What is the current state of headlamp conversion?

BLKTOPTRVL · 09-12-2009, 02:03 PM

For the longest time I have thought that the non-popup conversions made the car look more up to date. Yet, I have read over and over that the light quality (ability to actually see down the road) was compromised.

Has there been any improvement?

Or are there even conversions available anymore now that the FD is solidly in decline (numbers wise?)

Rx7>Rx8 · 09-12-2009, 02:27 PM

I've been thinking of swapping in the EVO-R headlights from rx7store... do those affect your ability to see with the lights?

BLKTOPTRVL · 09-26-2009, 11:23 AM

No news?

somchhir1 · 09-26-2009, 05:23 PM

I have the cwest sleek kit and the light is not very good. I did install aftermarket fog lights and they make up the difference...

Natey · 10-02-2009, 11:26 AM

EVO-R burned me for over 400 bucks just last month. Save your money.

lt1_fd3s · 10-02-2009, 11:29 AM

i'm waiting for the RUN racing headlights to be replicated... purerx7 had RUN racing before, he may be able to answer your questions about the lighting they provide.

Rx7>Rx8 · 10-05-2009, 08:54 PM

How did the EVO-R screw you? burn out immediately?

jkstill · 10-05-2009, 10:51 PM

I put the EVO-R kit last winter.

It's a bit of work to do it right, but nothing terribly difficult.

The fitment isn't great, but it's livable. I have an issue with one
fender (non-OEM body shop replacement) that makes it difficult
to get the bumper on just right. As it's an autox/track car, I don't
worry about it too much.

I didn't get the HID option. My FD is rarely used on the street.

Mostly I just wanted to get rid of the popups. The stock lights
look great, but it's easy to get surprised by the popups moving
if you work on your car a lot. I want to keep all my fingers.

Here are some pics of the install:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jkstill/EvoRFDHeadlights#

Mobius · 10-05-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkstill

Mostly I just wanted to get rid of the popups. The stock lights
look great, but it's easy to get surprised by the popups moving
if you work on your car a lot. I want to keep all my fingers.

Probably why every shop manual and most how-to's start with:

Step 1: Disconnect the negative battery cable..........

jkstill · 10-06-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobius

Probably why every shop manual and most how-to's start with:

Step 1: Disconnect the negative battery cable..........

uh-huh.

And do you know what happens when you reconnect the negative battery cable?

If the lights have been moved at all, they do a recalibration when the battery is reconnected. A little scary if yours (or someone elses) fingers happen to be near the lights.

Rx7>Rx8 · 10-07-2009, 05:24 PM

So would that fit better if the bumper was still completely stock? does anyone make a better sleek kit? I really like the looks of the sleeks.

cewrx7r1 · 10-11-2009, 10:34 AM

The biggest advantage for them is less weight and more streamline for night time driving.

Natey · 10-11-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rx7>Rx8

How did the EVO-R screw you? burn out immediately?

I bought a Knightsport knockoff lighting kit from them off of ebay. The kit didn't come anywhere near fitting, so I dremmeled the (CD case -quality plastic) brackets in an attempt to get the kit to fit. After about 35 bucks at home depot, a weekend of frustration and endless dremmeling, it was obvious that these lights will never fit no matter what I do to the bracket. I emailed EVO-R and they told me that since I dremmeled the bracket, the kit's not in it's original form and I'm outta luck....and out $430 bucks.

He said on the Paypal claim that I tried to install them upside-down.. I had a professional body-guy with me the whole weekend, and there's no WAY we installed them wrong, and no way that kit will ever fit an FD3S.

There are plenty of pics in a thread I posted on the other forum. Search for "BURNED by fd3s777" (EVO-R's name on that club) to see the (lack of)quality of EVO-Rs junk.
The guy's shady as hell. His eBay profile says USA, but the package came from China. He ignored all my PMs, emails, ebay messages etc, until it was too late to make a PP claim, then blamed the whole ordeal on my installation and kept my money.

EDIT: a true Knightsports kit is what I'd buy it I was to do it all over again. Also, the Rotary Run lights are pretty much universally known as the best-looking sleek kit for an FD.

09-12-2009, 02:03 PM	#1
BLKTOPTRVL Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 192 Rep Power: 17	What is the current state of headlamp conversion? For the longest time I have thought that the non-popup conversions made the car look more up to date. Yet, I have read over and over that the light quality (ability to actually see down the road) was compromised. Has there been any improvement? Or are there even conversions available anymore now that the FD is solidly in decline (numbers wise?) __________________ ...shoot a mother-humpin moose, eight days of the week...

09-26-2009, 11:23 AM	#3
BLKTOPTRVL Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 192 Rep Power: 17	No news? __________________ ...shoot a mother-humpin moose, eight days of the week...

09-26-2009, 05:23 PM	#4
somchhir1 The boosted the better... Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (1) Posts: 130 Rep Power: 16	I have the cwest sleek kit and the light is not very good. I did install aftermarket fog lights and they make up the difference... __________________ 04 GT Yellow Mica RX-8-sold 93 SSM FD-sold 94 SSM FD-Sold

10-02-2009, 11:29 AM	#6
lt1_fd3s WNC Tour Guide Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: WNC iTrader: (3) Posts: 780 Rep Power: 17	i'm waiting for the RUN racing headlights to be replicated... purerx7 had RUN racing before, he may be able to answer your questions about the lighting they provide. __________________ WNC Tour Guide - Including the Tail of the Dragon - PM for details

09-12-2009, 02:27 PM	#2
Rx7>Rx8 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indianola, Ne iTrader: (0) Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	I've been thinking of swapping in the EVO-R headlights from rx7store... do those affect your ability to see with the lights?

10-02-2009, 11:26 AM	#5
Natey n00b Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pleasure Point, Ca. iTrader: (0) Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0	EVO-R burned me for over 400 bucks just last month. Save your money.

10-05-2009, 08:54 PM	#7
Rx7>Rx8 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indianola, Ne iTrader: (0) Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	How did the EVO-R screw you? burn out immediately?

10-05-2009, 10:51 PM	#8
jkstill Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 93 Rep Power: 17	I put the EVO-R kit last winter. It's a bit of work to do it right, but nothing terribly difficult. The fitment isn't great, but it's livable. I have an issue with one fender (non-OEM body shop replacement) that makes it difficult to get the bumper on just right. As it's an autox/track car, I don't worry about it too much. I didn't get the HID option. My FD is rarely used on the street. Mostly I just wanted to get rid of the popups. The stock lights look great, but it's easy to get surprised by the popups moving if you work on your car a lot. I want to keep all my fingers. Here are some pics of the install: http://picasaweb.google.com/jkstill/EvoRFDHeadlights#

10-07-2009, 05:24 PM	#11
Rx7>Rx8 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indianola, Ne iTrader: (0) Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	So would that fit better if the bumper was still completely stock? does anyone make a better sleek kit? I really like the looks of the sleeks.

10-11-2009, 10:34 AM	#12
cewrx7r1 The Judge Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 196 Rep Power: 17	The biggest advantage for them is less weight and more streamline for night time driving.