I got my Acura TL on January 20, 2012. It had 68,000 miles. It's an 04. Anthracite Metallic on Quartz interior with Navi. In perfect shape


The day I brought her home. The floss hanging from the spoiler is because I was about to debadge

I wrote a DIY on how to debadge and plasti-dip emblems. That was my first mod. https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-photograph-gallery-96/debadging-plastidipping-pics-inside-845284/


I finished the plasti dip/debadge on the rear.


Then the front emblem.

I then decided I liked Plasti-Dip and thought, what the hell? I'll do the rims!


That's how they came out. Quite well, if you ask me


I decided I didn't like just the "A" done, so I did the crossbar, too. Thanks for the inspiration, AZine! Love how it came out!

Until yesterday, I hadn't really taken any great photos of my car. So, here are some. By this time, I had named my car "Ace".




















Picture of the plasti-dipped wheels.


My favorite pic of my car so far!

I'll keep adding pics on as I do more things. My next project will actually involve performance (springs or a J-Pipe). I know, my car's begging for a drop

Tell me what you guys think
-Drew

 

Nice Drew...the drop is HUGE. Also consider an Aspec Kit, or at least the front nose of the kit.

PS: And now that I'm seeing the wheels on the entire car, I'd say leave the center caps and lugs just the way they are!

 

Looks Good! A drop will do wonders........are you planning to remove the BSM (body side molding)?

 

Looks clean! I'd loose the door mouldings. Rear bumper cover looks really mismatched too. I am curious how the plasti dip will hold up on the wheels in the long run.

 

Looks good. How long did it take you to do the rims?

 

I just shivered when I saw the rear bumper's paint mismatch.

Ride looks very clean!
I'd remove the BSM and get an A-Spec lip kit!

 

+1233457997 remove the body side molding

 

looks good
remove body side molding and mud flops

 

Nice pickup!

Was your car in a rear end collision? As others have said, the rear bumper looks a bit off. Check the VIN number and make sure it matches with the rest of the car if you're not sure.

Looks like your headlights could use a light clearing as well.

Glad to see you're enjoying the car and are looking towards the performance side as well! I appreciate the fact that you're decisive about your mods and don't seem to spend much time beating around the bush too.

 

Looks good bro.. Welcome to the AM Club. I would blackout the headlights and drop it next. You gotta lose the trunk spoiler too..

 

Welcome! Your off to a good start keep it up!

 

very similar to my ride, except I didnt use plastidip. I used satin black duplicolor and clear coat crappy phone quality, but still.

 

Debadge FtW!

 

great start, but definitely lower the car when possible! keep us updated on how the plasti dip on the wheels hold up

mismatch could just be from factory if it wasn't in a collision.

 

Thanks guys! Plasti-dip is holding up well, but I can definitely see some speckles, so when I redo it this Spring I'll put more coats on. The mismatch is either from the factory or the lighting, it's never (as far as I know) been in a collision and it looks fine in person. I think I'm going to end up doing my exhaust before suspension. I'm going to be getting a Progress rear sway bar and some other aesthetic stuff in the next few weeks.

I'm trying to decide on colors for my calipers, black is the best looking option IMO. What do you guys think?

Drew

 

black calipars FTW.

 

nice car. i miss the stock 5 spoke. get ready to spend some $$$

 

I see you copied my front grille idea :P. The 5AT calipers are ugly as is don't paint them blue because they will stand out too much. If you had brembos blue would have looked awesome.

 

Very nice use of plasti-dip! I like the wheels and the grill.


NOW IS TIME TO MAKE DAT TL GO FAST!

 

Yesterday I restored my headlights they look way better now pics soon to come.

Drew

 

Nice pickup! Welcome to the 'zine!

 

Welcome to the site man

 

It's funny you should say that! My last car was a bolt on 2007 350Z 6speed, and that thing was insane. I literally spun through first and second (of course, my tires needed replacing, but still!) When I bought my TL I had sort of come to terms with the fact that a FWD, 270hp automatic sedan would be a big difference, but to be honest, I've been pleasantly surprised by how fun TLs are to drive stock. Can't wait to get my first few performance mods

Drew

 

Here are some photos from my headlight cleaning:



Before:



The stuff:


After:



I then applied sealant, and after about 24 hours, this is what I was greeted with:


Condensation inside my lens! Not sure what to do about that. Advice?

Drew

 

amazing looks nice. take off wing and out the deck lid lip

 

nice TL Im prob going to Plasti Dip my stockies too keep as my winter set up. Welcome to the Zine!

 

I've always liked the painted 5 spokes look. Aspec kit and a drop would be next in my book.

 

oh i bet the adjustment from a 350z to the TL is a big one when it comes to performance, but the luxury you must be enjoying... and its good you're enjoying your TL. TL's are pretty fun to drive stock i agree. lets see a pic of that 350

 

Sorry for the insanely large photo

I'm loving the luxury. The only thing is how quiet the exhaust is on the TL! It's driving me crazy compared to my Z which had an exhaust :P

UPDATE: I have excellent news.

1: The weird condensation streaks are gone from my headlights.
2: I glossed my wheels/grill/rear emblem!


Did my grill first, in case I didn't like it.


Don't worry, I dried my rotor off :P


Original color on rear, glossy on front.


IMO, it looks 200 times better glossy. I think it goes better with AM, too.


Final result.

-Drew

 

I had 2 friends helping me, but it was the first time I had jacked a TL, so it took me a while to find the right lift points. That in mind, about 3 or 4 hours. If you're planning on doing it, make SURE you do more coats than I did. Mine look a little speckled up close, and I'll be redoing them once it warms up

Drew

 

O man, that 350 is cleaaaaannnnn. But you certaintly didn't downgrade :P. I really think you're cars coming along nicely for having it barely even a month. Just a suggestion, id do the (type s)- sidemarkers, rear spoiler that goes where ur "wing" is now, and a m3 roof spoiler . and of course air ride

 

Wow, I didnt see anything wrong with your headlights until i saw the after pic. Huge difference! That looks great!

 

Condensation is normal I guess. I get it on both my headlights. My headlights have been modded though so idk =/. It goes away after a bit. To get a nice sounding exhaust note do the Stage 3 exhaust with the dynomax resonator. It sounds AMAZING. Under $120 installed.

Did you know plasti dip has a glossifier now? I plan on getting my TLS rims glossy black for the summer. Get it from dipyourcar.com
What happened to your 350z?

 

I'm sorry to burst your bubble, I've done 3 cars using that turtle was kit, and I'm sorry to tell you... they will haze up again.

 

Dpat - I actually was going to buy an AM roof spoiler off the black market but somebody beat me to it >.< thanks!!

Mdumanski01 - thanks man! It's tough to see in the photos, but they were really hazed up, especially over the side markers.

Aretardedorange - Ah, snap, that Glossifier looks phenomenal, will have to order some after redoing my PD

BaucE - What do you recommend for cleaning headlights, then?

 

Just shipped out today:




Drew

 

Your car is looking nice bro. 18 too i see, good stuff

 

Thanks so much man! Yay for being 18!

 

Excellent progress so far!

 

Your going to love the sound! Esp when you have the car in sport mode and downshift from 2>1.

I am 17. Beat all you guys.