Interior/Exterior EDDIE mod
#26
08-07-2007 | 10:07 AM
#27
08-07-2007 | 10:43 AM
I am not immune from typos. I do not apoligize for that. For some odd reason the spell check feature of Firefox that works in every other forum I subscribe to does not work in NAM. I've discussed this with Mark. Since there was one item that happens to an important tool that was used to do the mod I thought I would help, for this I am branded a **** and forever held in contempt.
So much for trying to eschew ambiguity.
So much for trying to eschew ambiguity.
Last edited by gnatster; 08-07-2007 at 10:56 AM.
#28
08-07-2007 | 10:57 AM
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,337
Likes: 4
From: oh10
Yeah, there's the rub... I know that the xenons are self-levelling and I'm not precisely sure how that is mechanically accomplished - I'm worried about yanking them out, prying them open and then hosing the levelling mechanisim... Plus, all the "DANGER - INSTANT DEATH IF TOUCHED!!" warning labels all over the lamps has me a bit concerned... 
#29
08-07-2007 | 11:00 AM
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
If anything, the online community has mellowed a tremendous ammount over the years. I remember fondly the days when the most often-repeated snippet of wisdom was "If you can't stand the flames -- grow thicker scales". Hrmmm... Maybe I *don't* remember those days all that fondly.
Obviously people reading threads on a forum don't know your personal and/or family history.
#31
08-07-2007 | 11:14 AM
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 4
From: Evesham, Worcestershire, England
#34
08-07-2007 | 11:52 AM
Solely as a point of reference I offer the follwing image where the Xenons are painted Space Blue as opposed to the black and grey that others have done.
#35
08-07-2007 | 11:59 AM
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,398
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, NY
I think the INSTANT DEATH is from the ignitor found in the red box inside the headlight assembly. Once power is disconnected I'm pretty sure there is no chance of that. I've accidently touched them when disassembling my own Xenons.
Solely as a point of reference I offer the follwing image where the Xenons are painted Space Blue as opposed to the black and grey that others have done.
Solely as a point of reference I offer the follwing image where the Xenons are painted Space Blue as opposed to the black and grey that others have done.
#37
08-07-2007 | 02:52 PM
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, IL
#39
08-07-2007 | 07:30 PM
hahaha that'd be a scene.. "so...wat are you cooking?"
i want to paint mine pw. any tips on paint gnatster?
i want to paint mine pw. any tips on paint gnatster?
#42
08-08-2007 | 02:01 PM
#43
08-08-2007 | 02:13 PM
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: northern VA
#45
08-08-2007 | 06:45 PM
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: northern VA
sure thing ...i would appreciate that ...i wasnt able to figure out how to post it the first time so yes feel free =) .....if you have anymore questions about the modd feel free to ask
#46
08-08-2007 | 07:04 PM
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 18
From: Bedford, TX.
FYI ,....this is my first write up so sorry if its not too informative.
1. remove the lights from the car ....very easy ...theres only 3 bolts that hold it in
2. remove the chrome headlight rings, for this step i used a flat head chizzle or some sort about .5 of an inch wide. this was very annoying for me because for the life of me i couldnt get the bottoms tabs up to start peelings away at the top part that had the double sided tape.be carefull though because the tabs that secure the ring will crack off very easily
3.now that the ring is removed you will have more room to work the lens because there is an overlay of lens that spans about an inch wider than the assembly. to start taking the lense off i used a dremmel grinder to grind a small groove in the black housing on the assembly ......make this big enough for your chizzle to fit it ....
4. this is the chizzle tool i used . with the rubber compound that the lights are sealed with.
5. if you look closely in the center of the picture you will see the chizzle diagonally in the light. shimmy you chizzle into the groove you made at an angle that you wil no come in contact with the lens overlay and an angle that you will not crack the housing ...once you get in the seam with all the rubber compound in it push it forw3ard as if you are chizzling out the light ...do not try to pry at the light because that will crack the housing. so push the chizzle forward with some force but be patient too
6. after some elbow grease you will be able to start pulling the lens away from the housing ...make sure you chizzle around the WHOLE light ..dont just do a section and then try to pull the lens off it will likely crack.
7.now the lens is off
8.the housing is held on by a few tabs ...3 or so but most probally have some of the rubber compound all around them so pull from the bottom housing first with not much force but enough to loosen it ...then work on the side tabs first and then the top tab will be last....be carefull all of these tabs are flimsy.
9. now i used a dremmel sander and sanded away at the housing ....im not sure what grit ..i believe 100 or so and then i used 320 grit to sand smooth ...now make sure your ready to sand for the next 3 hours or so ...well i atleast did because i notice every little imperfection ( thats why i pulled my lights apart again last night) with the 320 grit in a circular motion you are likley to get nice smooth results.
10. now i primered the housings with duplicolor sandable primer. i primered about 4 times ( leaving enough time for each coat to dry ) and sanded lightly between each coat to get rid of any imperfections in the primer.
11.thats the ending result of the fully painted housing.....i ended up final coating the housing with duplicolor black trim paint....it had a minor gloss in it which i in turn ended up night liking after seeing the lights on at night time...regardless..i placed about 3 coats of the paint ...i would suggest a flat primer black as a final coat to the housing because when light hits at night the primer has a more smooth look ...any gloss will result in showing EVERY LAST IMPERFECTION =)
12. now i assembled the lights again using the same rubber compound to seal the lights back up ...you should have more than enough in the lights housing given you didnt chizzle it all out and throw it away .
13.thats the ligths on my car.....i placed packing tape over the lens to make sure the newly placed lens will set in nice in deep back into the housing .
so if you notice in the pic the lights look hazy ...dont worry its only the packing tape used to set the lens in ( clamps would work too ) an easy method of seling them back up too would be to heat up the compound and then set the lens in i didnt need too because i did this in like 100 degree weather.
** the next few pics ae of my tails i sealed with tinting film and the side markers i blacked out as well as the hood scoop i sanded and painted ....
sorry for all the typos and hope this helps you guys modd your own minis out....fyi the modd was SUPER EASY and opening up each light was about 5 minutes each ...sanding is what took forever.
1. remove the lights from the car ....very easy ...theres only 3 bolts that hold it in
2. remove the chrome headlight rings, for this step i used a flat head chizzle or some sort about .5 of an inch wide. this was very annoying for me because for the life of me i couldnt get the bottoms tabs up to start peelings away at the top part that had the double sided tape.be carefull though because the tabs that secure the ring will crack off very easily
3.now that the ring is removed you will have more room to work the lens because there is an overlay of lens that spans about an inch wider than the assembly. to start taking the lense off i used a dremmel grinder to grind a small groove in the black housing on the assembly ......make this big enough for your chizzle to fit it ....
4. this is the chizzle tool i used . with the rubber compound that the lights are sealed with.
5. if you look closely in the center of the picture you will see the chizzle diagonally in the light. shimmy you chizzle into the groove you made at an angle that you wil no come in contact with the lens overlay and an angle that you will not crack the housing ...once you get in the seam with all the rubber compound in it push it forw3ard as if you are chizzling out the light ...do not try to pry at the light because that will crack the housing. so push the chizzle forward with some force but be patient too
6. after some elbow grease you will be able to start pulling the lens away from the housing ...make sure you chizzle around the WHOLE light ..dont just do a section and then try to pull the lens off it will likely crack.
7.now the lens is off
8.the housing is held on by a few tabs ...3 or so but most probally have some of the rubber compound all around them so pull from the bottom housing first with not much force but enough to loosen it ...then work on the side tabs first and then the top tab will be last....be carefull all of these tabs are flimsy.
9. now i used a dremmel sander and sanded away at the housing ....im not sure what grit ..i believe 100 or so and then i used 320 grit to sand smooth ...now make sure your ready to sand for the next 3 hours or so ...well i atleast did because i notice every little imperfection ( thats why i pulled my lights apart again last night) with the 320 grit in a circular motion you are likley to get nice smooth results.
10. now i primered the housings with duplicolor sandable primer. i primered about 4 times ( leaving enough time for each coat to dry ) and sanded lightly between each coat to get rid of any imperfections in the primer.
11.thats the ending result of the fully painted housing.....i ended up final coating the housing with duplicolor black trim paint....it had a minor gloss in it which i in turn ended up night liking after seeing the lights on at night time...regardless..i placed about 3 coats of the paint ...i would suggest a flat primer black as a final coat to the housing because when light hits at night the primer has a more smooth look ...any gloss will result in showing EVERY LAST IMPERFECTION =)
12. now i assembled the lights again using the same rubber compound to seal the lights back up ...you should have more than enough in the lights housing given you didnt chizzle it all out and throw it away .
13.thats the ligths on my car.....i placed packing tape over the lens to make sure the newly placed lens will set in nice in deep back into the housing .
so if you notice in the pic the lights look hazy ...dont worry its only the packing tape used to set the lens in ( clamps would work too ) an easy method of seling them back up too would be to heat up the compound and then set the lens in i didnt need too because i did this in like 100 degree weather.
** the next few pics ae of my tails i sealed with tinting film and the side markers i blacked out as well as the hood scoop i sanded and painted ....
sorry for all the typos and hope this helps you guys modd your own minis out....fyi the modd was SUPER EASY and opening up each light was about 5 minutes each ...sanding is what took forever.
#50
08-09-2007 | 05:30 PM
my stripe is black..but blue stripes...mm that may not look too bad. but if you've ever seen a pw with pw joey mod..mm looks SWEET. 
anyone have any suggestions for a paint that would match the pw?
it's just too hard to find matching paint...sigh
anyone have any suggestions for a paint that would match the pw?
it's just too hard to find matching paint...sigh