This forum is for discussion of topics relating to MX-3 lighting such as Headlights, Tail lights, Accessory Lights, Interior Lights, Etc. For example, Rear Euro Altezza Style Tail lights, Headlight units, LED's, HID's, Bulbs, Interior lights, Neons, Strobes, Auxillary Lights/Fogs or anything filament and gas discharge related.
Also anything dealing with the elctrical system.
Chiggles wrote:How much would it take you to build another set, Taras? Were these a similar bolt-on unit like Tatsu's project?
You think people b---- about Tatsu's lights' cost, well, let me break it up to you:
Mx-3 Lights = free from you
Hella H9 90mm High Beam units x2 = US$120
H9 connectors x2 = US$15
HID Projectors x2 =US$100(crap) to US$400(cream)
Philips D2S Xenon Bulbs (new) x2 = US$75
HID Ballasts x2 =US$150-200
Wiring Harness = US$20-50
Decorative Bezels =US$10 (homemade) to US$100 (BMW/Audi OEM)
Materials and supplies = US$50 appx
Shipping and taxes for all the stuff to be bought = US$50-100.
Labour = took me two months to do the ones posted here, may be 200hrs?
In any event no one would be able to pay for what they are really worth in hours of labour and I would not make any anyway just because it is a lot of work. There is one way to make HID headlights with good beam and functionality on a budget that will not cost an arm and a leg, but you are still ending up at about US$600-$700 in total.
For real HID's you need real Money. Taras headlights are like one of those priceless commercials, Materials = $600-$700, Get Taras to do the work = Alcohol $55, Getting awesome projectors = Priceless.
Taras was giving a breakdown in costs so that in the event of a re-buttle he has already given the wide ranges that are possible. In other words when justifying costs it's best to say "here's what you can get and it will work but in the long run it won't be worth your while and you'll end up selling yourself short by cutting corners and only sourcing parts that are the cheapest". Quality and performance is the objective here and as we all know that comes at a price. The addage, "you get what you pay for" aptly applies. Taras is extremely adept and well read in this field and I find him an extremely relable source wrt lighting/electrical modifications. A search on previous posts from Taras should reveal some remarkable lighting set-ups, configurations and product testing and will easily shed a better light (no pun intended) on this topic.
jschrauwen wrote:Remarlable piece of work Taras. How's Kevin enjoying them...probably spends all night driving around just to get to use them...LOL? He must have the biggest ear to ear grin there is. Outstanding detail Taras. It looks like there is so much room left over too. GTO covers seem to be the perfect compliment for them. Hopefully those that are interested in Tatsu's projector project will get a better understanding as to what is possible within our original units. Again Taras, very impressive.
I love them, they're amazing. I can actually see the road better at night now with these lights. What a huge difference it makes with better and proper lights. Taras did an awesome job. I need to snap some more pics for you guys, hopefully this coming weekend.
Never going back to those shitty 9004s!!!
Kevin Gee - President
MX-West Car Club
93 White MX-3 1.6RS www.mx-west.com
MX-West Car Club wrote:I love them, they're amazing. I can actually see the road better at night now with these lights. What a huge difference it makes with better and proper lights. Taras did an awesome job. I need to snap some more pics for you guys, hopefully this coming weekend. Never going back to those shitty 9004s!!!
Good Stuff, glad to hear it. I kinda figured you'd really appreciate them. Can't wait til I get "Projectorized", "Projectored", "Projectorated" or something like that .... LOL
bmwm3guy wrote:
babyblueMX3 wrote:nice freakin lights...when mine are coming in :p
you can ship mine with his. Those are some sexy lights.
Make it clear in Tatsu's thread that you what to purchase a set. He needs a clear indication of interest. Those that don't speak up now are going to miss out on a golden opportunity. They snooze...they loose.
Taras, hope you don't mind the little plug?
mazda78 wrote:taras i'm confused on a couple of parts you posted
Did you try one projecters find they didn't work and then buy another pair?
HID Projectors x2 =US$100(crap) to US$400(cream)
Here did you make a bezel then decide you didn't like it and get a different one?
Decorative Bezels =US$10 (homemade) to US$100 (BMW/Audi OEM)
Just wondering cause i'm really looking into differen't ways to make my headlights better than they are now
If you want better lights (as in the quality of light) think better optics. As far as projectors go, there are so many different ones with various characteristics. Depends what you are looking for. I really only play with Xenon projectors and so far I played with the ones from: Acura TL, TSX, Lexus SC430, RX330, Honda S2000, Audi A6 (pre02 and past 02)/MB ML430/55, MB E-class/Maxima, BMW E46 (past 2001)/LandRover/VWPassat B5.5, Mazda 3, Infinity FX35/45/Murano. Some people like more down the road light, some more spread out beams, some like or even need Bi-Xenons, some like sharp cut-off, some like more prizm colour from the cut-off, some need small ones, some can stuff really huge ones. Some projectors are pretty rare, like the ones from Lexus LS430 or Infinity Q45 or Honda S2K. That is why the price is different.
As far as decorative pieces, BMW 3 series plastic shrouds are the most expensive these days at $100/pair, Audi and MB are about 50-75/pair. You can make youe own from doggie bowls or coffee mugs or whatever.
Until Kevin posts his beam pics, here is one of them we tested in the garage. Shows the spread of the beam a bit better. Only one of them, we also modified that rainbow effect above the cut-off so it's not there.
Very nice cut-off Taras, all the way around too. Was that one of the unit's that's in Kevin's car? Very small blue/purple transition band too. Rainbow effect coming from escaping refracted light or would a shield mod work?
MX-West Car Club wrote:I love them, they're amazing. I can actually see the road better at night now with these lights. What a huge difference it makes with better and proper lights. Taras did an awesome job. I need to snap some more pics for you guys, hopefully this coming weekend. Never going back to those shitty 9004s!!!
Good Stuff, glad to hear it. I kinda figured you'd really appreciate them. Can't wait til I get "Projectorized", "Projectored", "Projectorated" or something like that .... LOL
Light has always been a big issue. Doesn't matter what bulb you put in, it still sucked. Ever since Taras started on his crusade to have better lights, he's gotten me on the band wagon. I actually was dragging my a$$ on my projector project. I had some of the parts but either didn't have the time or no funds to continue on with it and the fact that I didn't want to screw it up. With the amount of rain over here on the west coast, driving at night with those lousy 9004 was bad. There was an accident waiting to happen. No matter what others will say, nothing compares to good quality HID projectors units.
Kevin Gee - President
MX-West Car Club
93 White MX-3 1.6RS www.mx-west.com
jschrauwen wrote:Very nice cut-off Taras, all the way around too. Was that one of the unit's that's in Kevin's car? Very small blue/purple transition band too. Rainbow effect coming from escaping refracted light or would a shield mod work?
Yeah, that's the Acura TSX projectors in my car. The beam these projectors put out is sweet.
Kevin Gee - President
MX-West Car Club
93 White MX-3 1.6RS www.mx-west.com
MX-West Car Club wrote: With the amount of rain over here on the west coast, driving at night with those lousy 9004 was bad. There was an accident waiting to happen. No matter what others will say, nothing compares to good quality HID projectors units.
I Understand completely Kevin, I spent 6 years on Vancouver Island with the MX and nothings worse than a moonless rainy night on a twisty BC road with no refractive city lights in the distance and the darknes from the sky merges with the darkness of the tall forests which merges with the blackened rain covered roads. There is no distinction or separartion and it makes driving there very challenging. For me, the only place in the world that comes close to this would have been the Black Forest in Germany, but their road markings are head and shoulders above ours and that made all the difference in the world.
jschrauwen wrote:Very nice cut-off Taras, all the way around too. Was that one of the unit's that's in Kevin's car? Very small blue/purple transition band too. Rainbow effect coming from escaping refracted light or would a shield mod work?
Yeah TSX put put a good smooth beam that is quite wide. Rainbow effect is designed from OEM as well as a little square light bleed-off above the cut-off. We've modified them to eliminate rainbow and light bleed-off. This way it is cleaner and there will be enough dirt on the headlights to provide plenty of light bleed-off to light up signs at night, yet not to blind oncoming traffic.
I can actually see the road better at night now with these lights. What a huge difference it makes with better and proper lights. Taras did an awesome job. 
you can ship mine with his. Those are some sexy lights.
