Feeler: Completely Customized Headlights, Many many details inside, please read thoroughly! Options

[Espo]

If you answer "No" to the first poll, please tell me why! With your feedback I may be able to improve my service to help meet the needs of more 6GC owners!

Alright so I have a set of broken headlights laying about that I think I'm going to restore and customize very soon. It wouldn't be very hard to do as I envision it since all I need to do is remove the glass and buy new glass, carve it with a dremel and all that and put it back in.

This lead me and a couple friends to thinking that if we can do it with my headlights (these would be the test batch) then we can do it for other people - offering perhaps the first fully custom 6GC headlight designs ever. The inspiration behind this is CinCity Designs, by the way - I have a feeling Celica headlights will be much easier than 350Z and G37 tails though.

So to get to the point, with sufficient interest I'd think about offering everyone the service here first, then branching out to perhaps EBay and whatnot, assuming all goes well. So to get down to the nitty gritty, let me explain the choices of the poll:

1. Blacked Out Headlights: Nightshaded lenses (Clear or stock) with black (possibly reflective, will have to look into that) interior housing. May or may not require projector retrofit.
2. Clear Lenses: Crystal Clear lenses installed, just like the JDM Projectors, only custom made to order.
3. Stock Lenses: US Style lenses, if you wanted them.
4. Projectors: Retrofitted projectors from an LHD vehicle, eliminating the need for an LHD conversion on JDM Projectors.
5. Angel Eyes: Projectors with a custom made halo around them (Could be LED or Electroluminescent Wire) in various colors (illegal colors would be able to be switched off) much like BMW headlights.
6. "Night Rider" LED Strips: This one's a big if, because I'm not sure if I can make the leds light up in sequence - fairly sure I have timer chips that will allow me to do it, but it would be an experiment first. Basically, I would either install a Night Rider strip in your headlight, or replace the headlight rubbers with one, also coming with an on/off switch. Headlight rubber replacement would be weatherproof.
7. Halo Turn Signals: Placement of your choice (my idea has them on the outside edge of the lens, inside the glass) that would be a turn signal inside your headlight - wired into your turn signals, and blinks with them. Likely made from EL Wire, or LEDs.
8. Color-Matched Headlights: Have the inside of your headlights painted to match the color of your car, just like GM does with the Corvette. Would only be available with projector retrofit.
9. Metallic Colors: Color-Matched headlights with metallic clearcoat - might make it possible to remove the need for a projector retrofit.
10. Custom Designs: You tell us what you want if you have an idea, we do it for you!

Pricing is to be figured out after we gauge interest - if sufficient interest shows, we'll figure out pricing and go from there. High beams are also an option, so it's not just low beams.

I do know however that there are two ways of doing this - either you can send us a set of your headlights, or you place an order and we order headlights for you - the latter way however would incur a core charge and be much, much more expensive.

Also, you can mix and match any of the choices you like in order to create your own unique 6GC headlights - just as long as they don't negate each other (I.E. Blacked out headlights with a colored interior - duh, lol)

Feedback, support and comments are much appreciated - I'm rather excited about this idea myself!

This post has been edited by Espo: Aug 3, 2010 - 11:33 PM

[chacha]

if black out means black housing...yes...gotta get pictures up for halo turns...led strips...etc

[Espo]

^Edited my post, explaining everything.

[mgnt232]

great ideas! hope it all turns out well
ive been looking into projectors, but they are SO! pricey! hope you can get the same affect for a little cheaper, or at least clear lenses
I would be one of the first customers

[Espo]

great ideas! hope it all turns out well
ive been looking into projectors, but they are SO! pricey! hope you can get the same affect for a little cheaper, or at least clear lenses
I would be one of the first customers

They would be genuine projectors out of a wrecked BMW, Mercedes, etc - obviously we'd make sure they were in excellent condition first so there's no issue with them, but it would reduce the cost of actually having that option available.

Thanks for the support though!

This post has been edited by Espo: Aug 3, 2010 - 11:35 PM

[yellowchinaman]

I'd pay for this service however will they still be adjustable because here in the UK we have to have a yearly MOT test which means they must be at certain angles to pass.

I'd personally go custom.
Clear lenses, blacked inside, Halo+projectors. High, low beam and park lights all in 1 pair of cluster please as I dont want to use inner high projectors.

Give me a price when you're ready.

[2bcelica]

Very interested

[Espo]

I'd pay for this service however will they still be adjustable because here in the UK we have to have a yearly MOT test which means they must be at certain angles to pass.

I'd personally go custom.
Clear lenses, blacked inside, Halo+projectors. High, low beam and park lights all in 1 pair of cluster please as I dont want to use inner high projectors.

Give me a price when you're ready.

I'll have to look into maintaining the adjustability of the headlights, especially when retrofitting projectors. If not, is there any way you can tell me what angle the light has to be at so I can accommodate UK customers?

Although I imagine the two screws coming out the back could actually be used to mount the projectors and would maintain that ability.

You can mix and match anything you like, projectors anywhere, etc. etc. because it'll all be custom, to-order work, so your particular order wouldn't be an issue. I'm just not sure what you mean by park lights, unless you're referring to the accents on JDM projectors.

And as I said, this is only feeling out but so far it looks good - with sufficient interest, I'm thinking around 10-15 people I'll build out a price list and see what I can do to keep them down. Then from there I'll build the test batch and see how possible this really is to offer and begin taking orders. We're looking at probably 3 weeks or more before orders would be taken.

If you'd like to put yourself down as a potential customer, I'll start a list here - you can also "place" your headlight options next to your name as an idea of what you'd like. I'll include those who have replied positively already, feel free to take yourself out or make changes in case I've made a mistake (That means you, Yellowchina ):

1. Chacha
2. mgnt32
3. Yellowchinaman (Adjustable, blacked out, clear lenses, halo turns, projector) [Low beams all, high beams minus turns and projector]
4. 2bcelica
5.

[yellowchinaman]

great. count me in. even if this doesnt go ahead, let me know and give me a custom quote. if its not too expensive i'll still go ahead. what i mean parke lights are low dip lights. first click when the 501 bulbs.

[JuMPiiN]

Throw me on that list ! im in for some Angel Eyes or projectors. doesnt matter.

[cyberblader1130]

If i have the money by the time this order goes through, Count me in for Angel eyes or Projectors!

[Spider77]

Very interested

If you get these sell me your projectors for dirt cheap....
Seriously though, I guess it would all depend on price, turnaround time, etc...But i'll keep checking this thread for updates!

[chacha]

1. Chacha (high and lows: White chrome (white to match super white car color) to reflect lights better, clear lens, halo turns signal and park light capable, angel eyes on projectors like the bmw/mercedes with adjustable lighting technology projectors); [high minus turns] give me a quote anyways....
2. mgnt32
3. Yellowchinaman (Adjustable, blacked out, clear lenses, halo turns, projector) [Low beams all, high beams minus turns and projector]
4. 2bcelica
5.

[JuMPiiN]

If it mattered id pick up some low beams from the junkyard and ship them out to you so you could hook me up. If that helped. Im in for projector/ angel eyes.

[thisguy18]

i would need to know how much simple projectors like the kouki headlights on the GTFour
Angel Eyes would be awesome too but i would be afriad it would get to pricy

[Espo]

For those of you inquiring about angel eyes, all we'd be doing is placing an led or el wire ring around the "eye" of the projector, and finding a way to mount it - might be maybe $25 extra than a projector retrofit.

@Chacha: By white chrome, are you talking super white housing with a metallic clear coat?

Also, with the halo turns, I'm unsure of if I can do a two-stage light - maybe if they're made from LEDs but likely not with EL wire as I was thinking of doing. Again, once prototypes are made I'll have a better idea of what can be done.

For all projectors, they will not auto-level - that's programming from a bmw's ecu and I don't have the know-how to replicate that. I will maintain adjustability however.

@Jumpiin: It'd waive the core charge for sure - likely be cheaper than a brand new set of headlights too.

This post has been edited by Espo: Aug 5, 2010 - 11:20 PM

[JuMPiiN]

I can pick up some low beams and ship them out to get some projectors for sure depending on the price of how much it would cost to get the projectors in and stuff.

[zonz540]

I have some integra projectors id be willing to send with some low beams if itll help me get hooked up in the long run.

[Espo]

$Jumpiin: Likely not more than $75.

@Zonz: Excellent idea - I think I'll test fit integra projectors into the test batch of headlights.

I begin work on them next week.

[stl95celica]

im excited too see what they look like!!

[MGCustoms325]

Put me on that list. Down for clear lenses, projector with led ring and painted black inside.

[CelicaRacer97]

clear lenses or perhaps the blackout ones would be nice....id be interested....

[Espo]

PMs responded to - please understand I am not taking orders quite yet, I want to put out a test batch first to make sure many of these options are possible, and how quality the work can be. I don't want to sell anything other than a top notch product. List so far:

1. Chacha (high and lows: White chrome (white to match super white car color) to reflect lights better, clear lens, halo turns signal and park light capable, angel eyes on projectors like the bmw/mercedes with adjustable lighting technology projectors); [high minus turns] give me a quote anyways....
2. mgnt32
3. Yellowchinaman (Adjustable, blacked out, clear lenses, halo turns, projector) [Low beams all, high beams minus turns and projector]
4. 2bcelica
5. Jumpiin (Projectors, low beams)
6. zonz450 (Projectors, low beams)
7. MGCustoms325
8. CelicaRacer97 (Clear lenes/blackout lenses, undecided)

[MGCustoms325]

Sounds good man. Whats the eta on the test batch? I would def like to see these options on a set of headlights. Would def help others decide what options they would want as well.

[georgie]

I'm down for a set of projector lows + black painted.. depending on price!

[Espo]

Sounds good man. Whats the eta on the test batch? I would def like to see these options on a set of headlights. Would def help others decide what options they would want as well.

I know. I'm anxious myself, but money's going to be tight for a little bit - My exhaust went and I'm having a whole new system installed. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on our progress as we run through the test batch.

I'm down for a set of projector lows + black painted.. depending on price!

Blacked out lenses or painted 202 black to match the car?

[MGCustoms325]

Well if you need a set of headlights I will get some and send them your way if that will help any. I want mine painted 202 black to match the car.

[Espo]

Nope I have a set - one of them is broken actually and two of the four are dull, which gave me the idea to do this.

[JuMPiiN]

Dude like i said im down to send you a extra set of lights i dont mind. I have 2 extra sets of low beams ( 4 ) lights together. Im fine to send you some to play with.

[chode]

im down too i want to see how it look

[richee3]

My suggestion for doing projector retrofits in the low beams is this: You will have to make clear lenses, correct? Closely examine the JDM projectors and notice that they have the amber parking lot on each side, hidden behind some diffusers. My suggestion is to smoke the edges of your clear lenses so as to hide the corners of the lights, similar to the JDM lenses. Otherwise you see inside too much of the headlight and it doesn't look right.

[Espo]

@Richee: I'll look into it definitely. I won't be customizing JDM projectors until we really get the hang of it, so clear lenses with the US headlights - much like someone else had here, I think RoyO or Wolfie? But I'm thinking all accent bulbs would be LED anyway and would stay mostly hidden because the white wouldn't make a reflection.

[JuMPiiN]

Out of curiousity, the headlights would be plug and play right no wiring involved ?

[Espo]

Yes, direct bolt on - if you choose projectors they'll need whatever type of bulb goes in the projectors...although I assume it wouldn't really matter since they just focus light. I'll look into it once things get going.

[JuMPiiN]

Well whe n you get into it let me know. I have a expensive set of HIDs in there right now lol. I want them to fit.

[CELL_PROTOTYPE_X]

I'm very interested but would like to see a finished piece before I purchased anything.

[cheela]

I'm very interested but would like to see a finished piece before I purchased anything.

x2

[Bigblock]

Good ideas, & good luck!!

So since I don't know a thing about how lenses are done, please overlook the duuuhhh factor of my q's

(1) If someone sends you light assemblies with cracked // broken lenses, { but housings are good } is your service able to replace the lenses & return them? Or am I too far off what you are doing?
(2) Would you have the assembles already, & assemble them as they are ordered?
(3) How would someone know if the assemblies are good enough for you to re-use as a core?

Reason I ask is maybe there are quite a few who would like just stock U.S. DOT lenses, or clears to replace cracked // busted lenses, but not wanting HID or projectors..??..

Also, just wondering--
how difficult would it be to have a Celica dragon etched onto clear lenses?
( edit )
Or 6gc etched on clear lenses, same design as the stickers?



This post has been edited by Bigblock: Aug 14, 2010 - 3:11 PM

[Espo]

Good ideas, & good luck!!

So since I don't know a thing about how lenses are done, please overlook the duuuhhh factor of my q's

(1) If someone sends you light assemblies with cracked // broken lenses, { but housings are good } is your service able to replace the lenses & return them? Or am I too far off what you are doing?
(2) Would you have the assembles already, & assemble them as they are ordered?
(3) How would someone know if the assemblies are good enough for you to re-use as a core?

Reason I ask is maybe there are quite a few who would like just stock U.S. DOT lenses, or clears to replace cracked // busted lenses, but not wanting HID or projectors..??..

Also, just wondering--
how difficult would it be to have a Celica dragon etched onto clear lenses?
( edit )
Or 6gc etched on clear lenses, same design as the stickers?

To answer all your questions:

1- As long as the housing is good, there'll be no problem.
2- Either we would charge you a core charge for a brand new set of headlights, or you ship us ours at your cost, and we ship them back at our cost.
3- Pictures would suffice for use as gauging whether or not they're good enough. If the pictures don't tell the whole story then we'll ship them back and refund your shipping charge.

Celica Dragon/6GC Lens - It would all be hand carved dremel work as that's the only tool I could think of using to etch into glass - plus, it came with a glass etching bit

Update for everyone, I'm having trouble finding an exhaust shop to setup my exhaust, but once that's all said and done, we'll begin working on these.

[MGCustoms325]

Thanks for the update. Good luck on that search. Keep us in the loop!

[RayLee]

Interested in Clear Lenses! if u ever get this sweet deal going

[SwissFerdi]

Would it be possible to do a projector/angel eyes/clear lens retrofit on the lows only, and then only applying a clear lens to the highs? If so, I'm down. Most likely out of my price range but we'll see.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Aug 26, 2010 - 10:02 AM

[richee3]

My suggestion for doing projector retrofits in the low beams is this: You will have to make clear lenses, correct? Closely examine the JDM projectors and notice that they have the amber parking lot on each side, hidden behind some diffusers. My suggestion is to smoke the edges of your clear lenses so as to hide the corners of the lights, similar to the JDM lenses. Otherwise you see inside too much of the headlight and it doesn't look right.

This is what I was talking about:



Notice how the lens over the sidemarker isn't clear like the rest of the lense. That might be something to look into.

[snakeloa]

I would buy a set of these

[georgie]

any news?

[CelicaRacer97]

so whats the news on this??? i just want regular headlights but with a clear housing instead of the glass our headlights currently have....

[TEAMFaint]

My suggestion for doing projector retrofits in the low beams is this: You will have to make clear lenses, correct? Closely examine the JDM projectors and notice that they have the amber parking lot on each side, hidden behind some diffusers. My suggestion is to smoke the edges of your clear lenses so as to hide the corners of the lights, similar to the JDM lenses. Otherwise you see inside too much of the headlight and it doesn't look right.

This is what I was talking about:



Notice how the lens over the sidemarker isn't clear like the rest of the lense. That might be something to look into.

Would buy these.

[OOBE]

LOL!

[REIDO]

very interested can't wait to see some finished products

[easternpiro1]

any breakthru yet?

[DEATH]

I have to vote no unless the price is seriously lower than the $750 or so I can get an OEM projector set for and the craftsmanship is equally good. Do you think you can do as professional looking a job? What would be the rough price range for projectors with clear lenses and turn/accent sides similar to the OEM look?

[Espo]

Hey guys, I know it's been a while.

My exhaust has been done for some time, but I've been dealing with some personal tragedy, so I haven't been doing much in the way of this project - even my 3D gauge cluster has been coming along slowly. The garage has been a mess, I missed a couple paychecks in-between jobs, so money has been tight, and as I said, I have some personal issues I've been dealing with. Things are beginning to look up however and I hope to resume work on this project soon, given the interest shown (even by the amount of votes and not replies), I'd love to do this for the community. I have a feeling I'm going to need to invest in at least a few tools (heat gun comes to mind, and some way of molding or shaping glass..possibly also taken care of by a heat gun) before I can really get cranking on these.

The first set I'm thinking will be a high gloss black housing, clear lens, projector retrofit, possibly angel eye around the projector. I'm really hoping I won't have to invest in a set of JDM headlights again in order to do clear lenses.

@Swissferdi: Anything you want is possible. So yes.

@Richee: I have JDM projectors, so I knew what you were talking about. My signature is way outdated.

This post has been edited by Espo: Oct 21, 2010 - 1:55 PM

[95celicastLSR]

count me in for some low beam projectors with or without angel eye...

[georgie]

glad to hear things are lookin on the up & up for you. I'll be waitin for this project!

[95celicastLSR]

update ....??

[MGCustoms325]

Is this still going to happen?

[Bigstring]

Last active 3 months ago

Is this still going to happen?