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Alrighty..

6368 Views 53 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  LiveReckless010
Alrighty.. I have NO idea where to start

I just got myself a racing red SX Koup and have NO idea where to start on mods..

I wanna do HID headlights with Audi-style LEDs (FOR SURE, I just dont know a THING about HID lights)

I wanna paint the calipers (im thinkin red to match the car, not entirely sure, Im ALSO thinking yellow to mimic the yellow calipers that Porsches with ceramic breaks have, cant really picture that though, anyone with photoshop skills? Sorry, I work at a Porsche dealership lol)

I wanna change out the dome, trunk, and license plate lights to LED, no color, just brighter, Im guessing cool white LEDs?

I wanna change out the door scuff plates to either LED-lit red, or just a cool lookin brushed aluminum Forte Koup sill.

EDIT: I also want to do exhaust and CAI at some point, just no "tin can" nasal-sounding exhaust, I want something deep sounding or that sounds somewhat like a Porsche revving up hahahaha (again, excuse my Porsche reference lol)

Anyone have websites that they've bought from? Ive looked on ebay and google but just cant seem to search the right way lol.

Thanks a bunch in advance!
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Congrats on the new car.
I would go with the red paint. I wouldnt do yellow. But its your car. You could paint them pink.
I just got myself a racing red SX Koup and have NO idea where to start on mods..

I wanna do HID headlights with Audi-style LEDs (FOR SURE, I just dont know a THING about HID lights)

I wanna paint the calipers (im thinkin red to match the car, not entirely sure, Im ALSO thinking yellow to mimic the yellow calipers that Porsches with ceramic breaks have, cant really picture that though, anyone with photoshop skills? Sorry, I work at a Porsche dealership lol)

I wanna change out the dome, trunk, and license plate lights to LED, no color, just brighter, Im guessing cool white LEDs?

I wanna change out the door scuff plates to either LED-lit red, or just a cool lookin brushed aluminum Forte Koup sill.

EDIT: I also want to do exhaust and CAI at some point, just no "tin can" nasal-sounding exhaust, I want something deep sounding or that sounds somewhat like a Porsche revving up hahahaha (again, excuse my Porsche reference lol)

Anyone have websites that they've bought from? Ive looked on ebay and google but just cant seem to search the right way lol.

Thanks a bunch in advance!
Diode dynamics has 3 stages of LEDs for the forte
Tk(turbokits) makes CAI and exhaust, from what i have heard, ntohing but great reviews
Congrats on the new car.
I would go with the red paint. I wouldnt do yellow. But its your car. You could paint them pink.
I could paint them pink.. hmm lol jk heck no, not pink. Im just tryin to visualize yellow in there.. I just cant lol. Im thinkin red too unless someone can photoshop yellow into it so i can actually see it then id decide from there
Diode dynamics has 3 stages of LEDs for the forte
Tk(turbokits) makes CAI and exhaust, from what i have heard, ntohing but great reviews
I remember looking at DD and I think I decided on Stage 2.. I just couldnt remember the site lol, thanks for reminding me!



What about HID? Ive seen 6000k and I liked that but what all is there involved in installing HID? Im fairly car tech-savvy so Im thinkin about doing it myself. Also about the Audi-style lights? Not too thrilled with the idea of LEDs outside of the headlight housing unless other people have had no problem with that.
i have 6000K DDM tuning hids in my lows and fogs.. check out my garage for photos.

I also have the Turbokit CAI installed and its more of a "muscle car grumble" than a tin can. I didnt want a "ricer" sound and its def is not... you wont be disappointed.
i have 6000K DDM tuning hids in my lows and fogs.. check out my garage for photos.

I also have the Turbokit CAI installed and its more of a "muscle car grumble" than a tin can. I didnt want a "ricer" sound and its def is not... you wont be disappointed.
Ok, so i think im pretty set on HIDs now, im gonna run with 6000k, now how would that look with the Audi-style LED mod? wouldnt be too overwhelming would it?

and Ive heard a Magnaflow exhaust that I liked that seems to sound deeper than the TK exhaust, maybe just video quality?
first off, yellow is iffy for me for calipers... i say go with red. i had the red but it wasnt bright enough for me so i painted them yellow and i like them a lot buuuuut idk abou yelllow on a red koup. as far as the paint, id get the duplicolor brand. i used a can and a half for all 4 calipers and 1 can of clear coat as well as maybe half a can for the cleaner for the calipers

the HID kit: i would go to DDmtuning.com for that. i just bought a new kit cuz my original one crapped out on me and ive nothing but positive reviews for it and its super affordable. im talking like i payed 48 dollars shipped for a kit and they sent me a slim ballast as well! i dint even order a slim ballast. pretty sweet!

LED strips: try to get strips that arent blocked by 3's. as in, there isnt a noticable space btw the lights every 3 lights. i think paul got the A5 set on ebay and they look great! as far as the looks with the HIDs, it'll depend on where you decide to put them on your headlight. i have mine on the top and you can easily tell the difference at night with them on with the low beams.
i believe this is the link for the a5 strips i had for a little while before switching to the ones i have in. theyre bright.
Audi A5 Style LED DRL Strip Lights Acura TL RL MDX #59: eBay Motors (item 180434157299 end time Nov-12-10 18:39:19 PST)

CAI and exhaust: i'd say go with turbokits.com. period
the sound with my muffler(wish i had the catback!) and the cai is sooooooooooo much better than stock and no ricer sounding either. it sounds mean. idk if you'll get it to sound like a porsche tho lol

first pic is the "blocked" strips that i was referring to. see the gap every 3 lights?
the second is the a5 strips
and the third is my 6000K kit when i first got it. its pretty bright and puts off a white light :)
and lastly, the drivers side strip is the a5 as well. not passenger tho
cheers! and we need to meet up tomorrow! thursday meet at academy. text me tomorrow afternoon

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first off, yellow is iffy for me for calipers... i say go with red. i had the red but it wasnt bright enough for me so i painted them yellow and i like them a lot buuuuut idk abou yelllow on a red koup. as far as the paint, id get the duplicolor brand. i used a can and a half for all 4 calipers and 1 can of clear coat as well as maybe half a can for the cleaner for the calipers

the HID kit: i would go to DDmtuning.com for that. i just bought a new kit cuz my original one crapped out on me and ive nothing but positive reviews for it and its super affordable. im talking like i payed 48 dollars shipped for a kit and they sent me a slim ballast as well! i dint even order a slim ballast. pretty sweet!

LED strips: try to get strips that arent blocked by 3's. as in, there isnt a noticable space btw the lights every 3 lights. i think paul got the A5 set on ebay and they look great! as far as the looks with the HIDs, it'll depend on where you decide to put them on your headlight. i have mine on the top and you can easily tell the difference at night with them on with the low beams.
i believe this is the link for the a5 strips i had for a little while before switching to the ones i have in. theyre bright.
Audi A5 Style LED DRL Strip Lights Acura TL RL MDX #59: eBay Motors (item 180434157299 end time Nov-12-10 18:39:19 PST)

CAI and exhaust: i'd say go with turbokits.com. period
the sound with my muffler(wish i had the catback!) and the cai is sooooooooooo much better than stock and no ricer sounding either. it sounds mean. idk if you'll get it to sound like a porsche tho lol

first pic is the "blocked" strips that i was referring to. see the gap every 3 lights?
the second is the a5 strips
and the third is my 6000K kit when i first got it. its pretty bright and puts off a white light :)
and lastly, the drivers side strip is the a5 as well. not passenger tho
cheers! and we need to meet up tomorrow! thursday meet at academy. text me tomorrow afternoon
sweetness thanks for the post bro, and Ill be textin you tomorrow
I personally like yellow accents on red cars. If you decide to go with yellow calipers, please also use yellow under the hood.
Emblem swap I feel is the very first mod. In my opinion, everyone should do. Tat is where the fun begins... "WHAT KIND OF CAR IS THAT???!" Almost nothing better than someone saying that.
First mod and easiest is debadging to baffle the admirers and find a better badge for the front and back or just back if changing out the front grill.
Yeah, i was gonna change the badges out but leave the Forte and Koup on the back. I found those "K" badges (just a chrome K basically lol) and I think those would look tight with that car, Now i just need to decide if I want the black ones or the red ones..

I wanna do the HIDs and the audi lights at the same time, Im gonna go with the R8 look (LEDs on the bottom of the headlights) and saaayy 6000K? I dont want to really overkill it so that you cant see the LED strips and of course Id like to match the colors between the two as close as i can.

More things to come in the future, I'm just gonna do these for now just to get the ball rollin
Ok, just an update, LEDs and HIDs ordered, Ill probably get the LEDs first since the ballasts for DDM Tuning are on back order till 10-20-2010, so ill be drivin around with just the LEDs and stock headlights until the HIDs come in. Will post pics!
Unlike Facebook, forteforums.com does not have a like button. So I am going to add it to my subscription list so that I can keep up with your updates!
Lol if you need help with the install just lemme know
dang...i'm gonna be so behind when i get back to San Antonio. I'm gonna have to get everything done as soon as i get back!
Its all gravy bru. Once every Sa area member is available to, we should have a local sa area meet that's a monthly thing or a weekly or every other week deal
Unlike Facebook, forteforums.com does not have a like button. So I am going to add it to my subscription list so that I can keep up with your updates!
sweetness! Im thinkin the front and back badges are next to swap. and Im unsure about CAI, ive heard that someone lost MPG with it.. which is weird because isnt it supposed to add? lol
dang...i'm gonna be so behind when i get back to San Antonio. I'm gonna have to get everything done as soon as i get back!
Hey bro youre a military man, youve got a HELL of an excuse! Honestly, I have respect for you whether or not youve got a pimped out car or not. It takes a lot to be over there, thanks for serving bro
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