Buda

iTrader: (1)

I'm going to get my headlights done and I'm down to one decision left to make and I'm not sure which way to go. First of all here is was is being done:

Cleared - leaving in the chrome strip
Blacked out - Color match NBP, leaving turn signal flash pan functional
Lens Swap - ZKW Replicas
Phillips 85122+ bulbs
Angel Eyes - umnitza
Switchback LED turn signals
Carbon fiber on sides where amber lens was

Basically a wanna be version of Kennedy's lights.

My last decision is what to do with the silver ring that sits in front of the projector. Keep in mind that the angel eyes will be sitting on the front of these. Do I...
1. Leave it as it is - provides contrast
2. Color match it as well for the stealth look

If contrast is important, wouldn't the angel eye sitting there provide that?

I went through the 3G paradise forum and pulled up the following pics to help give visuals. Sorry I pulled so many examples that I can't remember the owner names otherwise I'd give credit to them.

This pic shows 2 cars both cleared and blacked. One has the silver ring blacked the other doesn't. Main diff here is that both of them blacked out the flash pan.


This pic is really close as to what mine will look like. Now imagine it with the blacked out silver ring.


One last pic, because honestly I can't put up these pics without giving props to Darksom1's "Stella". This is also really close but mine will have more of the non-functional area around the turn signal blacked out. Imagine this with the angel eyes on the silver ring then blacked out.

paz840

iTrader: (2)

leave 'em as is...the contrast looks great during the day

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

Buda...
I didn't know you were doing Angel Eyes.

Yes, leave the ring silver then. The Angel Eye is kind of an eyesore when unlit, and the silver ring masks it visually. If you black it out, all you'll see is the CCFL ring, and the wiring shrink tube yellows with time... The silve hides that until you're on top of the light.



BTW, I'm installing switchbacks this weekend as well (and doing the jptl04 oznium led cluster side markers).

Little hint, mask the led tops on the switchbacks and paint the circuitboard silver or black for a proper finished look...

Details sir.

Buda

iTrader: (1)

^-- Good point on hiding the angel eyes. I'll go with leaving the ring silver (the poll is unanimous so far on that too). What are you using to mask the led tops? What type of paint are you using on the circuit board?

I love your headlights! Did you use high heat paint on the nipple? I hadn't planned on painting the nipple but it looks so good painted on yours.

gerzand

iTrader: (3)

Hey my car is the NBP with angel eyes in the second picture. I have an extra set of angel eyes and I'll do your headlights for u if youd like. PM me.

Kennedy

iTrader: (2)

Thanks.

I had the nipple painted by the body shop with the rest of the headlight guts... Pro paint is the only way to go. HID 3000K, I don't think it gets hot enough to hurt the paint... (no hotter than the body of your NBP car in the hot sun anyway).

I took blue painters tape and cut 3mm strip. Laid those across the led tops. Then painted with a spray... it was a dark gunmetal color from autozone.

Here's how they came out.



I sold these to c-dat...

I haven't decided if I want to colormatch/black (if you do a dark colormatch, the dark color will reflect through the replactor pan, and give a "complete blackout" effect... or paint them bright silver to hopefully make them disappear.

Buda

iTrader: (1)

Gerzand, I love that pic of your car! Having the white running lights on with the angel eyes looks amazing. I already bought a pair of angel eyes otherwise I would take you up on it.

Buda

iTrader: (1)

Ooh, both of those are excellent ideas. I'm going to have to think about that. Thanks for the explanation. I'll have to think more on the fog nipple as well. I'm using paint from paintscratch.com. Not sure how that compares to the Pro paint.

NighthawkA-Spec

lets see the finished product when your done!

Buda

iTrader: (1)

The finished product is in the mail right now. Hoping it gets here tomorrow so I can put them on over the weekend. It's wash and wax weekend so it would be perfect for taking pics.

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

Ha! I knew you'd catch on to the switchback bandwagon! It was just a matter of time. I remember back when you didn't want to do the angel-eyes or the switchbacks.....The problem of colormatch still exists though. What do you propose as a solution?

I asked Umnitza for an 8000K ring and they said they made it like that in the beginning and then went to 6000K because most people want an HID match not an LED match. They can't make me an 8000k ring. There is another company that makes rings in different temps but none for the TL and they are mighty expensive. I doubt they are any better than Umnitzas. BTW I saw a car the other day with 8000K rings and they looked PERFECT. It would match the LEDs just right! I saw another car with 10,000K.....Just looked like plain blue neon.....Too blue!

Your idea of painting the LEDs is great! I gotta look into that! It's not off by much but it's nice to get these details. Maybe I'll use some chrome paint I have lying around.....It's a "must do" to do black if you have the reflectors blacked out.

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

BTW I noticed 2 things right now:

1) The price on Umnitza Angel Eyes just dropped about $20. For all you waiters this is the time to buy.

2) The listing used pics of our cars.....Brian, Kennedy, me we're up there. No permission to use them, but at least they gave us credit. I didn't mind because of the credit! It's flattery to me to know my art is up there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Acura...spagenameZWD1V

Buda

iTrader: (1)

The lights are going on tonight. I might get a couple of night shots, but otherwise she'll get a wash and qd in the morning and I'll post up pics after that. I hope to the the side markers done as well.

sprtstr012

what exactly is blacked out/cleared headlights and where could i get that done? also how much will it cost...approximately?

Buda

iTrader: (1)

^-- Check out this thread. https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/custom-headlights-jnc-641022/

enigmaos

iTrader: (4)

any updated pics, Buda?

nkoul_96

Leave the silver ring.

Buda

iTrader: (1)

I left the ring silver and I have some pics up in my thread in the pics section. I need to create an album but have been so busy. I've actually had the ballasts blow out on the angel eyes and now one of them is dead.

Looks like I'll have to get it replaced soon.

EVOLICARUS

^^^ hey buda!! i have an extra ccfl ring that was shipped to me by umnitza.. they shipped me 2 of them, but i only needed one.. let me know if you need it..