Updated Rear Lights?

Darkcyd · 13 January 2003

Has anyone ever thought about this? I'm not just talking about changing to the 02 look. One of my biggest complaints about my car is that the rear end looks beautiful in the daytime, but at night, you turn on those lights and they just look old. I'm surprised nobody has ever considered creating a kit to update the NSX to a more modern look, perhaps incorporating LED lighting like most newer high-end vehicles use. Or is there a kit that I've just somehow missed?

nsxtasy · 13 January 2003

Old? I think the NSX, with the LED lightbar across the rear wing as its CHMSL*, is as gorgeous and modern as anything on the road. And it already "incorporates LED lighting like most newer high-end vehicles use".

Perhaps you've never followed another NSX at night, and never watched while someone else stepped on your brake pedal at night?

* CHMSL = Center High Mounted Stop Light

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 13 January 2003).]

Darkcyd · 13 January 2003

Actually, I love that center LED light bar. I'm referring to the two regular bulbs below it on either side. =)

[This message has been edited by Darkcyd (edited 13 January 2003).]

MvM · 13 January 2003

Darkcyd,

Look at this link below: http://www.nsxprime.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/001013.html

I have a European NSX which only used one bulb on each side as taillights and I like the US-setup with the two or three bulbs in a row. But like you I don't like the three- separate-bulb look with the uneven lighting. I'm looking at LED-replacement bulbs but am not sure it will make much of a difference. I'm also trying to locate a nice LED-lightbar of the right length that might fit in the tail-light space but so far I've not been lucky.

The brake-lights with the 180-LED third light is absolutely great though. Really lights up the cars behind you

NSX Prime · 13 January 2003

If there is enough interest in switching factory tail lights to all LED's, we can talk to ClearCorners.com about it. Over on ClubLexus we had enough people looking for them that ClearCorners designed a set for the SC300/400. I'm sure they'd do the same if enough people are interested for the NSX.

SR

Ludgero · 13 January 2003

It is my understanding that ClearCorners.com is already in the process of creating LED rear tail lights as well as the front parking/turn signal lights.

NSX Prime · 13 January 2003

I know they have the clear corners already, but I was not aware they are working on the tails too! I'll have to give Chris a call today and see what the status is on them.

Thanks!!
SR

gheba_nsx · 13 January 2003

I also feel that the most outdated part in our NSX is the taillight. A BIG plastic block... specially that "ACURA" futuristic and very '80s font. What I did was match paint the center part with body color and attach the chrome '02 emblem. I am still not 10&% satisfied with the look but it seems more modern IMHO.

I think an engraved aluminium part for the center with NSX, "H" or "A" on it will do a better job. I spoke with MJ (Dali) one year ago aboutthis but it seems cost prohibitive...

ps: now the "A" is rotated correctely!

MvM · 13 January 2003

CmputerWiz,

I'm certainly interested. However, the European taillights are a bit darker in color than the bright red US ones. I think the assembly should not have to change much. Personally, I prefer the darker red.
Today I ordered some replacement LED-bulbs from www.superbrightleds.com to replace the standard bulbs for the taillights and front 'city'-lights. Hope that will work and if so, I will take some pictures and post them here. Will be a while though, since they will have to be shipped to Europe.

BostonNSX · 13 January 2003

any of you wanna sell the euro lights??

MvM · 13 January 2003

BostonNSX

Not me in any case. But you might want to post a question in the European forum. You never know...

gheba_nsx · 13 January 2003

I also plan to keep my OEM ones. But in the Euro forums maybe someone will be interested...

BostonNSX · 13 January 2003

I posted there sooo long .. no one replied me. btw can any of you euro guys take a pic of how the rear fog line is attached , wired, what kind of bulb used emailed to me?

Originally posted by gheba_nsx:
I also plan to keep my OEM ones. But in the Euro forums maybe someone will be interested...

gheba_nsx · 13 January 2003

I am so bad mechanically that I hope some other european will do this for you...

for me rotating the "A" emblem was considered a project and I waited months before doing it...

NSXaholic · 13 January 2003

Originally posted by CmputerWiz:
If there is enough interest in switching factory tail lights to all LED's, we can talk to ClearCorners.com about it...I'm sure they'd do the same if enough people are interested for the NSX.
SR

I would be interested in LED taillights. Please let me know if details emerge.

Regards.

nsxtasy · 13 January 2003

Originally posted by MvM:
I like the US-setup with the two or three bulbs in a row. But like you I don't like the three- separate-bulb look with the uneven lighting. I'm looking at LED-replacement bulbs but am not sure it will make much of a difference. I'm also trying to locate a nice LED-lightbar of the right length that might fit in the tail-light space but so far I've not been lucky.

The brake-lights with the 180-LED third light is absolutely great though. Really lights up the cars behind you

In looking for LED replacements for the tail lights (not the CHMSL), keep in mind that they only light up where the LEDs are placed. They are not like incandescent bulbs where a single bulb can illuminate an entire housing through the use of a reflector behind it (even though this is sometimes uneven, as noted here). For an LED taillight to fill the entire area, which seems to be what you're suggesting, that would mean individual LED elements throughout the area. It could be done, but the few OEM LED assemblies available generally limit the LED to a small round area, not to an entire assembly.

BostonNSX · 14 January 2003

And I think this is because the LEDS have "projector" like head which concentrates all the lighting straight unlike normal bulbs which spreads the lights around to light up the housing

I'm currently on a project trying to alter the "night" look of the rear lights but not the "day" look of it hehehe

Originally posted by nsxtasy:
In looking for LED replacements for the tail lights (not the CHMSL), keep in mind that they only light up where the LEDs are placed. They are not like incandescent bulbs where a single bulb can illuminate an entire housing through the use of a reflector behind it (even though this is sometimes uneven, as noted here). For an LED taillight to fill the entire area, which seems to be what you're suggesting, that would mean individual LED elements throughout the area. It could be done, but the few OEM LED assemblies available generally limit the LED to a small round area, not to an entire assembly.

SNDSOUL · 14 January 2003

I have done the led tail lights and Ken is right, they were VERY directional in that they only shined where the leds pointed. This made little circles on the tail light assemblies at night and wasnt visisble at all in the day time. A waste of money for sure. It would work if the inside the tail light housing had a jadged surface like a bike reflector and not clear red. Thats why I painted my tails black.
http://community.webshots.com/image1/5/37/4/37353704JqISeQ_ph.jpg

[This message has been edited by SNDSOUL (edited 13 January 2003).]

Darkcyd · 14 January 2003

Perhaps that is the solution right there. A tail light assembly using a bike reflector design that will be able to spread the light from the LEDs more widely.

Darkcyd · 14 January 2003

What are the chances we could get a vendor to produce a kit for us? I'm thinking of something similar to the lights on last gen Cadillacs would look good too. I think the lighting is from the bottom and the whole panel is reflective which gives the light a very smooth look. Who could we ask besides clearcorners.com that might be able and willing to look into this kind of project?

ChopsJazz · 15 January 2003

Originally posted by SNDSOUL:
I have done the led tail lights and Ken is right, they were VERY directional in that they only shined where the leds pointed.

SNDSOUL what were the specs on your bulbs? When checking out the http://www.superbrightleds.com site I noticed that there were many different bulbs with various intensities and viewing angles. Would widening the viewing angle and getting the brightest bulbs make a difference in the final results?

BostonNSX · 15 January 2003

no it wont
the leds are so directional, the reflectors wont even get a slight beam of it

Originally posted by Darkcyd:
Perhaps that is the solution right there. A tail light assembly using a bike reflector design that will be able to spread the light from the LEDs more widely.

Updated Rear Lights?

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