Who Says Custom Headlights Have To Be Expensive...DIYFTW
12-05-2008, 08:23 AM
#85
Since we are pic whoring, here are mine. I had painted them during the 06-07 winter and installed LEDs around the projector shroud to operate as parking lights. They unfortunately burned out within a couple of months from high heat. So last winter, while the car was tucked away again I replaced them with the halos and also did the color mod on th lens. I decided to leave the OEM amber LEDs on the side as-is for sake of contrast.
I respect CinCity a lot as considering the number of people that DO pay to get the work done, I think they have priced their services at the level their target market is willing to bear (#1 rule of business). One can hardly blame them for high prices if one is outside their target market to begin with!
That said, for anyone even a little DIY-inclined who has the cojones to take their lights apart, doing the halo and lens mods yourself is a piece of cake. It is tedious and delicate work but very possible for anyone with patience and steady hands. And the savings of course, are understood.
And just for the record, neither I nor CinCity were the first to come up with this idea. We all learned from each other. HockeyZ was the one I got inspired by, but another member before him was actually the first on these forums to do the halo mod.
So here are the pics. Been meaning to post them for a long time but have been lazy.
This pic shows just how bright the halos are. It was taken from a good 200 feet away in an already well-lit gas station with only the parking lights (halos in my case) on!
Color mod.
I respect CinCity a lot as considering the number of people that DO pay to get the work done, I think they have priced their services at the level their target market is willing to bear (#1 rule of business). One can hardly blame them for high prices if one is outside their target market to begin with!
That said, for anyone even a little DIY-inclined who has the cojones to take their lights apart, doing the halo and lens mods yourself is a piece of cake. It is tedious and delicate work but very possible for anyone with patience and steady hands. And the savings of course, are understood.
And just for the record, neither I nor CinCity were the first to come up with this idea. We all learned from each other. HockeyZ was the one I got inspired by, but another member before him was actually the first on these forums to do the halo mod.
So here are the pics. Been meaning to post them for a long time but have been lazy.
This pic shows just how bright the halos are. It was taken from a good 200 feet away in an already well-lit gas station with only the parking lights (halos in my case) on!
Color mod.
Last edited by usmanasif; 12-05-2008 at 08:28 AM.
12-05-2008, 11:10 AM
#93
Scroll to my pics above. The STi lens (or any high quality clear lens), when installed with a spacer, gives a wide band of intense blue and purple color at the HID cut-off. The effect causes a bright blue/purple flicker for oncoming traffic as it momentarily passes through it (as in my last pic above). Most projector-equipped Beemers and Audis create it OEM but it is very diffused. Check a newer Beemer's cut-off on the back of another car at a traffic light and you'll see the faint color band. What one is able to create on the Z is several times sharper and more pronounced.
Last edited by usmanasif; 12-05-2008 at 12:02 PM.
12-05-2008, 11:43 AM
#95
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usmanasif your lights look great. Excellent job!!!
So you used a spacer to get your cutoff? I actually ground down the lip on the projector a bit for mine as instructed by Caesar from Lightwerkz who I bought the lenses from. He is a super nice guy BTW and anyone who is thinking of doing business with him won't be disappointed
So you used a spacer to get your cutoff? I actually ground down the lip on the projector a bit for mine as instructed by Caesar from Lightwerkz who I bought the lenses from. He is a super nice guy BTW and anyone who is thinking of doing business with him won't be disappointed
12-05-2008, 12:08 PM
#96
Thanks man! Likewise!
Yes, I added the spacer to do it. I agree, grinding the shield would render the same results. The basic premise seems to be to push "out" the cut-off to get the prism effect. I agree, Caeser is a good guy. In fact, I bought one halo from him! One of mine had broken during install (damn things are so fragile) but the inverter was fine of course so I just bought a single halo from him and he was quick to ship it out.
Yes, I added the spacer to do it. I agree, grinding the shield would render the same results. The basic premise seems to be to push "out" the cut-off to get the prism effect. I agree, Caeser is a good guy. In fact, I bought one halo from him! One of mine had broken during install (damn things are so fragile) but the inverter was fine of course so I just bought a single halo from him and he was quick to ship it out.
12-05-2008, 12:20 PM
#97
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LOL whats up with everyone hating on our prices? We are lower then all other companies that does headlight mods. And if you don't believe me hit me up with a PM and I'll prove you wrong.
CRG - Nice work! Alittle more tweaks and it will be perfect
CRG - Nice work! Alittle more tweaks and it will be perfect
12-05-2008, 12:36 PM
#98
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Im sure sincity arnt stupid, but if they were smarter, they would realize a simple equlimbrium point where price meets demand, in order to maximize their profits as well as client base.
Unfortunately, being one of the few service providers world wide that offer such service, as most do, they jack up the price to the point where it is just funny to look at, and as result from that, you see people around them (or around this community) find alternatives to get the same or close result as they would buy their service.
Unfortunately, being one of the few service providers world wide that offer such service, as most do, they jack up the price to the point where it is just funny to look at, and as result from that, you see people around them (or around this community) find alternatives to get the same or close result as they would buy their service.
They have essentially figured out the equilibrium point and made that their sponsorship price and now they have the same number of orders as if their prices were at equilibrium but many of their customers also come with free advertising. Genius!
12-05-2008, 04:16 PM
#100
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And I hope the negative comments towards CiNCity stop. That is in no way my intention guys. They do incredible work and if I had money to afford that, and couldn't do it myself I would. But going to training for 7 months will put my wife and I on just her salary and it will be tight. So, I figured I had enough knowledge of electronics and mechanical know-how to attempt a DIY. Just posting the results because I was happy with how they turned out.
Let's all get along