My transformation thread.
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Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
My transformation thread.
This is something I wish I would have done with my last car. This will a progress thread for my TL, just to show what I have done to the car itself. I will update with every mod that I have done to the ca,r whether it's a simple LED interior conversion, or a suspension mod. Comments or suggestions are always welcome. Thanks for looking.
First day driving it home from the dealer.

35% window tint 2 days after purchase.

AEM V2 Intake.
Before:

After:



Type S side markers
Before:

After:

Coming soon: ZKW-R clear lenses, Blacked out Headlights, Type S taillights (being shipped ATM), Rims will be put on once the snow is gone.
First day driving it home from the dealer.

35% window tint 2 days after purchase.

AEM V2 Intake.
Before:

After:



Type S side markers
Before:

After:

Coming soon: ZKW-R clear lenses, Blacked out Headlights, Type S taillights (being shipped ATM), Rims will be put on once the snow is gone.
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Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
Thanks for the comments. Yes, the car doesn need a wash bad but, we just got another 5" of snow the other day. It's supposed to be back up to the mid 40's next week, the car will get a wash then, and maybe even put the summer shoes on. My Type S tails should be here today and hopefully my ZKW lenses, and 85122+ bulbs. I'll have more pics this weekend.
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
Yesterday I recieved a few goodies. We'll first start with the Weather Tech Digital fit floor mats. These things fit like a glove, and use all of the stock floor mat hooks. They need to settle in a few places yet, but they look great I think.
Before: (I only took one before pic)

After:
(Fronts)




(Rears)

Now the Type-S taillights. These aren't the OEM ones. They are DEPO made. The fit great and cheaper than OEM.
(Before)


(After)



Today I recieved my ZKW lenses and my Phillips 85122+ HID bulbs. I'll be doing the headlights in a few weeks.
Before: (I only took one before pic)

After:
(Fronts)




(Rears)

Now the Type-S taillights. These aren't the OEM ones. They are DEPO made. The fit great and cheaper than OEM.
(Before)


(After)



Today I recieved my ZKW lenses and my Phillips 85122+ HID bulbs. I'll be doing the headlights in a few weeks.
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
I still have the base tails. I'm going to hold on to the for a bit. I may take on the Ghost tail challenge and will need a set to use while I'm working on them. Once I get that done, I'll be putting them in the black market. Keep your eyes out.
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
I put the wheels on yesterday. Helo Tease 18x8.5, these are only temporary until I get the ones I want.



Forgot to add this a while ago. Nokya Hyper Yellow DRL's



Forgot to add this a while ago. Nokya Hyper Yellow DRL's
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
I did my headlights yesterday, also added ZKW-replica lenses and Phillips 85122+ bulbs. I added a little contrast color with the shroud, instead of painting them black, or keeping them silver, I painted them gunmetal.
Before:

After:




Before:

After:




looks good man..the depo tails are nice..im thinking bout getting them but im not sure yet..the oem ones look alot darker then the depos..idk maybe just specific lighting..looks good tho..i plan on doing these mods to my car this summer. car looks good man..what rims you looking into getting
how hard was it do do your headlights? I am doing my front A-spec this weekend and now you have me considering doing this as well while I have the bumper off. I am very nervous to do this with the very expensive type-s headlights...
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
looks good man..the depo tails are nice..im thinking bout getting them but im not sure yet..the oem ones look alot darker then the depos..idk maybe just specific lighting..looks good tho..i plan on doing these mods to my car this summer. car looks good man..what rims you looking into getting
Originally Posted by TLAdvanced
how hard was it do do your headlights? I am doing my front A-spec this weekend and now you have me considering doing this as well while I have the bumper off. I am very nervous to do this with the very expensive type-s headlights...


I ordered my switchbacks also, I should have those on next week!
A drop is the next big thing for the TL, not sure what to go with coilovers, or springs, I have some time to decide I suppose.
Last edited by nate_0022; Mar 21, 2009 at 12:36 PM.
Fast paced action! Your car is really coming along since I last checked this thread. I never seen those floor mats before they look very well designed and it looks like you were in need of some all weather mats since I see some mud in there lol. Hopefully you got all that mud out. The headlights look amazing! Excellent work. I think for the tails I like the base lights a little better on your car than the Type S ones, but they both look great so you can't really go wrong either way. Keep up the good work
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
Fast paced action! Your car is really coming along since I last checked this thread. I never seen those floor mats before they look very well designed and it looks like you were in need of some all weather mats since I see some mud in there lol. Hopefully you got all that mud out. The headlights look amazing! Excellent work. I think for the tails I like the base lights a little better on your car than the Type S ones, but they both look great so you can't really go wrong either way. Keep up the good work 
Thanks for all the great compliments so far guys. I've got some night pics of the headlights and also a video of the switchbacks. I had some problems with the switchback in the drivers side light. It wasn't very secure in the light and it actually fell off inside the headlight, that was a chore itself getting that thing back out. So far neither of them have fallen out, so I must be good now.
Video of the switchbacks:

Pics:
(Stock fresnel lens)



ZKW-R clear lens:



Color Band pics of the ZKW-R lens:



More:


Your ZKW-R's are not nearly as sharp of a cutoff as it could be, certainly not as sharp as the real thing.
This could be due to 2 things:
When installing the real zkw, you need to install 1-2mm of cardboard spacers under the lens to get the optimal focal length.
Or... the ZKW-R is just not the same.
Looks good, but you should look inot tuning them up, if you have the heart to pull them again.
This could be due to 2 things:
When installing the real zkw, you need to install 1-2mm of cardboard spacers under the lens to get the optimal focal length.
Or... the ZKW-R is just not the same.
Looks good, but you should look inot tuning them up, if you have the heart to pull them again.
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
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From: Cloquet, MN
Yep, i'm just trying to find a small enough projector to fit into the housing.
That's one thing I forgot to do was tune them in before I closed up the headlights. I realized that once I turned them on that night
. When I get the ambition i'll take them apart again and mess with them and see what I can do.
Originally Posted by Kennedy
Your ZKW-R's are not nearly as sharp of a cutoff as it could be, certainly not as sharp as the real thing.
This could be due to 2 things:
When installing the real zkw, you need to install 1-2mm of cardboard spacers under the lens to get the optimal focal length.
Or... the ZKW-R is just not the same.
Looks good, but you should look inot tuning them up, if you have the heart to pull them again.
This could be due to 2 things:
When installing the real zkw, you need to install 1-2mm of cardboard spacers under the lens to get the optimal focal length.
Or... the ZKW-R is just not the same.
Looks good, but you should look inot tuning them up, if you have the heart to pull them again.
. When I get the ambition i'll take them apart again and mess with them and see what I can do.
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,594
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From: Cloquet, MN
New addition. Projector fog lights.
JDM ES300 Fog lights
3000K HID kit
Custom wire harness
Lexan Plexi Covers





JDM ES300 Fog lights
3000K HID kit
Custom wire harness
Lexan Plexi Covers





Last edited by nate_0022; May 4, 2009 at 02:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Land of 10,000 lakes
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 204
From: Cloquet, MN
Thanks man. I like them a lot also.
Rich at www.hidillusionz.com. He has done a lot of my lighting mods for me. He will be doing my ghost tails aswell.
Originally Posted by TLAdvanced
Those projectors look awesome!! Who did them 4 you??









