Custom Headlights - Modded To Your Liking

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Old 02-28-2007, 10:47 PM
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Custom Headlights - Modded To Your Liking

First, let me say that Im glad to part of the AZ community, I've dealt with various other forum communities who arent 1/2 as organized as you guys are over here. Maybe its cause you actually have to have some class to own an Acura, unlike say...a Mitsubishi?

I run a company called The Retrofit Source. We mainly specialize in recycling OEM xenon headlights from high end cars (such as Acuras, Bimmers, Mercedes etc) in order to remove their HID components for retrofitting.

If you dont know what retrofitting is, its the process of taking the HID projector assemblies from OEM applications, and custom fitting them into standard type halogen headlights. This not only dramatically increases visability, but also looks badass.

Although my company sells components for retrofitting, we do not actually perform them here anymore. However, we still do offer other custom headlight services- which is why Im here.

Here are the services and Pricing that we will offer for ALL AcuraZine Members.

Headlight Clearing- $100
Smoked Corners - $125
Interior Painting - $125
Interior Carbon fiber treatment - $200
Projector Optics Color mods - $100

The mods can be performed in combination with one another also. Since some of the labor overlaps (opening and re-sealing the assemblies) the costs will not be added directly. To figure the cost of the mods you want, add their cost, and subtract $65. So for example, if you wanted the headlights cleared ($100) and the Projector optics color mod ($100), the cost would be $100+$100-$65 = $135. Also please note that these prices do not include return shipping.


These Modifications can be performed on the following Acura models:

-All Generation TL's
-All Generation CL's
-All Generation RL's
-All Generation MDX's
-All Generation RSX's
-All Generation NSX's
-TSX
-RDX
-Legend

okay so I think you get the point, There is NO Acura model that we cannot perform our custom work on, so everybody qaulifies!

Pictures will be posted of work done for members here in this thread as we go, as well as in the pictures section of our website @ http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pics/

Here is the first set of TL clear corner lights we did:

before:


after:


For now we will not be able to do a core swap on headlights, however if there is a big enough response, we will make the more popular models available for core swapping. Once we recieve the headlights here, the work will take 1-3 days to complete depending on the services rendered.

Thanks guys! Looking forward to working with you as your new headlight mod guy

Any Questions? Just ask here in this thread, PM me, or E-mail me.
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Old 02-28-2007, 11:07 PM
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Can you make hid projectors for an 02 RL?
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Old 02-28-2007, 11:16 PM
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would love to see what the carbon fiber mod looks like inside a 3rd gen TL

Also you can use any paint inside the lens right???

Or do you have to use special heat sensitive type paint.

I have a desrt mist TL and would love to have them painted to match and have them smoked that would be HOT

let me know

thanks

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Old 02-28-2007, 11:22 PM
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yes i would like to see the CF as well too.....look tempting...
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Old 02-28-2007, 11:24 PM
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Personal Message sent....very interested
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Old 02-28-2007, 11:34 PM
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is "smoked corners" just replacing the amber lens with a smoked one??? i am also very interest in getting done...
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Old 02-28-2007, 11:46 PM
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Hey, those headlights look great! Where'd you get those pics? Wait a sec... those are my headlights!!

Aren't I entitled to some copyright protection here? :-) Totally kidding.

Looks like this modification is going to be really popular!
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Old 03-01-2007, 01:17 AM
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Do you offer local services as well? If so, where are you located?
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Old 03-01-2007, 08:19 AM
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alright but what if i want to retrofit my car with projectors......i have a set of tsx projectors........paint some of the headlight black.......and add some leds........oh and i have an 03 TL.......how much would this run..........
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Old 03-01-2007, 09:55 AM
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What is a projector optics color mod? Would be able to do Evo headlights? Where are you lcoated, thanks!
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Old 03-01-2007, 10:43 AM
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where are you located?
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Old 03-01-2007, 10:51 AM
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okay let me try and answer all of your questions here:

Projector Retrofits:
For all you guys who asked about getting projectors retrofitted into your cars, lets just say I joined this forum too late for that. my guys here at the shop are backed up for months on that, after which there will be no more retrofits, and just the housing mods like the ones Im offering here. However- We have networked with 2 other guys who do great retrofitting work. If you want their contacts, PM me for them.

Smoked Corners:
The smoked corners could go 1 of two ways. We can smoke the original amber corners with a special coating- making them appear darker and more grayish, or we can remove them all together, and 'smoke' the chrome behind them- which will look sort of like a gunmetal chrome. this can also be done for the rest of the chrome inside the housings.

Carbon fiber trims:
We havent done this on an Acura housings yet, but commonly using carbon fiber in trimming up other retrofits we've done in the past. We can cover the trim peices inside your lights in real carbon fiber as well. This pic (too big to post) should give you somewhat of an idea on how the CF looks inside the headlights
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pic...trofit_005.jpg

Local Services:
We can offer the services locally, We are in Columbus, Ohio.

Projector Optics color mod:
The projector optics color mod will increase the amount of color in your light cutoff. this is for you guys who have projectors already installed in your lights, like the 3rd Gen TL's, TSX's etc. This will also significantly increase the amount of "color flicker" effect onlookers see when you're going over bumps or the crest of a hill. This is a color mod we did on an Infiniti FX projector for Honda Tuning Magazines 2007 Sema Car (which happens to be a 96 Acura RL)

before:


after:


We can do the mods on any HID projectors, so yeah itll work for the Evo's too. This particular color mod involved modifying the interior optics of the projector, and swapping the lens with one with more clarity. Note that the optical mods are what that price is for, a clear lens swap will be more money, and is subject to availability.

Last edited by Retrofit-Source; 03-01-2007 at 10:54 AM.
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Old 03-01-2007, 10:58 AM
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The Retrofit Source
196-2 E. 13th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
United States
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Old 03-01-2007, 11:00 AM
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CF TRIM looks pretty sick man..
pricing is good too.. much better than those who offered before.
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Old 03-01-2007, 11:01 AM
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that carbon fiber look is sick!
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Old 03-01-2007, 02:47 PM
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Is there anyway a corner lens that is clear can be made which can be smoked? And any pics of the smoked effect on the reflective part of the headlights?
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Old 03-01-2007, 03:06 PM
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i'll be interested in a swap method b/c dunno if i can go without my headlights for a week because this is my daily driver car.
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Old 03-01-2007, 05:44 PM
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On the CF mod, only the surrounding trim piece will be CF right? Just worry how it looks like since there is so many curvatures on the trims.

Thanks!
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Old 03-01-2007, 05:58 PM
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we cannot reproduce the amber lenses in clear plastic, sorry about that.

the smoked chrome will look like the finish on black chrome wheels if you've ever seen that.

For the carbon fiber mod, it will depend on your headlights which parts we can cover, but like you guessed its hard to get the carbon fiber to fit properly over the curvy areas.


Also I wanted to let you guys know that Im working on getting pairs of headlights for the following models for the core exchange program.

3rd Gen TL
2nd Gen TL (w/ the round dip on the inside)
2nd Gen CL
TSX's

the downside to this is that you may not recieve a set of headlights back in the same exact condition that yours came in since you'll be getting the headlights from the previous owner. We will not accept any headlights for trade though if theyre signficantly scratched or dulled though- which Im sure is understandable.
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Old 03-01-2007, 06:08 PM
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I would like to get the headlights done. Taking the amber out and doing the inside in that black chrome look... i am guessing that it will reflect light better from the turnsignals better than if you just painted it..
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Old 03-01-2007, 06:27 PM
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alright PM me to come up with a date for the work to be done.

and yeah it'll reflect a bit better with the chrome "smoked" rather than just painted.
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Old 03-01-2007, 06:29 PM
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can you show more examples of different headlights and clear, smoked corners? I want to see if you can make the TSX headlights look like the JDM ones. Thanks.
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Old 03-01-2007, 06:43 PM
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sweet....
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Old 03-01-2007, 07:34 PM
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what do the JDM ones look like?

I was looking through the pics in JnC's thread, and I can make the headlights look exactly like he did. Im going to post the pictures of the headlights he did, but please be aware that these are NOT headlights that I customized myself, they are just examples to show how yours could look.



















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Old 03-01-2007, 08:17 PM
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Here are some pics of the inside of the TL headlights. Not instrested just helping out those who have questions.

So could you carbon fiber these pieces?


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Old 03-01-2007, 09:45 PM
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SWEET, its about time we can get some Flavorful headlights without baking ours in the oven ourselves! LOL
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Old 03-01-2007, 10:07 PM
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Ill check out the next pair of TL lights that comes in here to see exactly what peices can be covered in carbon, I generally offer the same services for all cars in general, so this is the first time I'll actually be specializing in the Acura housing mods.
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Old 03-01-2007, 10:24 PM
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can you do lense swaps so output is increased and cutoof is sharper with more color? Will this require cutting of the projector parts because I saw somewhere that its called foreground modding I think.
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Old 03-01-2007, 11:02 PM
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Do you work with angel eyes? I want angel eyes on my 05 TL headlights. I have an extra headlight that you can work with...
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Old 03-02-2007, 08:31 AM
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Do you have any Cl with smoked headlights so I can see I have an 03 pair and is ready to shipo it how long does it take? I am located in NC charlotte.
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Old 03-02-2007, 09:22 AM
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Lens swaps:
I can do lens swaps here for increased and more colorful output, except that is limit to availability at any time. Finding clear lenses (especcially in the 3" diamter size which is what the TL needs) is hard. So if we have clear lenses in that'll fit, thats no problem. the lighting foreground mod however- can be done at any time since it just involves modifying whats already there.

Angel eyes:
we only sell original equipment BMW angel eyes made by Hella, which come in 5" diamters. Their bend or shape cannot be changed and Im pretty sure the TL lights wont have room for them inside.

Smoked CLs
I havent done any of these yet, so I dont have any pics. Sorry about that.
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Old 03-02-2007, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Retrofit-Source
Angel eyes:
we only sell original equipment BMW angel eyes made by Hella, which come in 5" diamters. Their bend or shape cannot be changed and Im pretty sure the TL lights wont have room for them inside.
DO you know what size our TL needs, because we might be able to buy them elsewhere and if we ship to you would you be able to retrofit it in for us?
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Old 03-04-2007, 05:29 PM
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I think somthing 3-1/2 inches in diamter would be best for the angel eyes, if you can find somthing I can probably install it
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Old 03-04-2007, 08:30 PM
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is clearing same as blacked out? 04 tl..
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Old 03-05-2007, 02:25 AM
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Originally Posted by neef
is clearing same as blacked out? 04 tl..

No Blacked out means painting the chrome parts (reflective parts) Black.
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Old 03-05-2007, 09:27 AM
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right it is not the same.
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Old 03-05-2007, 11:10 AM
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So these are blacked out......


Originally Posted by Retrofit-Source




and these are cleared.

Originally Posted by Retrofit-Source


but none of these you did, right? These are just to show what it will look like.


Those blacked out ones are the cleanest looking I have seen yet. Just from those pictures alone, I am now considering blacking out. Can you make it look just like that? It looks like they left a little of the "clearing" in the middle.
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Old 03-05-2007, 11:44 AM
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Couple Questions.

1) Do you warrenty any of the work against leaking/fogging/ etc
2) Will the stock bmw Angel eyes fit into the 2gen TL Headlights since they are larger than the 3rd gen
3) For painting will you color match to the honda/acura color code of choice for the same price or will that be an extra charge.
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Old 03-05-2007, 12:56 PM
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yeah those pictures are a good indicator of the differences. I can make them look exactly like in the pics for the blacked out ones. the stock projector bezel was not painted in the black out ones in those pictures, and the chrome your seeing on the inside is from the drl reflector. That bezel can be painted as well if you want, but in my opinion Id leave it silver just for some accent.

the cost of $125 for interior painting does not include OEM match paint. I have a compressor and spray gun, but the costs will be significantly higher (since OEM paint is a lot more expensive, and the labor would also increase)
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Old 03-06-2007, 12:04 AM
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question about the TSX headlamps,

it seems like the process is just taking out the orange side indicator part out.

can't you paint that blk or just make it clear and put it back on?
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