Richs09TL

Why and how exactly are TL owners doing this mod?

potmilkz

how its been done for years.. take it apart and replace the lense..

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I would think that the 4th gen TL projector would be better than the TSX.

prepreludesh

I did it on my 4G TL. The TSX-R lense has no ring of "cloudiness" around the outside edge of the lense. I photographed the two side by side when i had them out and they looked almost identical in opacity. But after putting them in and firing them up, the light output was sharper and brighter. Also, the light "cutoff" is very pronounced. Before, the standard TL lense kind of difused the light output at the top cutoff.

Also, some might say that replacing the lense gives it a more "bluish" tint, but there doesn't appear to be a reason as to why, but I confirm it happened to my ride.

SSGHutch

It looks alot clearer than the TL OEM lens, and I agree with prepreludesh the cutoff is more obvious.

TJ Zooker

I know the TSX housing is totally enclosed (put them in my civic) but is the TL housing enclosed or are the sides open? Not sure if that has anything to do with brightness but I know that the TSX lenses are much better in terms of brightness and cutoff. Anyone have a pic of the TL housing and can you swap the whole housing or just the lens?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

damn, why would Acura put a better lens in the lesser of the cars?????

JnC

iTrader: (12)

More details in the thread

https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-2009-2014-123/g-001-4g-custom-headlights-jnc-718846/


but here is a brief break down.

Stock projector, in stock housing.



Stock projector, out of the housing.




Stock lens holder with the frosty lens in it.



Stock lens holder with new TSX-R clear lens installed.



The frosty lenses are installed to make sure the cut off line is blurry, this is where the light output ends. This is done so that the transition between the lit area and non-lit area above the cut off is easier on the eyes.

The frosty lenses do that given job but in the mean time also rob the projectors of some 10~15% light output.

Using a clear lens not only makes a sharper cut off line but also gets you back that lost light output.

Richs09TL

That doesn't make any sense why they would put the better lens in a lower model car! Why would they do that?

JnC

iTrader: (12)

The company that makes Acura/Honda headlights is Koito/Stanely. They have made some of the most potent projectors so far.

Best overall low beam projector (conventional) - AP1 S2000 low beam projectors.



(Picture shown with TSX-R clear lens)

Best overall low beam projectors (un-conventional) -- 04-06 LS430 low beam projectors, these are unconventional as they use a reflector bowl to support the main low beam and create a wider output range



(picture shown with TSX-R clear lens)
Best Bi-xenon projector-- 3G TL bi-xenon projectors



(Picture shown with ZKW clear lens).


So as you can see that this company use to make great projectors with awesome output but over the past few years they have started to downgrade the level of performance from the projectors they have been putting in the headlights.

No idea as to why, the best projector, even to-date ever made is the AP1 S2k, engineered back in 1999 and since then it hasnt been beaten yet when it comes to pure low beam performance.

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

^

Most people fiend for the AP1 and TSX projectors... like 90% of retro-fits are used with those projectors

emanon256

Okay, so I am new at this and looking for instructions.

I have a 2009 TL and have been disappointed in the light output. I went from having an S2000 which was amazing, and had a loaner 2012 TSX which was equally as amazing. In the TL I sometimes have people with halogen lights pull up next to me and their light overpowers mine. And mountain driving at night is much harder than it was in the S2000. I feel almost blind in comparison.

Would the TSX swap be something that is pretty simple? As in, could I do it myself? I can do most of my own routine maintenance, and I did install an HID retro-fit kit in my old Celica many many years back. Do I have to remove a lot to get the light assembly out?

Also where would I get the TSX lenses? I found a website that sells a pair for $50, but the website says the TSX lens is 2.5 inches and that the TL Lens is 3 inches.

Also do I just buy the glass lens piece, or do I need to replace the housing and shutter as well?

Acura_Dude

Thanks JnC. Even though this is an old thread, it answered my question as to why the 4G TL light output was a little dimmer compared to the 3G TL and 1G/2G TSX. I really like the 2G TSX's light output. Very bright. Since Koito/Stanley make projectors for Honda/Acura shouldn't they make the projectors at least equally across the line? Kind of a downgrade for the 4G TL.