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Figured id start a progress thread too since lots of people on here have some really cool whips. I really like seeing the transformation that some rides have taken and I imagine mine will take one as well... got a lot of plans and hope I can get there one day. I would really appreciate opinions or any commentary. Also want to be straight up about how much these mods cost me. So I bought it at an online auction in late February of 2017, 2012 TL SH-AWD tech and this is how it looked when it arrived.
First up I got the front windows tinted to match the rest and the same place wrapped the grill and chrome trim under the trunk. Cost $250
The passenger mirror glass had a small brown streak at the bottom. Not really noticeable unless you looked closely but it wasn't perfect so I replaced it. Cost $65. Replaced it myself and found how to here
Was really easy after seeing that. The replacement mirror didn't really seem compatible with being a heated mirror but I peeled the layer with the heating element off the old glass and stuck it to the back of the new glass anyways.
Below is a picture of the old glass with the brown streak at the bottom, seemed to me the brown was in the layer between the back of the glass and the heating element. It spent 4 winters in the Montreal area though so I bet they got used a lot.
The car came with winter tires on the stock rims so when hotter weather came I had to make a decision. I do plan on getting proper rims for it in the future hopefully next summer. This will give me time to decide what rims I want to get. In the interim these rims were sitting in my shed from my old car so the cost is zero and since they fit...........
lol i didn't think people would be feelin the rims but they will have to do for this summer. Got too much going on to contemplate new rims right now, next summer I will for sure.
As far as the auction I was told the key to getting a good car was (among other things) to only bid on the cars with the highest possible overall rating by the auction company. My car was rated a 4.4 out of 5.0 which was the highest overall rating for any 2012-14 TL SH-AWD up for auction that week. Out of all the cars I was going to bid on that week this one came up first and I got it for less than my max. I think I bought at the right time and got a bit lucky.
So what's up next are some LED upgrades. I have here reverse lights, license plate lights, daytime running lights, fog lights, turn signals, switchbacks and resistors for the switchbacks. The LEDs that came in the LITECH packages are already installed, their packages in the picture have the stock bulbs in them. The rest I plan to put in this weekend, will post some pics when there in. Total cost about $250
The lights are in! I'm really happy with them they look cool and seem really bright. The install was easy after researching how to get at the fogs/turn signals and how to install resisters. I drove the front of the car on ramps and went from underneath. The hardest part was getting off a couple of seized bolts. Heres some pics of the fogs/switchbacks.
This is a pic of the daytime running lights which came in the ijdmtoy box and below it a pic of what I am planning to do next. Red tint for the taillights and fishing line to debadge the trunk. I am removing the 'ACURA' and the 'TL', after much deliberation ill probably keep the 'SH-AWD'. The tint is about 35 and the fishing line 5.
Well the trunk is debadged but the tail lights are not tinted yet. After heating up the letters and getting the fishing line behind them the badges came off really easily. Unfortunately almost none of the adhesive came off with the letters, it was all still stuck to the car. Took a lot of heat and effort to get it all off and then a little polish to clean the area up. Before the polish the outline of the letters was very clearly visible. The taillight tints I am hoping to get to soon.
Finally got something other than driveway pics while waiting for a bridge. I really think the car is itchin to go lower. Last minute switch up I decided black tint would look better with a black car. Though I really like the red, I have ordered some medium smoke tint.
Had some time to work on the TL so I decided to paint the calipers. They were really ugly lookin before. I bought one of those caliper painting kits for 30 bucks. I didn't have time to do the hubs but with my current rims you really cant see the hubs and I can always paint them later.
Tein street advance coilovers just came in. They were on backorder so I had to wait a while... ordered them almost exactly a month ago. After asking around I found someone who is going to install them and do a 4 wheel alignment for $250. The coilovers cost $995 all in. The exchange rate really drove that number up.
I've got some stuff done since my last post. I put on the wellvisers (140 cad) and tinted the rear reflectors. I did try to tint the taillights but I couldn't get it to be perfect... its more difficult than I thought it would be but I've got a plan to tint them eventually. Also been messing around with tint on the fog lights, I like the blue for the moment. Oh and of course the Tein Street advance coil overs are on! I told the people who installed them to set it to the recommended settings from Tein. I have to say it drives so so so nice. I understand the recommended stiffness is on the softer side and wow is it smooth. Its like driving on a cloud. Could not be happier with the coils. If anyone could help me understand what I need to fix the camber issue I have posted the alignment report in the link below thanks!
Looks good. Keep up the progress! Wheels don't look too bad with the drop. Just never a fan of all chrome wheels. I know it's only temporary for you though.
The cloudiness of my headlights really jumped out at me one day. After seeing some before and after's on here I decided to do a little work on mine. I think the before and after's speak for themselves.
before
before
after
after
passenger side after driver side before
So what's up next are some LED upgrades. I have here reverse lights, license plate lights, daytime running lights, fog lights, turn signals, switchbacks and resistors for the switchbacks.
Your ride is coming along nicely. What LEDs did you use for your switchbacks?
you should probably clear coat them with 2k clear so it doesnt haze again.
Yep they are cleared, I got one of those kits that comes with the clear.
Great idea with the turn signals - didn't even think about how those could be messed up!
It's really amazing how big a difference it actually makes - you don't really know until you've done them
Would have never thought to do the turn signals, but I can definitely see a huge improvement. Nicely done!
Thanks guys I would have done the fog lights too if they didn't have tint on them. But I do have one last before and after to show you. I found the turn signals on the mirrors were the hardest because they were so small and only needed one pass with the clear to get a good coat. At first I wanted to do at least a couple passes but realized it would be way too much clear.
Oh you don't like those rims? Well perhaps these are more your style...
These TSW's were actually for sale on the acurazine black market. After realizing the seller wasn't very far away from me I jumped on them. Got a hell of a deal, the rims are like new, the tires are like new, they have tpms installed. Can hardly believe the deal I got on them. The tpms synced up the second time I started the car. The painted calipers and rotors are really payin off now! I also put onto the calipers some high temp acura decals. The only issue is that the rims are 20x9.5 and the tires are 255/35/20 so the backs do rub when going over decent size bumps. Im going to look into getting the fenders rolled.
Yeah the rims are working out well but, I'm still trying to find somewhere to roll my fenders. I added the rear diffuser. Its the same one that is on here and done by a some others. Really wanted to see it on a black car. Also freshly cleaned rims and tires.
Dopeboy, the wheels look awesome. Glad you got a good deal on them. Think you may need to trim the rear tabs in the rear to address the rubbing. Fender roll may not be necessary yet looking at your pics.
Think you may need to trim the rear tabs in the rear to address the rubbing. Fender roll may not be necessary yet looking at your pics.
Hey thanks man im not having much luck on rolling the fenders, other than doing it myself. It would be great if I didn't have to but what exactly do you mean by trim the rear tabs, can you explain a little further?
Hey thanks man im not having much luck on rolling the fenders, other than doing it myself. It would be great if I didn't have to but what exactly do you mean by trim the rear tabs, can you explain a little further?
Thanks for that link it explains everything. I took a look at it and im really not sure if its rubbing on that tab or the edge of the fender. Anyways ill shave that tab first and see if that helps.
Rear diffuser looks good on black
I was hoping it would. I really like how well it fits with a little modification. Also love your avatar carbontsex, its so g!
Thanks for that link it explains everything. I took a look at it and im really not sure if its rubbing on that tab or the edge of the fender. Anyways ill shave that tab first and see if that helps.
I was hoping it would. I really like how well it fits with a little modification. Also love your avatar carbontsex, its so g!
You could put some white-out on the tabs, drive it and see if it's causing the rub. Same with the lips of the fender.
06-14-2017, 10:28 PM
