new sleek kit
07-14-11, 10:24 AM
#752
Doing the Ricky Bobby
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw
Possibly some interest in this company depending on the price....may be easy to replicate pieces.
Z
Possibly some interest in this company depending on the price....may be easy to replicate pieces.
Z
07-14-11, 03:12 PM
#753
to answer your question, the standard kit is halogen, i will offer a HID option and an additional cost. it will be in the neighborhood of $800 more than the standard kit, purely because the that is how much more they cost me. there is no monetary benefit to me based on whether people choose the halogen or the HID. the HID option is a true HID setup not some ebay h7 hid bulbs, real HID housing with a D2S capsule.
3d printers are great for rapid prototyping but the strength is pretty poor and even with a good 3d scanner that integrates into solidworks, your still going to have to be proficient at the program. honestly if you want to go to decent production quantities, having a plastic injection mold would be best for strength and quality. they are a pretty sizable initial investment but allow quick reproduction after the molds done, and one mold would last you forever.
the route i have decided on will be more time consuming to produce and more expensive per piece (not counting the molds), but it also allows me to offer a carbon fiber option in addition to the fiber glass. the reinforcement allows me to keep the shroud thinner yet stronger, granted the difference in thickness is small, but when spacing is as tight as it is every bit counts.
07-14-11, 03:35 PM
#754
i hear ya on the "Once you go HID, you cant go back to halogens" statement. my wife has a digital hid kit in her tC (reflector housing, and i know illegal). despite the fact that the beam pattern isnt right it still blows halogens out of the water.
to answer your question, the standard kit is halogen, i will offer a HID option and an additional cost. it will be in the neighborhood of $800 more than the standard kit, purely because the that is how much more they cost me. there is no monetary benefit to me based on whether people choose the halogen or the HID. the HID option is a true HID setup not some ebay h7 hid bulbs, real HID housing with a D2S capsule.
i looked into injection molding and it was like $40k for 2 molds and im not sure, but i believe that was without the cad file. so i would have to pay to get it scanned which is also like 1000. and because of the cost of the tools vs my expected sales, the kits would have to cost 2x+ as much.
the route i have decided on will be more time consuming to produce and more expensive per piece (not counting the molds), but it also allows me to offer a carbon fiber option in addition to the fiber glass. the reinforcement allows me to keep the shroud thinner yet stronger, granted the difference in thickness is small, but when spacing is as tight as it is every bit counts.
to answer your question, the standard kit is halogen, i will offer a HID option and an additional cost. it will be in the neighborhood of $800 more than the standard kit, purely because the that is how much more they cost me. there is no monetary benefit to me based on whether people choose the halogen or the HID. the HID option is a true HID setup not some ebay h7 hid bulbs, real HID housing with a D2S capsule.
i looked into injection molding and it was like $40k for 2 molds and im not sure, but i believe that was without the cad file. so i would have to pay to get it scanned which is also like 1000. and because of the cost of the tools vs my expected sales, the kits would have to cost 2x+ as much.
the route i have decided on will be more time consuming to produce and more expensive per piece (not counting the molds), but it also allows me to offer a carbon fiber option in addition to the fiber glass. the reinforcement allows me to keep the shroud thinner yet stronger, granted the difference in thickness is small, but when spacing is as tight as it is every bit counts.
Oh, dont worry I am a vendor for TRS and I can get HID kits and retrofit it myself easily at a much lower price. Let me know if you are interested in offering a HID kit maybe we can work something out. Let me know.
-AzEKnightz
07-15-11, 03:21 AM
#756
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Didn't read the entire thread, but this has been an on going project for 2 yrs? Most FD guys probably sold their car already and moved on to something else. Good luck and have fun
07-15-11, 06:27 AM
#758
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If they've sold their cars after 2 years and moved on the likelihood is they're not really 'FD guys'. Statements like yours just belittle the efforts of people like the OP who are doing things that the rest of us real FD guys are really looking forward to. Keep it up mate, god knows ill still have my FD waiting for the upgrade even if its another 2 years from here on!
07-15-11, 08:08 AM
#759
Plenty of guys who have sold their cars are still on this forum and still contribute. Back to the build Superdan..like bally said, still want to see this happen even if it is 2 more years in the making. I think you are on the right track and taking the time to do it and do it right in your mind is more important than putting out junk like I've seen a lot of vendors in the past do.
cheers
cheers
07-15-11, 11:00 AM
#760
I offered to help to reduce the price IF necessary. READ WHAT I ACTUALLY typed and analyze it if necessary because you obviously didn't understand what I was trying to say. Also I am trying to help him and the community by lowering the cost to have a genuine HID hit (better price, better vision, a win-win situation)
I source high end projectors and bulbs that bmw, mercedez and even lexus use. Therefore thank you very much for your contribution, have a nice day
-AzEKnightz
07-15-11, 03:29 PM
#762
Which part has I stated that my "retrofit" hid kit is NOT genuine? Also, he is OFFERING at approximately 800 bucks for a set just like "some" other vendor on here which is OVER PRICED.
I offered to help to reduce the price IF necessary. READ WHAT I ACTUALLY typed and analyze it if necessary because you obviously didn't understand what I was trying to say. Also I am trying to help him and the community by lowering the cost to have a genuine HID hit (better price, better vision, a win-win situation)
I source high end projectors and bulbs that bmw, mercedez and even lexus use. Therefore thank you very much for your contribution, have a nice day
-AzEKnightz
I offered to help to reduce the price IF necessary. READ WHAT I ACTUALLY typed and analyze it if necessary because you obviously didn't understand what I was trying to say. Also I am trying to help him and the community by lowering the cost to have a genuine HID hit (better price, better vision, a win-win situation)
I source high end projectors and bulbs that bmw, mercedez and even lexus use. Therefore thank you very much for your contribution, have a nice day
-AzEKnightz
my kit is is also open from the back, i did this for several reasons. 1. it keeps the the complexity of the kit down and consequently keeps the cost down. 2. the open back will allow for air flow and should keep the lens from fogging up.
there are 2 reasons i left the bracket that the lights mount to and then secures to car. 1. it provides a spot to mount a HID ballast in the event someone gets a HID kit. 2. because the lights sit right in front of the wheels there is potential (while small) that road debris could be thrown off the tire at the underside of the shroud and potentially get between the shroud nd lens. the solid panel decreases the chances of this becoming an issue.
the debris is something that could become a problem for retrofits regardless of the bracket. this is due to the fact that the projector units (or modules) extend past the bracket. the modules i use are sealed and this is not an issue. however i could see retrofit projectors collecting dirt, dust and anything else the could be kicked off the tires.
so looking at the retrofit kits available to get one of equal quality as the HID projectors you would save something like $500. now subtract the time and money it takes to redo my brackets, and you save $400ish. then what happens is if one or both projectors gets messed up from debris, water, mud, etc. then you have to buy 1 or 2 morel, then really what have you saved?
like i said in the beginning, i don't make any more off of an hid kit so i couldn't care less what people decide to do and if you can make a couple bucks thats fine. I really just don't see much benefit to retrofitting when you look at the real cost off the process.
07-15-11, 04:10 PM
#763
you will be hard pressed to find a projector that will work, i think. the reason being is that from what ive seen most are too long. another aspect that i imagine could be a problem over time is that these retrofit projectors were originally designed to be encased by the rest of the headlight assembly. so they are designed to be protected. the projector i use are build for external use and are sealed.
my kit is is also open from the back, i did this for several reasons. 1. it keeps the the complexity of the kit down and consequently keeps the cost down. 2. the open back will allow for air flow and should keep the lens from fogging up.
there are 2 reasons i left the bracket that the lights mount to and then secures to car. 1. it provides a spot to mount a HID ballast in the event someone gets a HID kit. 2. because the lights sit right in front of the wheels there is potential (while small) that road debris could be thrown off the tire at the underside of the shroud and potentially get between the shroud nd lens. the solid panel decreases the chances of this becoming an issue.
the debris is something that could become a problem for retrofits regardless of the bracket. this is due to the fact that the projector units (or modules) extend past the bracket. the modules i use are sealed and this is not an issue. however i could see retrofit projectors collecting dirt, dust and anything else the could be kicked off the tires.
so looking at the retrofit kits available to get one of equal quality as the HID projectors you would save something like $500. now subtract the time and money it takes to redo my brackets, and you save $400ish. then what happens is if one or both projectors gets messed up from debris, water, mud, etc. then you have to buy 1 or 2 morel, then really what have you saved?
like i said in the beginning, i don't make any more off of an hid kit so i couldn't care less what people decide to do and if you can make a couple bucks thats fine. I really just don't see much benefit to retrofitting when you look at the real cost off the process.
my kit is is also open from the back, i did this for several reasons. 1. it keeps the the complexity of the kit down and consequently keeps the cost down. 2. the open back will allow for air flow and should keep the lens from fogging up.
there are 2 reasons i left the bracket that the lights mount to and then secures to car. 1. it provides a spot to mount a HID ballast in the event someone gets a HID kit. 2. because the lights sit right in front of the wheels there is potential (while small) that road debris could be thrown off the tire at the underside of the shroud and potentially get between the shroud nd lens. the solid panel decreases the chances of this becoming an issue.
the debris is something that could become a problem for retrofits regardless of the bracket. this is due to the fact that the projector units (or modules) extend past the bracket. the modules i use are sealed and this is not an issue. however i could see retrofit projectors collecting dirt, dust and anything else the could be kicked off the tires.
so looking at the retrofit kits available to get one of equal quality as the HID projectors you would save something like $500. now subtract the time and money it takes to redo my brackets, and you save $400ish. then what happens is if one or both projectors gets messed up from debris, water, mud, etc. then you have to buy 1 or 2 morel, then really what have you saved?
like i said in the beginning, i don't make any more off of an hid kit so i couldn't care less what people decide to do and if you can make a couple bucks thats fine. I really just don't see much benefit to retrofitting when you look at the real cost off the process.
Understandable, but I personally would have to disagreed. The fact that many companies are producing HID that's for heavy duty used (sealed unit). And in this case, debris, water, whatever it maybe.
Didnt know that you have a sealed projector but it is definitely doable and still be maintained at a lower cost for "me". Because I am a distributor/vendor therefore getting any of the HID parts for HD duty use is probably a tad more $$ but still wouldnt cost an arm or a leg.
My offer is only to help, no way to offend anyone.
If it doesnt work out for you guys, it's fine with me. I will probably purchase the base kit and do my own retrofit. Again, I am not cheaping out on any of my parts. Trust me, been there done that and will never do that again.
So, back on topic of the process of this kit. Anything new?
-AzEKnightz
07-15-11, 06:45 PM
#764
^Is your alternative SAE/DOT legal? What Superdan is using (Hella modules) are. I am unaware of any other retrofits that are legal but if you have a source that produces legal units versus the cobbled together options that are generally sold on the forum that could be of interest.
07-15-11, 10:21 PM
#765
^Is your alternative SAE/DOT legal? What Superdan is using (Hella modules) are. I am unaware of any other retrofits that are legal but if you have a source that produces legal units versus the cobbled together options that are generally sold on the forum that could be of interest.
and knightz im not offended and dont want you to feel im attacking you. i was just putting my 2 cents in. if people want to take that approach, more power to them. i just wanted everyone to know how i feel, considering how much time and research i have put into it.
on a side note, like Mr. Hayes pointed out, my kit is 100% dot/sae legal with out the lenses on. i have heard both ways as far as with the lens. right now i know a motorcycle company (cant recall which one, sorry) is currently arguing that the lens in front of a DOT/SAE certified projector does not alter the beam pattern. they use one of the hella projector modules (not sure which one, but i believe it is the 60mm). not that that changes where it stands now though, but when big name companies are arguing, then we know that it cant change the pattern too much.
08-06-11, 01:54 AM
#773
i had to mod the bracket that the light modules attach to (and to the car). i will have the new one next week.
the new bracket will bump the high beam up about 5mm. this helps the highs clear the bumper a bit better. the original bracket had the bottom of the high projector lens flush with the edge of the bumper. this should improve lighting as well.
the new bracket will bump the high beam up about 5mm. this helps the highs clear the bumper a bit better. the original bracket had the bottom of the high projector lens flush with the edge of the bumper. this should improve lighting as well.