I'm finally ready to start my custom headlights project and planning to start working on it this weekend. I've been searching the forum and have gotten a good amount of information from various threads (Ghozt and Kmoney were my two biggest inspirations). As of right now I'm gathering a parts list and I would appreciate the help of any members to point me in the right direction if I'm missing anything.

To put into words, what I'm looking to do to my headlights is paint the housing black, put in white angel eyes around the low beam projectors, and also do a red demon eyes mod. I'm also looking to add two LED strips to the duct covers next to the fogs (white strip on top and red strip on bottom). The way I want to have the lights come on is that the angel eyes and the white LED strips will light up when I switch on the parking lights (and will remain on with low beams). I want the demon eyes and the red LED strips to come on when I unlock or lock the car (with the Intelligent key buttons, door request button, or manually using the key). I might also add a separate switch on the dash to control them manually. As far as how to wire this, I will worry about it later. Right now I just want a sense of what parts to buy so I can order them and start retrofitting this weekend.

Here's a list I've gathered so far:

• To paint the housing: Dupli-color Premium Lacquer Gloss Black
• Angel eyes: Morimoto xbALed Angel Eyes - 70 mm white (from TRS)
• Demon eyes: not sure about this one, I'm assuming all I need is a red LED bulb? where would the placement of the bulb be? still trying to research more into how to do this mod
• LED strips: Side-emitting white LED strips and red LED strips (off Ebay, NOT from China)
• Pigtail connectors: for quick and easy connect/disconnect, what would be the best option? would I be able to use something like this? ---> http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-1mm-DC-Power-Supply-Male-Female-Pigtail-Cable-Wire-CCTV-Camera-s-Wholesale-Lot-/160967242565?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item257a653345

Is there anything here that you guys would suggest doing differently or using a different product for? I know Ghozt and a couple other members have used the V-LEDS angel eyes but they are $100 more than the rings from TRS. I've been using TRS products for a while now and have had an excellent experience with them so I would assume their angel eyes are high quality as well. Correct me if I'm wrong if anyone has tried using these.

 

You're off to a great start.

For the LED angel eyes, TRS's xbaLEDs are awesome - as long as you don't mind them appearing yellow when off. Never heard of anyone having issues with those like the Umnitza's that always burn out.

For the demon eyes, yeah just use an LED. You can grab a single or set of 3 LED's from V-LEDs.com in a flexible strip. It attaches to the cut-off shield inside the projector, facing the reflector (towards the rear of the car). They won't be super visible during the day, and when your headlights are on you won't see them at all.

In fact for all your LED strips consider V-LEDs, they make great quality stuff.

Those quick connect/disconnect things look okay, but they're not waterproof so you may want to wrap em in electric tape just to be safe. I have something similar, they're small plastic plugs and I wrap them up too just in case.

Regarding paint for the headlight, I'm not sure how laquer works or if that's good for plastic. I personally have had great success with sanding, using adhesion promoter, and just regular duplicolor high heat gloss black (or low gloss - matte).

 

I've been reading all the previous threads too about DRL's and really like what Ghozt did in the space next to the fogs. Since they discontinue the set he used its been harder to find a set thy would fit w/out cutting the DRL'S to shorten it.

I'm still doing my research as well but found some good quality lights from Hella sold through ijdmtoy, they also sell a few different LED strips.

Def interested to see how you make out on things. Good luck and look forward to seeing the finished product!

 

I won't have a problem with the yellow phosphorous coating on the angel eyes since I'm going to place the rings inside the shroud.

I just checked out V-LEDS again and saw their flexible LED strips. I'll most likely go with those since they have the option of coming with 194 adapters (I'm guessing I can just buy 194 socket pigtails to complete it?) That would be my solution to the quick connect/disconnect pigtails.

The 1" flexible LED strip from V-LEDS only have 1 LED whereas the 6" LED strips come with 9 LEDs. For the demon eye mod, I would just cut the 6" into ~2" so that I have 3 LEDs and use that?

And lastly for the paint, I came across Krylon's Fusion for Plastic® paint while Googling tips on painting on plastic. Any experience with that?

 

Yeah I started out with the V-LEDs flexible strips in the brake ducts by the fogs, then went to some eBay switchback DRL's, then finally now have the V-LEDs DRL switchback housing - which as you mentioned is now discontinued for some reason. I did have to trim it to fit and re-seal, but damn they're bright. Some guys found something almost identical on iJDMToy.com so check them out.

Regarding putting the ring inside the shroud, I'm not sure you'd be able to get the "angel eyes" effect you are looking for. It may glow from the inside of the project emitting light, but you won't get that "ring". Let me know if you want to see some pictures of the inside I got a ton.

You can splice those flexible LED strips into anything really, my stuff is all connected to a wireless remote so I can control it separately, and the switchback amber color from the DRL is spliced into my turn signal wire using T-Taps easy tap-in connectors from Radioshack.

For the demon eye you should be able to find a set of 3 LEDs in a strip, but also check out oznium.com they make a bunch of cool stuff too. I sourced my Iron Man LEDs from Oznium, but they also have a bunch of pre-wired side-mount LEDs too so check them out.

Regarding Krylon, if you ask TheRetrofitSource (TRS) they'll tell you they don't touch the stuff. I personally tried it once on a set of headlights, just wiping down no sanding as the instructions said, and the next day was using pressurized air to blow some dust off it and it blew a bunch of paint right off. Needless to say I sand everything and use adhesion promoter (primer for plastics) to make sure it sticks, and ended up going with Duplicolor high heat gloss black. My personal set has been painted for 2+ years and I've had no problems with peeling or cracking or any of that nonsense.

 

red LEDs in front may **** off the local ...

 

Hmm, ok so I'll have to place them outside the shroud. I can live with that.

As for the paint, Dupli-color it is! I'll go with the adhesion promoter + high heat gloss black method. What grit would you recommend to wetsand the trim and housing? My guess would be around 400-600.

I'm only looking to have these blink on when I unlock/lock my doors. And I would have a switch to control them manually if I want to turn them on in a parking lot or something but I would not be driving with them on.

 

I used 1000 grit to remove the existing chrome "paint" then 1500 grit to prep it for painting. I found that prepping with a higher grit resulted in a smoother final paint job. Also pick up some paint prep degreaser/de-oiler, I got some from AdvanceAuto it comes in a green spray paint looking can. I'm sure you already researched this for painting, but make sure its in a wind-free area well ventilated and use smooth even passes. Don't try to get full coverage on the first coat or you may end up with runs/drips. One trick I use is in the area I'm about to paint in, I mist the air with a water sprayer it helps reduce the amount of floating particles in the air like dust/etc.

 

wow! its strange you had the problem with krylon paint. i have been using it for all my work and never had that problem even when i use air blower to blow dust away. maybe am doing something different i dont know.

 

as Ghozt stated you on the right path with your list parts. you going to have fun doing the headlight mod. keep us posted with pictures when you start this project.

 

Thanks for all the tips! If the weather this weekend is windy I'll end up taking this to my friend's basement where he does a lot of woodworking and painting.

I'll definitely post up work-in-progress pics for everyone to see.

 

ask TRS what they think of Krylon lol

 

Just subscribing to the thread. Wanna see the progress/results. I'll be in the same boat as the OP soon.

 

Here is my suggestion:
Oracle offers a kit with 4 halos and demon eyes on their website for 09-11 maximas. I asked them for actual pictures, but they did not respond. The price is 199.
The switchback could be triton v3s or the q block from exled usa like ghozt has (don't know where to buy it). There are a couple of youtube videos out there.
For the bottom drls, I wish we could do something similar to the Kia Proceed 2014, with the "ice cube" look..perhaps with a product from Rigid Industries, Or the hella dayflex. Just trying to think outside the box.

Good luck

 

Just ordered generic rings off Ebay to test out before I go ahead and buy the quality stuff. Hopefully they get to me by Saturday. Also ordered a replacement headlight for $70 off Ebay just to try it on before I mess with my OE. I'm gonna pick up paint/primer Friday or Saturday and I'll start posting pics once I get started!

 

I'm sure you came across these already, but just in case you didn't I have several DIY's on the other site that may be helpful, in this order.

http://my7thgen.org/f57/how-remove-f...er-fascia-139/

http://my7thgen.org/f57/how-bake-ope...-headlight-69/

http://my7thgen.org/f57/how-paint-yo...t-housing-140/

 

One other note, to respond to a question I was asked in PM.

If you need color-match paint, you won't find it at AdvanceAuto or in a high heat application. I ordered my color-match paint from automotivetouchup.com (a little pricier than other rattle cans, but the color match quality is great and the nozzle for spraying distributes it in a wide even mist). Most of you know my headlights are both black/silver now, the silver was done with this paint and has not peeled or cracked at all. The prep-work (wet-sanding) and use of adhesion promoter are the crucial steps.

 

Wow those links are very helpful, thanks! And I'm not looking to color match my headlight housings but since you brought it up I do plan on eventually doing the door handles and the trunk lid trim. Is dupli-color's perfect match paint worthwhile to use or would you not recommend that?

 

For the Automotive touch-up product. The GAD code Crimson Black paint is the same as my body repair man uses and metal flake content matches the stock color spot-on.

 

To those who were looking forward to pics (including myself) I might not get to this project this weekend. With the heatwave we have here in Central Jersey, I'm hesitant to use the oven and create more heat than there needs to be. Also, while searching around a little more I decided to do a clear lens upgrade and just ordered the Black Series Lenses from TRS today so they won't be here until sometime next week. I don't want to open and re-open my headlights more than I have to so I'll wait until I have all my parts to start next weekend.

 

Good idea with the Black Series lenses, cool upgrade I have those too in all 4 of my projectors. Regarding the headlights you're probably fine doing this in the heat, if you think about it your car sits in that heat anyway when its outside. What you don't want to do in this heat/humidity is try to paint - that will be a very frustrating experience. Good choice waiting.

 

All of my goodies finally came in! Here's a sneak peek.

 

Nice, I wanna see how you're going to mount those led strips.

 

So did you ever finish these.

 

Unfortunately, no. This past weekend I was a little busy and August is going to be even busier with work and family. I'm hoping to get these done before the summer ends though. Sorry to keep you guys waiting.

 

Are these finished?

 

I'm curious now too, where were those LED strips placed and are they bright enough to be seen during the day in direct sunlight?