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$1100 is pretty good, assuming it all works out okay. Guys in the 2G RL forum pay a lot more than that for the JDM headlights and the only difference is clear diffusers for the turn signals instead of amber.
I just got an update today from the installer and I'll be picking up the car on Friday. From what they told me it is EXTREMELY tedious, but they also said upon nearly completing one headlight that it's going to look completely stock which is what I was going for and nothing is better than a nice flush clean look.
I got it done at Powerhouse Autoworks in Bloomfield, CT. Both owners were previously certified technicians. One at Acura and the other at Subaru. They've had their own place for about a year now and from what I can tell they do very good work and their communication throughout all of this has been great. They are taking their time and from my communications with Ryan (co-owner) he is being really careful and making sure this comes out perfect, I am glad they are concerned about perfection because in the long run taking the time and paying a fair amount to get it done right is much more important than fast and cheap.
I asked for photos today and they told me they will be providing a log with photographs from start to finish. Most definitely will help out a lot of people on here interested in seeing how it is all done and what to expect when the lights are apart. Updates are to come, but for now they are shooting for Friday.
Very nice. The cost is reasonable to have a unique item on your car.
Custom work is time consuming and most people who do stuff like this do it for the the challenge.Having done several custom items I can attest to this.
Nice looking forward to the final product. I've seen it done but wanna know the work involved. I just picked up a 2016 Acura RDX for my wife and the jewel eyes are nice.
My guy called me today said he's leaving for the weekend and will need a couple more days. He basically said he had to create a custom housing for the lights to make them look perfect. He completely finished one today and it wasn't 100% what he wanted so he took it apart again and re-did it to his standards. He said the second one is all apart and will be much easier as the first light was more a trial and error as this is a custom job. So... he figures Wednesday they should be all set. Waiting really sucks, but it is what comes with custom modifications!
Some progress ... Couple more days until it's done. A problem that the shop ran into is that the heat sinks are so big you have to cut part of the radiator frame, so he has to add an extra support weld it in and paint it so it is just as safe and looks good. Few extra bucks, but safety is my number one concern!
That shit is rad! It will totally be worth the wait. Congrats, Pgr1990. $1100 all in is a steal for that setup! Can't wait to see the finished product!
must be a pain to not be able to drive the car for this long, but its looking like it will be worth the wait!
Yeah the worst part is my girlfriend despises me and all future car modding right now because I've been taking her car every day lol, but considering how well they have put these together it's definitely worth the wait.
The guy who did the first MDX to 4G conversion (in the first pic of my original post in this thread) wrapped the heat sinks in heat resistant tape. My guy built a custom fabricated box around the heat sinks, which is obviously much safer and will last the life of the car. I'm sure my guy could have half assed it and got it done with many shortcuts, but he has filled me in on every hump every step of the way and has made sure everything he is doing is done safely and correctly.
Nice to see them installed and working. Curious to know why you didn't remove the amber reflectors? That would have been the perfect opportunity and would look much cleaner with a 5k or 6k led bulb. Just my opinion. Congrats!
Nice to see them installed and working. Curious to know why you didn't remove the amber reflectors? That would have been the perfect opportunity and would look much cleaner with a 5k or 6k led bulb. Just my opinion. Congrats!
I got my turn signals on the bumper changed to Triton V3 switchbacks, but I am keeping the headlight markers Amber.. The most I'd do to them is change the bulb to an LED. I wanted to keep that factory look.
Can u please give me the shops number? I really want to do it, thank you
Drdwid@hotmail.com
Hey man, let me talk to the guy that did it because it certainly didn't sound like a job he'd like to repeat lol. I'll ask him if he'd like to do it for more people and when he answers me I'll get back to you.
After he does it once it should be business as usual for the next.
Yeah certainly cuts the time in half once all the trial and error the first time around are taken care of, I'm going to ask him today if he'd be interested in more.
The guy that originally did it didn't even want to do it again and I was originally willing to send him TL and MDX lights to the state he lives in and he just stopped responding. It ended up being a good thing though because my guy has done a much more professional job.
Hey guys here's an update from the other day as well as some ideas I have ran across with the shop as far as wiring the DRLs. Interested in what you guys think!
Okay, here is the best photo I can find showing the jewel eye functions. This is off a TLX but it operated exactly the same as the MDX. Top left=off top right= DRL bottom left=low beams bottom right=high beams
I thought it would look much better if the DRLs stayed on with the low beams. On every model they turn off, so I photoshopped in on the TLX jewel eyes to get a feel for how it would look.
I photoshopped it again on this TLX. I know it's not the perfect photoshop, but it gives you an idea of how it would look. Now would be the perfect time to rewire the DRLs with the whole front end off the car and my guy is going to try to do it once he gets both sides in. <br/><br/>Let me know what you guys think!
Here is my car with the second side on, ready for the housing to be blacked out then it should be completed!
Well, the lights have been retrofitted and aligned (that's the hardest part), they were building the box today for the rear of the housing for the other headlight. That and painting chrome black and it is complete. I would say no more than 2 days
So guys, it should be all set tomorrow or Thursday the latest. It's all hooked up and the electronics are done. The second lights housing is being painted tomorrow and I should be all set. Here's what the jewels look like with the DRL's running with the low beams
Pgr mind telling us the labor costs? I want to get an estimate of the true cost, hardware + labor.
I will give you the best rundown and estimate (Ill fill you in when I receive a bill on what the total is)
I bought the MDX headlights on EBAY off a wrecked car. Both of them ran me approximately $400. One was $180, the other was $220. Brand new they run $850 a piece, so I recommend finding damaged housings with intact electronics and LED module's like I did.
I was initially quoted at $700.00 for the labor and materials (materials consisted of the custom box) of the shop. We ran into issues with the radiator support which ran another $300 to cut it and re weld a support to make it safe and fit the housings.
Altogether my costs are $1,400.. unless there are some surprises for the labor when I go to pick it up the shop should be charging me $1,000 as I haven't heard a change in the initial quote following the additional $300 for the radiator support cutting and welding.
*Note: I would highly recommend buying the TL housings as well, so the shop can work on the retrofitting and custom housing (which is the majority of the work) and in the meantime you can use your car. I have been out of mine for like a month now. I mean I took the plunge and assumed the risk going into it so I am not upset by any means, but if I was to do it over again I would have bought additional TL housings.
I will give you the best rundown and estimate (Ill fill you in when I receive a bill on what the total is)
I bought the MDX headlights on EBAY off a wrecked car. Both of them ran me approximately $400. One was $180, the other was $220. Brand new they run $850 a piece, so I recommend finding damaged housings with intact electronics and LED module's like I did.
I was initially quoted at $700.00 for the labor and materials (materials consisted of the custom box) of the shop. We ran into issues with the radiator support which ran another $300 to cut it and re weld a support to make it safe and fit the housings.
Altogether my costs are $1,400.. unless there are some surprises for the labor when I go to pick it up the shop should be charging me $1,000 as I haven't heard a change in the initial quote following the additional $300 for the radiator support cutting and welding.
*Note: I would highly recommend buying the TL housings as well, so the shop can work on the retrofitting and custom housing (which is the majority of the work) and in the meantime you can use your car. I have been out of mine for like a month now. I mean I took the plunge and assumed the risk going into it so I am not upset by any means, but if I was to do it over again I would have bought additional TL housings.
I hope this helps!
I believed in you!!!!!!!!!!!! She looking real good man. I hope to be next.
06-08-2015, 12:02 AM
Sub'd! This is awesome and w the quality of the 4g headlights I only wish I could afford this! I've modded my own but not sure I'd tackle this one!
... Couple more days until it's done. A problem that the shop ran into is that the heat sinks are so big you have to cut part of the radiator frame, so he has to add an extra support weld it in and paint it so it is just as safe and looks good. Few extra bucks, but safety is my number one concern!
jealous!!
to your shop for fab'ing that up! amazing job so far!
