Zenica

It has been suggested I do this as a poll so here it goes.

The concept is simple, LED lighting for our rear turn signals.
The poll will be to gauge interest in this and what you would be willing
to pay for such an option. I also want to know if this would have more
acceptance as a plug 'n play upgrade or if the majority of Z owners are
DIY's and just want parts. One option will cost more but have the virtue
just being a one day job the other, saves money and may not be a one day
job depending on your tools/skills.

diablox1

iTrader: (7)

like these?

http://www.clearcorners.com/products/nissan/z33/r_sig/

Zenica

Yes, it will look very similar but not exactly. I prefer to use OEM housings
to avoid issues with poorly made plastics and lens clarity issues. I would
see about having two options, a PnP and a kit. The kit will have everything
needed once the person has the two halves of the housing separated.

I should have an idea on cost this week.

EDIT:

Cost will not be anywhere near the $1,200! Clearcorners signals are...

kno

iTrader: (22)

those are beautiful but i would never pay anything close to $1200 for to lights. i rather buy a coil-over kit or a nice laptop

_ink

iTrader: (2)

you should have started this poll after you have the final price/details.

I'd be in for these, the only thing holding me back is how darn expensive they are! even $300 which other members were asking is expensive for just LEDS lights.

Zenica

I have a plan to include "value added" features to make mine competitive
but pricing will be between $200 and $300 I suspect. The Philips LED's are
.60 cents per LED and there will be around 100 per signal!

Goo$e

iTrader: (9)

I just bought those. Can't wait to get them.

Edit: Don't ever buy from Clearcorners. His prices are complete RIP OFF! and he fawked me over at the end too.

illjim69

iTrader: (6)

Wow.........1,200 bucks for turn signals? You must be ballin y0!

Goo$e

iTrader: (9)

or maybe I got a super secret discount

robbinsj

iTrader: (29)

I like if the price is right. There is only so much I can justiy for LED's.

Zenica

You probably did, just for your signature if nothing else!

robbinsj

iTrader: (29)

As mch as you spent on the head lights you should of got some discount, I would hope.

Goo$e

iTrader: (9)

Haha you are mistaken. I added that to warn people. Have you read my review [HERE]. Here is Calin's [HERE]. I don't want anybody to go through what I went through. Wish I would have saw Calin's review and I never would have sent them off.

Goo$e

iTrader: (9)

Anyways...OP. Looking forward to your work. Good luck and post pics when completed.

Zenica

Thanks. I will, and a video or two...nothing beats a video.

It will be a few weeks, I want to be sure and get it right. The last thing
I need is negative press! I plan to use my own car as a test bed and with
summer coming, the warm weather affords me the freedom to work on the
car free of snow.

FliPPER_Z

iTrader: (16)

been there, done that...goodluck...becoming a vendor is really not worth it, specially if your NOT gonna mass produce these

Zenica

Well, this project idea is deceased.

I have done the math and it wouldn't be feasible, never mind profitable unless
I do a run of 1000 pieces (500 vehicles). I wasn't thinking of doing this minor league
but rather "OEM-like". I would have contracted an overseas factory to produce
my board design (which uses over 220 Philips LED's per side) and I was going to buy already made lens and housing components.

Then have them assembled and boxed. They would be brand new, plug n play
complete with internal circuitry to control the flash rate, alert the driver of a failure
and variable blink patterns. I had a few very cool ideas I won't say but suffice it to say that anyone that showcases their Z in contests would have died for a pair of these.

At any rate, anything less than 1000 is not worth it and even with that volume
the cost per pair (no core) was expected to be around $200.00 which if you sold
your OEM for $25 would reduce it to $175.00 which is closer to where I wanted to be.
And even if there were at least 250 people that committed to a pair, I would have to
do something I have never done before, ask for half upfront. So you can understand why this is being scrubbed. I might make a set for my car but that is about it.

Goo$e

iTrader: (9)

Clearcorners is a fawking rip off. Never spend that kind of money on freaking headlights or LEDs!

stylett9

iTrader: (9)

nevermind.

Zenica

I do not know what Clearcorners does, meaning are they taking apart an OEM signal housing, are they acquiring them unfinished (two separate pieces not glued together) or did they have them machine tooled and a new mold made.

Since they seem to be taking the low quantity>higher cost approach, my guess is they disassemble OEM housings on a case by case basis. IF they had gone the route of acquiring the housings from Nissan or some after market company, the cost per housing would be low and without having to disassemble them, the labor less. That said, the electronic components themselves do not justify $1,200 and neither would the glue binding the lens. IF they had paid to have a mold machined and tooled, upfront cost would be very high but the per unit cost considerably less so had they done this, they would be able to pass the savings along knowing a lower price will attract more buyers thus allowing them to recoup that upfront cost sooner.


If I wanted to charge people $1,200 per pair, I could disassemble a new lend housing, install factory produced electronics on flex board with solder mask and Motorola IC components and Philips Lighting LEDs complete with warning circuitry and build in resistors to trick the flash rate putting it all back together with OEM adhesive to look like a new OEM signal.

I wanted to offer this so it was affordable....