So as a used car, I had the pleasure of doing some restoration to this nice car my wife got me for Christmas. Most of the issues I had are being solved thanks to you guys and the great DIYs you posted. So, as far as the outside, the car had some minor scratches...except the for the front. This Chick ran into something and not only scratched but cracked the paint in the front . Also
when I got the car the door handle end caps were missing on the rear driver side and passenger side. Luckily, ebay had a guy selling just the caps AND they came already painted
<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160109_102500_zpsly35udtq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160109_102500_zpsly35udtq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160109_102500_zpsly35udtq.jpg"/></a>

after some sanding...painting....wet sanding...and SEVERAL coats of the white diamond paint from autozone we got the deep scratches and cracks to go away. also got some carbon fiber wrap to fill in that faded gray material. I never noticed it until I actually owned a TL but on older "less cared for" TLs
the gray area faded badly and looked just odd with that polished silver trim.
the carbon fiber helped.
<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160109_181333_zpspnqcdybe.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160109_181333_zpspnqcdybe.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160109_181333_zpspnqcdybe.jpg"/></a>

looked better after clear coat. I am having it repainted later this year. Debating about either keeping it the same or a blue color.

<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160109_165758_zps7iu6jayq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160109_165758_zps7iu6jayq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160109_165758_zps7iu6jayq.jpg"/></a>

Not sure how this person's driving skills are but every rim had curb rash.
some gashes were deeper than others. I was doing the typical filler, sand and respray but then I felt like, why be like every other white diamond tl with the silver 5 spoke rims. I went back and forth between the hyper black and gunmetal....gunmetal won.

<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160109_105457_zpsr4lhv19e.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160109_105457_zpsr4lhv19e.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160109_105457_zpsr4lhv19e.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160109_114752_zpspkhtpbwn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160109_114752_zpspkhtpbwn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160109_114752_zpspkhtpbwn.jpg"/></a>

don't mind the tape just fixing more of the scratches the Mark Kay chick left.

<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160109_143834_zps3fp4fqfh.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160109_143834_zps3fp4fqfh.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160109_143834_zps3fp4fqfh.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160109_165901_zps74p2nlpy.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160109_165901_zps74p2nlpy.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160109_165901_zps74p2nlpy.jpg"/></a>

So far its coming along. I got Inspire fog lights coming, my navigation DVD just came in the mail, (the mary kay chick took the one from the back). More to come.

<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160117_152156_zps1luvj4ka.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160117_152156_zps1luvj4ka.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160117_152156_zps1luvj4ka.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/20160117_152139_zps8vhjy77f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/20160117_152139_zps8vhjy77f.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160117_152139_zps8vhjy77f.jpg"/></a>

 

wheels look good. keep up the progresss

 

welcome and congrats, shit I wish my wife get me a car for xmast oh wait its was the other way around...

 

Welcome.

Need to remove that TL sticker from the side though.

 

Marcus, since I own a Type S, I have a Type S badge where you have the TL stickers.

My Type S badge is OEM, so it's a lot smaller than your TL stickers. You might want to consider getting smaller TL stickers.

 

Probably remove them after I get fog lights installed. Should look different enough then from the other white TLS from work. Actually the smaller size doesn't sound bad. You got a pic of yours for comparison? I actually traced and cut those from left over carbon fiber wrap. Would be easy to "down size" though.

 

I'd snag up an ASPEC kit before they are extinct.

Agreed with others on that TL sticker.

 

Looks good bro, nice work on the wheels, coming along nicely

 

looks good. looking forward to seeing whats next on your build keep us updated!

 

^^^ +1

 

I agree, remove that sticker!

 

Downsized "T L" sticker.
<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160204_103655_zpsnrsdbjxp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/Mobile%20Uploads/20160204_103655_zpsnrsdbjxp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160204_103655_zpsnrsdbjxp.jpg"/></a>

 

Fog lights installed, and downsized the TL stickers. Also tackled know issues with the 3rd gen: "tighten fuel cap" notification, the non working HFL which I fixed by baking in the oven, and got fog lights to work independently. This site had a solution for all my problems! More to come.
<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160204_103655_zpsnrsdbjxp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/Mobile%20Uploads/20160204_103655_zpsnrsdbjxp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160204_103655_zpsnrsdbjxp.jpg"/></a><a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160204_103638_zpsuabd1t1u.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/Mobile%20Uploads/20160204_103638_zpsuabd1t1u.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160204_103638_zpsuabd1t1u.jpg"/></a>

 

 

Thanks

 

UPDATES:
Tinted corners<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160221_092845_zpse4orjy75.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/Mobile%20Uploads/20160221_092845_zpse4orjy75.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160221_092845_zpse4orjy75.jpg"/></a>
Updated front end.
<a href="http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/Marcus_Hogan/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160225_105603_zps8t2xzuyn.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah175/Marcus_Hogan/Mobile%20Uploads/20160225_105603_zps8t2xzuyn.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160225_105603_zps8t2xzuyn.jpg"/></a>.
Now I need hood supports as mine gave out!

 

Here's my take on your TL so far.. (constructive criticism)

Honestly man,

Keep it clean and simple.

I'd remove the TL sticker from the fenders. Most people wouldn't care it's a TL. Enthusiast will know it's a TL. Not sure if you debaged the emblems, but if you haven't, more of a reason to remove the TL stickers.

Next, is the blue calipers. It's really out of place, draws attention on standard brakes. Don't get me wrong, if they were BBK, I'd tell you, rock with it. I'd highly suggest the RDX brake covers. You can paint them a different color, honestly, I think they look great as is.

The tint on the headlights..

No good man. Honestly, invest in getting custom headlights done. You cut down on the light output on your turn signal. Last thing you need on a very bright, sunny day , is for someone not to notice your front turn signal and cause an accident.

The homedepot "body kit" garage door strip, is a no go. I know to some it looks good, but it never looks right and besides, it doesn't stay on very well. While you still can get a hold of it, invest in the A-spec kit. You won't regret it and it will transform your TL.

I usually disagree with anything plasti-dip as it comes off as a "cheap" thing to do. It works for some and doesn't work for others. You made a better choice on doing gun metal vs black. The black looks is beyond done with. If you want to keep the stock wheels, get them powder coated in the same color.

I see you have a civic, but don't modify it in the same thought process. Keep it up, don't take anything I said to heart. I've been here for a very long time. We have all been through it at one point.

 

Hey man i think the work done looks good, i would agree on the tinting on the turns, maybe a light smoke tint would be better imo or getting the whole housing modded.

I don't really see an issue with painting the calipers, I have a base tl and i painted mines - its okay to have those accents - but i would add the rdx covers paint them the same color as the caliper and call it a day.

at the end of the day, you'll hear tons of things - but build the car for yourself brother!
Keep it rocking man...

 

I'm not against painting calipers. I painted mine in 2007 when I got the TL. I did my rear calipers in gloss black to match the black brembos up front. Eventually, I made a thread (ended up big) on installing RDX brake covers in the back calipers. I left the covers alone, and just re-painted the calipers black again. It was a nice touch to somewhat look as good as the brembos. The blue looks out of place, it's only my opinion. If OP likes it, let him rock it, it's his car.

Over my years on Azine, I've seen a lot of members paint their calipers. I've seen the good with the bad. Overall, the blue doesn't flow right. Besides, it looks like the brake pad was also painted blue. For someone that's very meticulous, they'd tell OP to clean it up or mask off those parts when painting.

 

Heard - i wasn't discounting your advisement

 

Looks good bro keep it up