Clean Dean
Keep it clean !!!
By the way the interior is awesome !!!
:up
:up
My Miata, first attempt at D/A polishing
- Thread starter Clean Dean
- Start date
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >
<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by PrinzII [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>I am getting a huge kick out of my xenons on the 2002 Max. Even with some of the snows we have had recently, visibility is very good. Now if I can just get some bulbs to match the HIDs color in the foglights and the high beams, I am all good.
[/b]</blockquote>
You can get another set of HID for the fogs!
<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by PrinzII [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>I am getting a huge kick out of my xenons on the 2002 Max. Even with some of the snows we have had recently, visibility is very good. Now if I can just get some bulbs to match the HIDs color in the foglights and the high beams, I am all good.
[/b]</blockquote>You can get another set of HID for the fogs!
imported_Homer
New member
I've never visited this particular forum until now, so my reply may come a bit late.
If you want to do an HID retrofit into your current car, there are a few things to consider:
1. Do you have reflector style or projector headlights. There are 2 types of xenon bulbs that you must consider: D2S and D2R. The D2S is for cars with projectors, D2R for cars with reflector headlights. Why does this matter?? There is an integrated shield on the bulb for the beam pattern. Very important.
2. Who is the manufacturer. There are a lot of cheapo HID kits made overseas and come in these nicely packaged boxes, such as Vision, SiJ. They are junk in terms of the correct optical positioning. The important thing with a modified xenon bulb is the placement of the mounting ring/adapter. Take for example a 9006 HID retro that I currently have in my Supra. The 9006 adapter ring has to ensure that the light is focused on the proper axis, the mounting depth is correct to ensure the light is focused at the right position on the headlight assembly. Cheapo kits are made in a sloppy manner!
Now, you might ask, who makes a reputable kit? I can name some: Phoenix Microlite and http://www.autolamps-online.com Both companies have been in the HID retrofit biz for years and have developmental experience with both Osram Sylvania and Philips. All the leading manufacturers use either Philips or Sylvania bulbs. Hella work along with Philips as well. You will find a slight edge in white-ness with Philips bulbs.
I have organized group buys 3 years ago and am quite knowledgeable with automotive lighting. For a good resource, check out
http://www.lighting.philips.com/forum/forum_6/wwwforum.cgi
Don't even THINK of buying PIAA Super white or whatever bulbs. Been there done that. I was terribly addicted to buying various bulbs over the past 3-4 years with the claims of looking like HIDs. They may look like it, but they drastically reduce the light output of your headlights. Honestly, it's like driving in the dark with those things. I finally got sick and tired of things and then did my research on HID kits. Honestly, all the money i spent on stupid bulbs already paid for an HID kit! HID kits today can be bought for about $350-600. The Phoenix Microlite kits, among the best in the HID retro biz, is about $450-500 depending where you buy from. If anyone wants a kit, let me know, I have a contact at that company.
Another thing, HID kits now come in two kinds. Ones with color temps of 4100K and 6000K. The color temp is what makes the outlook look white or purple. However, DO NOT expect your HIDs to emit various blue/purple/pink light as you see on OEM Lexus/MB/etc...the reason is due to optics. Your headlights were designed for halogen bulbs...and not xenons. They will NOT, I repeat, look identical to OEM HID headlights. You will have the same output, but not the colorful bits of light due to chromatic aberration.
Hmmm, this posting is getting darn lengthy. If anyone has questions let me know. I don't want to use up your time with my posting...
Huy
If you want to do an HID retrofit into your current car, there are a few things to consider:
1. Do you have reflector style or projector headlights. There are 2 types of xenon bulbs that you must consider: D2S and D2R. The D2S is for cars with projectors, D2R for cars with reflector headlights. Why does this matter?? There is an integrated shield on the bulb for the beam pattern. Very important.
2. Who is the manufacturer. There are a lot of cheapo HID kits made overseas and come in these nicely packaged boxes, such as Vision, SiJ. They are junk in terms of the correct optical positioning. The important thing with a modified xenon bulb is the placement of the mounting ring/adapter. Take for example a 9006 HID retro that I currently have in my Supra. The 9006 adapter ring has to ensure that the light is focused on the proper axis, the mounting depth is correct to ensure the light is focused at the right position on the headlight assembly. Cheapo kits are made in a sloppy manner!
Now, you might ask, who makes a reputable kit? I can name some: Phoenix Microlite and http://www.autolamps-online.com Both companies have been in the HID retrofit biz for years and have developmental experience with both Osram Sylvania and Philips. All the leading manufacturers use either Philips or Sylvania bulbs. Hella work along with Philips as well. You will find a slight edge in white-ness with Philips bulbs.
I have organized group buys 3 years ago and am quite knowledgeable with automotive lighting. For a good resource, check out
http://www.lighting.philips.com/forum/forum_6/wwwforum.cgi
Don't even THINK of buying PIAA Super white or whatever bulbs. Been there done that. I was terribly addicted to buying various bulbs over the past 3-4 years with the claims of looking like HIDs. They may look like it, but they drastically reduce the light output of your headlights. Honestly, it's like driving in the dark with those things. I finally got sick and tired of things and then did my research on HID kits. Honestly, all the money i spent on stupid bulbs already paid for an HID kit! HID kits today can be bought for about $350-600. The Phoenix Microlite kits, among the best in the HID retro biz, is about $450-500 depending where you buy from. If anyone wants a kit, let me know, I have a contact at that company.
Another thing, HID kits now come in two kinds. Ones with color temps of 4100K and 6000K. The color temp is what makes the outlook look white or purple. However, DO NOT expect your HIDs to emit various blue/purple/pink light as you see on OEM Lexus/MB/etc...the reason is due to optics. Your headlights were designed for halogen bulbs...and not xenons. They will NOT, I repeat, look identical to OEM HID headlights. You will have the same output, but not the colorful bits of light due to chromatic aberration.
Hmmm, this posting is getting darn lengthy. If anyone has questions let me know. I don't want to use up your time with my posting...
Huy
Heya,
I did the HID conversion (K2 kit, 6000k color) on my car and it also had a dual filament setup (9007).
If you switch to HID with a 9007 (or other dual filament types), you will lose high beam entirely.
However, it's not that big of a deal since HID lowbeams are SUPER bright anyway.
You can see some pics on my website
http://www.dvsman.com/hid_install_pics.htm
It is one of the best mods I have done for my car and I couldn't be happier.
Regards,
Chew
www.dvsman.com
I did the HID conversion (K2 kit, 6000k color) on my car and it also had a dual filament setup (9007).
If you switch to HID with a 9007 (or other dual filament types), you will lose high beam entirely.
However, it's not that big of a deal since HID lowbeams are SUPER bright anyway.
You can see some pics on my website
http://www.dvsman.com/hid_install_pics.htm
It is one of the best mods I have done for my car and I couldn't be happier.
Regards,
Chew
www.dvsman.com
I think this is definitely true for cars with HID as an option (like the Maxima). With the people buying the low-end car wanting to buy the HIDs after the fact, thieves know that by stealing it off of a top of the line SE or whatever, it will be easy to find customers for it who own the base model cars
I would guess this same reason applies to the Acuras as well
Regards,
Chew :wavey
www.dvsman.com
I would guess this same reason applies to the Acuras as well
Regards,
Chew :wavey
www.dvsman.com
PrinzII said:
Back in '08 I took my first crack at polishing a car with a PC. I was impressed with how easy it was to work. I haven't quite seen results like the big boys, but i don't think i'm using quite as aggressive a product.
Here's what I had to start with, car was resprayed at a maaco after an accident by the previous/original owner. Since it was so sad looking I got a really good deal on it!
After claybaring the car i started using the polisher. I used a ccs orange pad with menznera intensive polish. 50/50 shot:
It came along nicely:
I opted to seal it with Collinite 476s, as I wanted something durable for my daily driver:
Sadly I didn't get to enjoy the results for long. About 2 months later, a kid (i'm sounding old and i'm 29) failed to yield on a left hand turn and i hit him at probably 30mph or so right on the passenger's side tire. Insurance opted to total it.
One thing that has left me scratching my head; I tried doing a few places with a white pad and final polish II, and didn't really see much difference. All it really did was leave a haze that was hard to wipe off. Too nice of a product for my paint?
Thanks for looking!
Here's what I had to start with, car was resprayed at a maaco after an accident by the previous/original owner. Since it was so sad looking I got a really good deal on it!
After claybaring the car i started using the polisher. I used a ccs orange pad with menznera intensive polish. 50/50 shot:
It came along nicely:
I opted to seal it with Collinite 476s, as I wanted something durable for my daily driver:
Sadly I didn't get to enjoy the results for long. About 2 months later, a kid (i'm sounding old and i'm 29) failed to yield on a left hand turn and i hit him at probably 30mph or so right on the passenger's side tire. Insurance opted to total it.
One thing that has left me scratching my head; I tried doing a few places with a white pad and final polish II, and didn't really see much difference. All it really did was leave a haze that was hard to wipe off. Too nice of a product for my paint?
Thanks for looking!
imported_Flash Gordon
New member
Looks great 
artaaay2:
The reason you didn't see the same results as the pros is because they photoshop pics Taking picture
artaaay2:The reason you didn't see the same results as the pros is because they photoshop pics Taking picture
imported_Dubbin1
New member
Looks like a different car.
That little thing took a 30mph hit really well. Most of the cars you see in the crash tests are only going 35mph and are smashed all to hell.
That little thing took a 30mph hit really well. Most of the cars you see in the crash tests are only going 35mph and are smashed all to hell.
bmw5541
New member
Sorry about the car, but you did a great job transforming her!!:thumbup:
Tuck91
New member
Big difference!
imported_Flash Gordon
New member
Wow, that looks like super fun. Can I borrow your Miata one weekend /
imported_RaskyR1
New member
Looks great
The reason you didn't see the same results as the pros is because they photoshop pics Taking picture
Shhhhhh! Flash, PS is like Fight Club! We do not talk about what goes on with PS!
Nice work on the Miata mcarp22!
imported_Bunky
New member
I always wonder about that.Looks great
The reason you didn't see the same results as the pros is because they photoshop pics Taking picture
It looks like you really perked up the color. Some paint jobs (even factory) never look great like you see on some cars.
The art of polishing polishing to true wetness takes experience or in luck. I find it is easy to get correction - it is harder to reach that wetness on paint without an LSP. You know when you finish polishing whether it is going to "glow" or not. The LSP is icing on the cake.