Interior / Exterior / Audio Talk about interior and exterior mods including audio.

Sleek Light Progress

Old Apr 18, 2011 | 04:05 PM
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Sleek Light Progress

So I love the look of the popups when they're down, but think the lights look a bit ghetto when they're on/up. As a result, I wanted sleek lights that are relatively subtle. Also wanted better light output. Would never allow the bulge

So I started with a CWest kit to use as the base for mounting my Bi-xenons and so I could cut up the shrouds to use as well. Sold the bulgy lenses for $100 and got half my money back

Started with:


Mounted the projectors (without cutting any of the car's frame) and trimmed the shrouds to fit over:


Cut the shrouds and reconnected as necessary to fit. Cut up a pair of bezels that were designed for the bi-xenons to ensure a proper fit in that area.


Sand/paint/install



The cut-off looks good so far, and the lights are adjustable. The lower area that is not lit up can't be seen from the drivers seat anyway (I'm 6')


I've got a second stock hood that I need to get welded to match the contour of the lights, and I need to form my lenses out of poly-acrylic. The outside part of the housings that are blank will just have some LED DRLs.

Looking forward to having everything completed.
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Old Apr 18, 2011 | 05:32 PM
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nice, good idea. was thinking of trying something like that but never did.
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Old Apr 18, 2011 | 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by $lacker
So I love the look of the popups when they're down, but think the lights look a bit ghetto when they're on/up.
Many of us feel the same way. When the stockers are down they are hot, when up well...

Originally Posted by $lacker
As a result, I wanted sleek lights that are relatively subtle. Also wanted better light output. Would never allow the bulge

I've got a second stock hood that I need to get welded to match the contour of the lights, and I need to form my lenses out of poly-acrylic. The outside part of the housings that are blank will just have some LED DRLs.
Looking forward to having everything completed.
From the looks of it the end result will be one of the best looking sleek lights out there.

On an unrelated note:



Dude you got some small hands...

Last edited by Montego; Apr 18, 2011 at 05:49 PM.
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Old Apr 18, 2011 | 06:12 PM
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what do you mean by weld the hood?
are you adding extra material to fill in the triangular gap behind the headlights?
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Old Apr 18, 2011 | 07:20 PM
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looks good, keep us posted.
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Old Apr 18, 2011 | 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by got_hp
what do you mean by weld the hood?
are you adding extra material to fill in the triangular gap behind the headlights?
That's the idea... have contoured aluminum welded on to fill in the gap. Barring that, I could buy a spare set of pop-up covers, chop them, and attach the plastic to fill it in (then have it painted). Sounds like a ghetto approach though and I'd rather not use different materials together like that, if I can avoid it

Originally Posted by Montego
From the looks of it the end result will be one of the best looking sleek lights out there.

Dude you got some small hands...
Thanks, and I have regular size hands!
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Old Apr 25, 2011 | 05:32 PM
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Moving on... thought I had the headlight portion almost completed today
Got it mocked up, only to find that the foam sealer I wanted to use to make it weather resistant doesn't like heat
Also, one of my lenses decided to spontaneously crack in 10 places (while it wasn't installed) so I'll have to make another one at some point

Anyone have ideas as to how to seal the lens against the shroud? I need something with some thickness to it

Mocked up


Mocked up with the DRL (or signal, or whatever) turned on
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Old Apr 25, 2011 | 08:53 PM
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I kinda like it have anymore pictures from further away?
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 10:07 AM
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Just a thought... Why not make the ENTIRE lens cover clear, and then paint the portion you want black? That way, you can use OEM mounting, get rid of the screws and still have the desired look?

/.02 off

-M
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by MattGold
Just a thought... Why not make the ENTIRE lens cover clear, and then paint the portion you want black? That way, you can use OEM mounting, get rid of the screws and still have the desired look?

/.02 off

-M
The entire lens is/was clear, until I sprayed that top area black to get an idea of how it will look in the end
As regards to the lens, what do you mean by OEM mounting?
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Old Apr 26, 2011 | 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by $lacker
The entire lens is/was clear, until I sprayed that top area black to get an idea of how it will look in the end
As regards to the lens, what do you mean by OEM mounting?
Oooh, I get it.

My suggestion was to use an OEM lens cover as a plug, make a mold, then pour it clear. That way, you can use the OEM mounting locations of the lens cover.

Not sure if your design will allow for it.
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Old Apr 27, 2011 | 05:40 AM
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Ah I see
The mounting points for the OEM lens covers are not at the edges, so they wouldn't be possible to use
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Old May 1, 2011 | 07:30 PM
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What exact bi-xenons did you use? I've been trying to figure out what the hell to do with my CWest lights for years and haven't had much luck.... really liking the way you have gone here!
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Old May 2, 2011 | 10:29 AM
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I believe these were the ones I ordered : http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=236
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Old May 2, 2011 | 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by $lacker
I believe these were the ones I ordered : http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=236

You absolute legend....I have been searching for something suitable for ages and all I could ever find were the hella 50mm, which put a massive dent in anyones wallet. Thanks so much!
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Old May 2, 2011 | 07:42 PM
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lol
No problem dude
The reason I didn't buy the Hellas and went looking elsewhere was because I already had the bulbs and ballasts and didn't want a second set (that came with the Hellas for $500). Glad I got referred to that site as it has good equipment for good value
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Old May 2, 2011 | 08:16 PM
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Yeh the prices are excellent, and it was nice to see a 'wall' shot of the output of these lights. (especially since I am in New Zealand, so getting stuff from overseas is always a gamble)

I have ordered a set and will look at doing something similar to what you have done.

Did you do all the fibre glass work yourself?
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Old May 2, 2011 | 08:26 PM
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I didn't use any fiberglass other than what was already used in the C-west lights. I cut the kit where it needed to be cut, cemented the pieces into the desired orientation, then used body fill to make it smooth.
If I had to do it again I could to it fairly easily, but the first time was a crap shoot because I didn't know if it was even possible to fit the lights without needing a bulge in the lens. After eyeballing it I was confident enough to put the time in, but it was tight lol
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Old May 3, 2011 | 08:59 PM
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It possible to retrofit projectors in the RE-A sleek kit? I know the supposedly the non-projector and projector versions of those have no cutoff...

Sorry for the off-topic post
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Old May 4, 2011 | 05:59 AM
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You can't fit bixenons in any available kit unless you cut the frame of the car to accommodate them
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