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Pictures of Installations- Various parts and kits: 08 Accord Coupe

8K views 20 replies 12 participants last post by  Znaqvi786 
#1 ·
Okay, so after a year of ownership... and one miserable experience of walking up to a black coupe in the grocery store parking lot, attempting to unload groceries into the car, then realizing that it was someone else's car just a few spots down from mine, I had decided that I needed to make my car more unique.

The past two weeks, I began to make some decisions and began ordering various parts:

Inside:
1. Xenon Depot Putco Dome Lights
2. Honda Interior Illumination kit
3. Honda Rear View Camera and Attachment
4. Hardwire for Escort Passport 9500xi

Outside:
1. Honda Odyssey Lower Garnish- Middle Section of 3
2. RetroSolutions 55W 5000K HIDs
3. 3M Crystalline 70 Front Windshield Tint/Solar Guard
4. Enpro Distributions Clear Bra w/ Custom Cut for HFP kit
5. RVinyl Light Smoke Tail Tints

Here are some pictures for you all (yes, I know many of you have seen pictures of these same or similar modifications- but I am sure it will help someone to make a decision for their next mod?)

First, the rear view camera- self installed and very pleased. Mounted it to the side (not the direct middle), but did this because I wanted to use the mount included with the kit, and it really didn't make a noticeable visible difference when I connected it and shifted the camera from the middle:

Day Shot:

Night Shot:

Trunk Panels removed for install and wiring:


Next up is the 3m Crystalline 70 for the Front Windshield. This supposedly vastly reduces cabin temperature by blocking a high percentage of UV rays etc. that enter through the front window. It is illegal in Texas, so I wanted to go with one that was pretty much unnoticeable. In this pic, you can see the difference between before and after (they had to leave a small portion without the material so I could stick the registration stickers):


Next up is the Enpro Distributions Clear Bra. I drive 2.5 hours on the freeway to Austin quite often- and find this to be a necessity to protect my car. It is much less noticeable that I thought it would be. When I came to the shop to check on my car, I went to the hood and asked him when he was going to start on the clear bra.... he laughed and told me it was already on! :lmao: I took a picture of the most noticeable part. Note that I have the Honda underbody kits, and he custom cut the bra for my car:

And of the side:


Next up is the RVinyl Light Smoke tints for the tail lights. This is one of my favorites. It is something that most people wouldn't necessarily notice, but believe me when I say it makes a HUGE difference! While it still looks stock, it takes away all the bright aspects of the OEM lights:

Tested it out at night, and safety is not even close to an issue:



Small thing, but for my radar detector:


Now for the Xenon Depot Putco Interior Dome Light kit. I really have enjoyed this mod. It is VERY simple to install- but makes a huge difference! Very noticeable change- and a welcome one, at that!



And last, but not least- Retro Solutions 55W 5000K lights and the Honda Odyssey lower garnish conversion (search for this through the forum- Thanks to ufmike and glen e for the idea!). I chose Retro because of their immense credibility online- not just on driveaccord. This is not to say that XD is inferior- they are obviously both very good and reliable companies. Todd at Retro is very helpful and friendly. Same can be said about Steve from XD. While I love the lights, I am facing issues with the wiring (I think- and will be going back to Executive Motorcars in Houston tomorrow to have that fixed). The lower garnish for the Odyssey took only about 20 minutes to cut down and install. It looks great and stock 100%. Highly suggest it to ALL coupe owners! Pictures of both:




If you have any questions of any of the parts I ordered, on Executive Motorsports, or how to install the camera/inside lights you can reply or pm me!
 
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#2 ·
How do you like the front windshield tint so far? How's the glare and reflection? Vision at night?...etc...
 
#3 ·
To be honest, I got it installed yesterday! And while I live in Texas, it was rainy and in the 80/90s all day. I can't comment on the heat rejection quite yet. However, I can tell you that it doesn't affect the vision at all. It feels very OEM. I am really liking it, but I will update you once I feel the Texas heat!
 
#8 ·
Nice, nice. Hope you are enjoying the car! Seems like a sunny day today- I will definitely update y'all on the effectiveness of the 3M Crystalline 70. I noticed you have the Ceramic tint (for the front?). That was an option, for $50 cheaper- but it looked much darker than the 3M... and I hate getting pulled over by State Trooper Knox in La Grange, Texas- he likes to walk around my car and point. That @#$@#. :thumbsdow
 
#11 ·
Thank you. The issue is that the left head light went out last night... Then a few hours later came back on (after my car being off during that break in time). Todd has been helpful, and thinks the problem might be in the ground connection (?) and my installer picked up the phone and told me "That's why you never buy things from eBay- you should have bought them from me". I proceeded to tell him the Retro is pretty reputable, and if he didn't charge $300 for HIDs I might have bought them from him :yes:. I'll keep you updated, ViPaDawG.

I'm loving my car so far. I couldn't find the specific model I wanted in Austin/San Antonio, so I went all the way to Baytown Honda to get it. The 6MT was tough to find. There were only 12 in the entire state when I was shopping.

I don't have any tint/film on the windshield (yet). The ceramic tint is on the side windows and on the back window. I've noticed a big difference from regular tint in blocking out most of the heat, plus it is very clear and easy to see through at night.

If you can, please check the performance of your windshield film around 4 or 5 p.m. That's when it's nice and toasty.

Officer Knox is probably grumpy since they shut down the infamous Chicken Ranch in La Grange. So he's got nothing else to do but harass people on HW-71.
Haha, I will definitely check it out today! HW-71= :headbash::rant::censored:
 
#10 ·
I'm loving my car so far. I couldn't find the specific model I wanted in Austin/San Antonio, so I went all the way to Baytown Honda to get it. The 6MT was tough to find. There were only 12 in the entire state when I was shopping.

I don't have any tint/film on the windshield (yet). The ceramic tint is on the side windows and on the back window. I've noticed a big difference from regular tint in blocking out most of the heat, plus it is very clear and easy to see through at night.

If you can, please check the performance of your windshield film around 4 or 5 p.m. That's when it's nice and toasty.

Officer Knox is probably grumpy since they shut down the infamous Chicken Ranch in La Grange. So he's got nothing else to do but harass people on HW-71.
 
#13 ·
Another fellow Accord driving Texan here. Just want to suggest debadging the rear emblems, makes a huge difference to the look.
 
#14 ·
Starbai- I'll let you know.



Hahahah. Only way I'd ever do that is to mount up one of these babies:

 
#20 ·
VERY pleased. At first, I really didn't grasp the change as it was rainy in Houston for a few days... but WOW the Crystalline 70 is a life saver during days like today. 100 outside... and my leather didn't burn the #@$% out of me when I sat on it for the first time today. :notworthy Highly recommend it!

Another fellow longhorn'r?

Nice. Im about to head back to Austin tomorrow and hopefully I dont regret not buying the clear bra for my car...
Hook 'em! We should photoshoot in front of the tower? :thmsup:

Mods look good, someone just hit my bumper last week (car has 2k miles) so Im waiting to get paid for the new bumper then Im thinking about the rear view camera and hids, How much did the rear view camera run u? And also does it stay on when your driving or only come on when the car is put into reverse
Normally I wouldn't take time to respond to someone who displays such laziness... but since I recommend this mod highly as well, I shall help...

Total cost is $340 and can be found here.
The camera is only on when the car is shifted to reverse- and then resumes normal navigation settings.
 
#19 ·
Mods look good, someone just hit my bumper last week (car has 2k miles) so Im waiting to get paid for the new bumper then Im thinking about the rear view camera and hids, How much did the rear view camera run u? And also does it stay on when your driving or only come on when the car is put into reverse
 
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