The Lighting!

Click on the images to view detail!!!

This section is dedicated to lighting upgrades on the outside of the vehicle. Most of these upgrades and changes have a cosmetic nature, few can prove helpful, safe and downright necessary.

replacement of lenses on 4th generation Accords is often driven by the poor shape of the original lights. The headlights are prone to stone chips, yellowing and dusting inside. The front lenses usually crack from stones and discolour badly. Tailights have a multi-colour lens that often makes the car look dated.

Projector headlights can update the look of the car, they also give a wider if somewhat shorter beam on the lowbeam setting. The clarity of the lens and reflector enhances the performance of high-beams. I use hi-powered high-beam bulbs to enhance night visibility but low-beams should remain at stock output for the reasons of legality, the oncoming traffic and prevention of wiring/lens malfunction.

Replacing the front corner lenses with 'euro-clear' corners, makes a big esthetic improvement on 4th (and 5th) generation Accords, because of the carried clarity and character lines continued from the headlight lens. The whole look is sophisticated and coherent.

Although I've installed clear tailights on my first Accord, i would highly advice not to do so. The moulds made for clear tails mimic the thickness of the orginal lenses and they prove to absorb most of the light emmited by the red brake bulbs. To create unique clear/red tailights, one can modify the clear ones by spraying the outter surface of the parking/brake lenses with red VHT Metal Tint spray. Numerous thin coats should build up a tint that will make the tailights 100% street legal, yet with the clear turn signal/reverse light strip it will ensure 'clean' look of many European and JDM cars.

On the note of European and JDM cars, side-marker lights can be added in. Installation will usually require drilling and fender modification. To obtain side-marker that lights up only as a 'side repeater' of the turn signal, the sidemarker should be wired to the corresponding side bumper lens. To obtain a side marker that doubles as a parking light, it should be wired into the corresponding side 'second' bulb on the corner light (the one that also flashes with the turn signal).

Parts used:
- Eurolite clear tailights (P/N 048320), (also available for '92-'93 4-door ONLY models, P/N 043820)
- APC projector headlights (P/N 40.3523.HL), (also available for '92-'93 models, P/N 40.3523.HL)
- APC 'euro-style' clear corners (P/N 40.3060.CLE), (also available for '92-'93 models, P/N 40.3061.CLE)
- ('90-'91 non Wagon)Eurolite bumper lenses (P/N 043420), (also available by APC, P/N 40.2004.BL)
- ('92-'93)Eurolite bumper lenses (P/N 041720), (also available by APC, P/N 40.2005.BL)
- APC 'oval' side-markers (P/N 40.2550.SM)
- VHT 'Metal Tint' Red (P/N SP-232)
- Trimbrite 'Ford Grey' tint (P/N T-8950)
- Eurolite 'Xenon Super White' 9006 55w low-beam bulbs (P/N 9006SB)
- APC 'Super White' 9005 100w high-beam bulbs (P/N 50.9005.PW)

Alternative choice (when using Wings West Bigmouth TypII front bumper): - Eurolite bumper lenses (P/N 040220)

NOTE: Check local laws before installing any lighting upgrades. Some items are not street legal, but can be modified to comply with local traffic laws. Prior to removal and replacement of old lenses, ensure that new ones are proper shape and in good condition. Headlight removal and replacement requires removal of the front bumper. APC projector lights may require modification of their brackets for proper fitment. The tints used for colouring the lights should be used in a well ventilated and clean working area. Installing sidemarkers or auxilary lights such as fog lights or driving lights, will require drilling and wiring as necessary. If any of the procedures seem overwhelming, the fitment should be left to the professionals.

I'm happy with all the lighting upgrades performed on my car. I find them useful in night driving as well as a strong part in keeping the car looking modern. I think the performed upgrades are subtle and they compliment the body alterations made on the car. Use of clear/red tailights also feels more timeless in the age of "altezza" insipired tailights.

^ back to top ^