sapanpatel123

This is probably the best day ever, after getting my 2005 Acura TL Anthracite Metallic, automatic. So I'm a college student, and like almost every other kid, I got handed down a car from my parents, a 2003 Honda Civic. The best part was the gas, which I filled every 2 weeks, IF needed. As a sophomore in college now, (woot Rutgers!), I couldn't express how happy I am with my TL.

So I've wanted a TL for about 2 years now, ever since my junior year of high school. Well, let me rephrase that. I wanted the Acura TL Type-S since then and was hoping to get it around the end of 2011. However, I didn't want a high mileage car and neither did my dad, since he was going to pay for it. And yes, you guys may say for making my dad pay for a car, but my parents want me saving money and rather them buy me a car since it's probably the last thing they'll get me. Besides that, the expenses and mods are on me!

So as I was looking for the Type-S, all I could find was high mileage, cheap price, or way over my budget and low miles. So after some thought I decided to go with the Base TL and found two: one in AM and one WDP. MY FAVORITE color of all time was WDP, until I saw the parchment interior.

So me and my dad decided to check out the AM, which was a used car from a owner, whom happened to be Indian as well haha and a pharmacist at that. He was forced to sell his car due to a newborn and so as the first and last car we saw, great condition, great interior, great exterior, everything working and new tires, 54,000 miles on an 2005, it was a deal I couldn't give up.

Oh and I've been lurking around the TL forums for a good year now, and joined when I got my car on November 6, 2011, but haven't had the time or patience to make a progress thread and upload pics. But since spring break just started today, I saw what the heck!

Well, that's enough talking for now, and here are the pics! Be nice, I haven't modded yet per se, but things will start rolling as soon as the green does, when I work more haha. School takes over your life.

When I first got the car at the previous owner's house:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6821312396/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6821312396/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

And a few pics of no tint:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6967434511/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6967434511/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6967434813/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6967434813/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6821313060/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6821313060/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

And some updated pics from about two weeks ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6821313554/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6821313554/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6967436107/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6967436107/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6967437295/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6967437295/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr



The only mods I have done so are far are:
20% tint all around
Interior LED conversion
License plate LEDs
Reverse LEDs

Getting my JL Audio 10w7 and 500/1 installed on Monday!


I thank everyone for checking out my progress thread! Comments are welcome and I wish to keep her for a long, long time. As you guys probably saw, I'm really into taking pictures of my car and the scenic backgrounds are a plus

The first 4 pics were taken by my Droid 2 and the last 3, better ones, were taking by my Nikon point and shoot.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Congrats and Welcome. Looks clean

ebelp

You've got less miles than my 08 TL-S...luckyyyy. What's on the long-term mod list?

Itsdbravo

Congrats! That sound system should sound pretty clean!

HDIZZLE

iTrader: (1)

you keep searching the forum your bank accounts gunna regret it lol thats what happen to me

TWiSDiT

iTrader: (4)

damn.. i remember when my TL used to look like this.. time sure has changed :P

Welcome and happy modding

mn2trance

Congrats on the purchase! Can't wait to see your progress with it. I miss my AM.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Mine is a year older and has more than double the miles! Ugh. Depressing.

If you're installing the audio, take the pre-amp signal and pick up a line driver like rockford BLD or Arc's line driver. We've got a good Audio section on A-zine!

sapanpatel123

Haha yeah I got the low miles that I wanted! Well this week is the audio, and possibly Type-S tails. In June-ish I plan on buying the Aspec from one of my friends who's parting his car out then and the anesthetic mods such as roof spoiler, custom headlights, and possibly a drop by September. After that, it's a mystery still LOL.

Lol yeah it's okay though, these babies will last for a while!
I'm going to go to a car audio shop on Monday and get it installed. They charge $80 for the install and they will probably go through the stock amp because my JL amp has preamp outputs.

GoldenShoes

yes, another person joining the AM family! congrats on the purchase man, be happy with what your parents have graciously gotten you, and let the modding begin!

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

VERY clean TL. Congrats!

Dat Boi Ralph

iTrader: (1)

Congrats on your new TL

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Right. In our TL's...our signal is balanced, unlike most cars. It's not simple to work with but your amp can accept a balanced signal. Tell them to take the signal BEFORE the amp. If you take it AFTER the stock amp you will have a set crossover from the factory amp, signal isn't as flat as pre-amp and it drops quickly from 40hz and below.

...trust me...lol

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

LED fog lights?

sapanpatel123

Are you suggesting I get LED fog lights or you think I have them? Because the strip on the lower grills is just a chrome strip. There used to be 5 of them from the previous owner, on each of the grooves but I took the 4 outer ones off and kept only 1 in the middle for a clean look.

I wanted to retrofit Accord fogs and I think I've read your thread about them or something who did them, that it took all day long. I would love to get fogs right now lol but don't have the courage to install them myself in case something goes wrong. Never done wiring before..

What does taking the signal before the amp mean?

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Looks like you have LED fog bulbs in your headlight

M.I.N.O.

iTrader: (1)

A very clean low-mileage TL. Congrats on the purchase!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Welcome Sapan-enjoy your new ride.


Hey, we've got a tool that allows you to respond to multiple people in a single reply. It's a Multi-Quote button, which is located in the lower right hand corner of each post (the middle icon).

Give it a try!

Cheers....

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

We have a factory amp in the TL. It's in the passenger kick panel. Your install will...SHOULD....know where it's at. By "pre-amp" or "taking the signal before the amp" I mean that you need tap into the signal for your sub BEFORE the factory amplifier (aka..pre-amp...as opposed to "post-amp").

If the signal is taken before the factory amp, you will have a flat signal, albeit low voltage..it's flat and you'll be able to set your x-overs and slope however you want. If the signal is taken after the factory amp, say by just splicing into the subwoofer wires in the trunk right next to sub (aka Post-amp) then your amp's x-over is pointless. The signal is already crossed and the signal isn't near as flat.

sapanpatel123

Yes! I forgot to mention those in my mod list, which the previous owner did. I love the fact that they're LEDs, which make my headlights look really nice at night, except for the fact that they aren't as bright as the halogen bulbs that come stock. But looks wise, I love it!

Thanks so much! I've been trying to find that and now I have thanks to you lol. Using it now

Oh I see what you're saying. I wanted my installer to splice into the stock amp that comes in our TL so then he doesn't have to use a line out converter when making a connection to the head unit. I'm not too bright in car audio, but I helped my friend with my old civic with the same set up, and we did it by going directly to the head unit.

Obviously, this is completely different since we have a stock amp and sub. So i was thinking of getting preamp outputs from the stock amp to the JL amp. But, I'm not sure about RCAs and all that lol. I'm going to talk to him on Monday and see what he says. But whatever you help me with here, I will mention to him and make sure he does the same thing.

This installer was recommended to me from a friend who has a MB CLK550 coupe and bought and got his subs installed from the same shop. At first I was gonna go to BestBuy but I don't trust them honestly, so I decided to go them. I talked to the guy on the phone from the car audio shop and he seemed bright in the subject so I'm hoping things go well.

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Do you have any pictures of them on?

Aretardedorange

iTrader: (2)

Benchod car

Healingduck

Congrats on the car. Looks clean.

sapanpatel123

Lmao how does that make sense?


Thanks!

sapanpatel123

So I'm back with an update!

I got my subs installed yesterday instead of Monday and they're sounding amazing!
Here are some pics of the install, not anything interesting, but I 2-3 so here ya go!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6835810772/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6835810772/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6981931283/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6981931283/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6981931171/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6981931171/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

I'll try posting a video up of the install in action, if the video comes out right.
Comments/questions welcome!

sapanpatel123

I took one just for you haha.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6835805296/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6835805296/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

ebelp

^ You should take another pic in a darker setting straight on from the front. That'll give a better idea of the color/brightness.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Updated your thread title date.

HOCKEYMAN23

AM FTW! Nice color choice Ahhh...a virgin 3G TL. I remember when mine used to look just like that, even more stock (no sunroof visor or decklid lip). Stick around Azine long enough and your addiction will develop into the advanced stages very quickly...MUAHAHAHA!!! j/k Seriously though, your wallet will scream for mercy after a while.

Take your time, add mods as you can, and most of all ENJOY THE RIDE!

sapanpatel123

Thanks! I was wondering how to do that, guide me please!


I enjoy every second of her! Although daily drive, every time I drive her feels like the first day I got her lol. Yes I already want so many things but my wallet isn't ready for them all so one by one, I'll start rolling out the mods

I'm iffy on the sunroof visor, yay or nay?

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^ LOL only MODS can....

great progress

MzLegiTCCoupeV6

I say yeah, keep it. If not, and you wanna sell it, lemme know cause im looking for one

sapanpatel123

Hey guys, I'm back with some pics of what my trunk looks like, and these aren't from my phone camera lol.

So I had a cargo net in my trunk before and used it everyday, since it was convenient and after the sub install, I didn't want to lose the net. So, I cut out holes in my trunk liner and moved the cargo net up and away from the subwoofer so there's no contact if I hit the brakes or acceleration.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6985269621/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6985269621/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6985271261/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6985271261/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6985270665/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6985270665/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

good progress man, one of my fav color tl's

sapanpatel123

They aren't that bright, which was my complain earlier but here you are:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6985286995/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6985286995/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6839165492/http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapanpatel123/6839165492/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/sapanpatel123/, on Flickr


Thanks man, I hate being slow with progress though =/

sapanpatel123

Has anyone tried using these LEDs as fogs and successfully as daytime running lights? I really want DRLs but the DRL module is no longer available and I want accord fogs but they're a bitch to retrofit and install lol so I'm resorting to this, 2 in 1 haha.

I was thinking of using these:

to achieve this:


I should probably just ask the owner of the picture of the car I posted lol

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

i like to keep the essence of the car....

some people add LED's, some people add angel eyes, other add AuDI led strips....but if that pleases you.....and also remember they are DRL and by no mean FOG lights

i think if you get the accord fogs and use LED's inside them they will look hot....but to each his own

sapanpatel123

Well actually, I agree with you 100%. I don't like putting LED strips under the headlights of cars that aren't supposed to have them. I'm only resorting to this because I'm not electrical savvy enough to retrofit accord fogs in my car. However, they're really what I want, just regular fog lights I can independently turn on and off whenever I please. I wish we could do that with our 04-06 upper stock fogs

If anyone in the NJ area is willing to help me out, maybe I can work on my fogs with them in May after school ends?

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

^^^ but you can....

you can independently turn on/off the upper fogs and the only tool you need for the lower accord fogs is a dremel and patience

sapanpatel123

Well I knew that, by making the upper fogs DRLs with the DRL Module right? However it's discontinued now so I don't know how else to approach it.