Rmagic vs. hotwaterlabs headlights
 

Other than the r magic stamp, is there any difference between the two and is there any benefit to one over the other? The price difference between the two isnt enough to sway me one way or the other. Since they look 99% the same, im just looking for something to help me decide which set to go with.

I'm pretty sure the hot water labs are just a relatively high quality replica because there was quite a bit of demand for the r-magics but they weren't very "available". If you can find r-magics then get them but it doesn't sound like you'd be disappointed with the hot water labs ones either. Just my .02. They're nice headlights and the only aftermarket ones that I like.

I am actually curious about this as well. I have never seen a Hot Water Labs set in person but all the pictures I have seen look like there is no actual lens covering the head lights (completely open) where the R-Magic head lights are completely enclosed.

I'd go r-magic. I'd rather support the people that went to the effort to make the original moulds and thought up the design than a company that's copied it.

Cr-rex

i have been doing some homework on this subject as well and what i see from pictures. The kit is totally different, if you look at the Rmagic kit - as seen here. ( http://www.rmagic.net/parts/aero/img/fd_aero_56.jpg ) the Bucket it self has a couple things going on here. the bucket is molded around the light, and there is a divider from one light to the other. along with the obvious lens cover.

Now the hotwater labs have the " look a like " feel to them, but the bucket for the lights is totally different. their bucket is not molded to the light ( it is completely open in the back ) , does not have the light covers, and there is no separation from one light to the other.
HWL FD001 Sleek HID Headlight kit (United States) / HotWater Labs

you can compare the lights your self to see this. but my question is if there is no cover and the bucket isnt molded to the light... how does it do in the rain? i wouldn't want rain water going all inside my engine bay and possibly frying anything.

I guess vented hoods are a huge problem with water "frying" everything, too. Right?

thats why they make rain plates? :scratch:

If you have exposed wires in your bay, you have bigger problems.

i am more worried about the projector lamps. are they water proof, or even the ballast ( if there is one. ) that stuff i am sure isnt water proof.

Ask R Magic for price, they are on the vendor section.

The HWL lights are NOT replicas. Although they look similar, they are a completely different design. Compare them side by side and you'll see the only thing that's even close to the same is the design angle of the cut in the "light cover" ( which isn't even a cover on the HWL lights, since theirs is a 1 piece full bucket ).
If you're worried about water getting in there, as mentioned, you have bigger problems. Re Amemiya makes a ducted headlight, but nobody complains about that. I'm sure water can get in those too.

Although the HWL may not be direct copies no one can deny they got a LOT of their "inspiration" from the Rmagic kit. To me the HWL just looks like an RE style bucket (with a lot cut out in the rear portion) with a Rmagic style lid and without the lens cover.

Which it probably is just a mold of.

You guys are all wrong. lol

Looks like this...looks like that.

No.

HWL have similarities to other designs, but are in fact, not copies or replicas of any of the aforementioned lights.

^ R-magic disagrees with you.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Can't deny they're so similar to the re with oem cut covers like curacaos headlight.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...t/IMAG1914.jpg

I don't know why.

They're not the same.

I don't really think any of this matters lol. If you like 1 over the other you should narrow you're option down like this. Do I like A or B. Do I want have to deal with shipping from japan ? How do they compare with light out put ? Are their any complaints and how is the customer service from company A or B. I personally don't like anything but pop up head lights on the FD lol but if was shopping around I be thinking along those lines. Especially since 99% Can't tell the difference.

This is a perfect picture. You can look at and tell the difference. The HWL lights are cut so they line up with the hood, the R Magic are not.

From my experience:

I went a little different so I had HWL just mod my lids for me and I'm using evo-r buckets

I happened to know the HWL guys quite well and all they're doing is filling an accessibility void. Real r-magic headlight are also a bit different, but sure it's a slightly modified version.

The best part though is actual customer service and turn around time. I like the idea of being able to talk to the person who's taking my moneys loll and the quality is top notch...Also the lighting component's they use in their complete kits are very high quality

No complaints at all from a customer with a great experience

Of course they are a copy of the original Japanese Tuner part—like half the stuff sold in the U.S. and on everybody's cars on the forum.

It's a little silly to say otherwise, and equally silly to make a big deal about it at this point.

HWL has great customer service, if you aren't happy they will do what they can to make you happy. And they are in the good old US of A

i think this picture explains it all. Everything can be compared to look similar to something else, but these are not the same.

Top is pic from Hot Water Labs, bottom is R Magic

does anyone have a photo of the light projection on the ground? Im interested in the Hotwater Labs