IMO.

 

Seriously, I love the blue light from the HIDs.

 

my car is also leased, but the buyout is low, i think around 16k, not too sure. so i will most likely be buying my car.

 

You can do anything you want with your leased car, as long as the person inspecting your car before turning it in doesn't know that your roof is supposed to be body colored.

When I turned in my lease last time, AHF sent a contractor to inspect the car making sure it's free of dents and interior is in good shape.

 

my lease just ran out and i extended it.... buy out is 10k on it. ill pay another 6 k this year and just pay out the 4k at the end of 2010 and the cars mine...i just love it.

 

I only have the sides smoked not the front...

 

Good point... Their inspectors usually inspect hundreds of cars per week and have no idea of what the exact original equipment on your particular year and trim might have included.

 

thei inspectors become very familiar with certain cars only having one or 2 trims available...its also noted in their pickup quote what the car is and trim n a lot of other info..... I know a majority of them in NY because they bring a lot of work or recommend people to the shop i do work in before they return the car or its inspected fully....like "oh I missed something i have to go back toimorrow to inspect it again" its really all about how you hang out n chill with em if ur a dick he'll nit pick at everything....if ur cool he'll let a few things slide that cost so you dont get smashed over ur head with BS charges.

 

do what you want as long as you can return the car to stock