SnowBound BP5 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 I had wanted the Smoked version for a while and had them hand carried & delievered to me a couple weeks ago (JDM connection ftw but ouch with the terrible dollar to yen conversion rate ). Finally got around to doing this today and thought I'd take some pictures along the way. 1. Loosen the 2 plastic grommets / popits and gently pull them out by holding the center stem. (forgot to take a pic for this so I borrowed one from DIY meister Daigo...hope he doesn't mind) http://legacybp5.fc2web.com/sotomawari/18led/DSC01571.jpg 2. Very gently pry open the plastic panel. It might be a bit hard to remove it but don't lose your patience and start yanking on it. A flathead screwdriver will help a lot but be careful not to scratch your factory tail light and its surrounding area. Insert the screwdriver from the bottom area as you pull on the top portion as indicated in the photo. http://i36.tinypic.com/2mg2yqf.jpg This is what the left side of the plastic panel looks like from the inside. Notice I've circled the 3 evil clips. http://i35.tinypic.com/2yopuzd.jpg 3. With the panel out of the way, you'll see 2 bolts. Remove them with either a Philips screwdriver or a 10mm wrench. I suggest the latter to avoid stripping the bolts. http://legacybp5.fc2web.com/sotomawari/18led/DSC01572.jpg 4. Slowly and gently pull out the tail light in the direction indicated by the arrows WITH BOTH HANDS. You do not want to risk cracking or breaking the clips! http://legacybp5.fc2web.com/sotomawari/18led/DSC016061.jpg http://legacybp5.fc2web.com/sotomawari/18led/DSC016081.jpg 5. This is what the backside of the factory left tail light looks like. You'll see the sidemarker bulb, turn signal bulb and brake bulb. Twist counterclockwise to loosen and pull out all of them from the socket. You won't be needing the sidemarker with the new HANABi LED unit so go ahead and remove the bulb and cover up the opening. I used painter's tape. http://i34.tinypic.com/2nlh5i0.jpg Say adios to the brake bulb. http://i38.tinypic.com/2e1535v.jpg 6. Here's a shot of the backside of the HANABi LED tail light (L). http://i37.tinypic.com/op47c9.jpg Connect the LED base that comes on the new tail light to the base for the brake bulb. http://i35.tinypic.com/20ievew.jpg 7. Put everything back (reverse the steps you did to take out the factory unit) and you're golden! I was a little worried about how to properly store the wiring since on the HANABi unit there's no built-in "wiring holder". But surprisingly there's enough space back there for you to pretty much tuck the wiring any way you like. http://i35.tinypic.com/14j54eo.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Before: http://i36.tinypic.com/330vamf.jpg After: http://i35.tinypic.com/2yl4i2s.jpg Before: http://i38.tinypic.com/1qlh02.jpg After: http://i33.tinypic.com/11t8ox2.jpg Before: http://i34.tinypic.com/14bubkw.jpg After: http://i38.tinypic.com/2d7uj9v.jpg http://i33.tinypic.com/zoky1.jpg http://i33.tinypic.com/jjmemt.jpg With the trunk open: http://i35.tinypic.com/rk2amr.jpg http://i38.tinypic.com/a2dnr9.jpg With the trunk closed: http://i33.tinypic.com/wi0e1e.jpg With the parking light on: http://i37.tinypic.com/2uzvwuh.jpg http://i33.tinypic.com/2i8vdpd.jpg http://i36.tinypic.com/352m720.jpg With the turn signal on (still need to source a pair of amber 7440 bulbs): http://i35.tinypic.com/96lqiu.jpg Day time: http://i38.tinypic.com/2rcbhfn.jpg Night time: http://i33.tinypic.com/amd190.jpg http://i34.tinypic.com/11kw0sw.jpg http://i33.tinypic.com/13zb8xy.jpg Night time with turn signal on: http://i36.tinypic.com/xd9lsg.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperhawkLGT Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 No LED signals, what a jip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoonwacker Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Looks awesome! You will soon be overcome with the need to tint your reverse lights and CHMSL I used some Gila "bronze" tint from Home Depot. The "smoke" color was too blue and didn't look right to my eye...bronze isn't a perfect match, but it's much closer to the Hanabis' color. http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Spoonwacker/Hanabi/DSC_0038.jpg http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t265/Spoonwacker/Hanabi/DSC_0012.jpg Now about that chrome strip...:lol: sorry...this forum practically blows goat nuts so im not always on here.Team Pony Express POSTED FROM MY COMPUTER USING A WEB BROWSER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 No LED signals, what a jip. Nah, I'm not about to spend another $60 plus the hassle of having to put in load resistors. I'm not much of a "light" guy...no HID headlights for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Looks awesome! You will soon be overcome with the need to tint your reverse lights and CHMSL I used some Gila "bronze" tint from Home Depot. The "smoke" color was too blue and didn't look right to my eye...bronze isn't a perfect match, but it's much closer to the Hanabis' color. Now about that chrome strip...:lol: You've got a nice looking BP and I see what look you're going after. Personally I'm not too into the "blacked out" look and I kinda like my reverse and center brake light "white". I don't know...might change my mind later on but for now I'm pretty happy with the way the car looks. Btw I didn't know Home Depot sells lens overlays! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnoDork Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Lookin Good Will!! ~Sucka-Duck~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fonts Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Beautiful ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 Lookin Good Will!! Thanks man, my dream has finally come true! Now I just gotta go look for those 7440 amber bulbs. Looked all over last night and it didn't seem like many people are selling them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoonwacker Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 You've got a nice looking BP and I see what look you're going after. Personally I'm not too into the "blacked out" look and I kinda like my reverse and center brake light "white". I don't know...might change my mind later on but for now I'm pretty happy with the way the car looks. Btw I didn't know Home Depot sells lens overlays! lol Hey, no worries, you gotta do what you like, that's the important thing You can't go wrong on ABP sorry...this forum practically blows goat nuts so im not always on here.Team Pony Express POSTED FROM MY COMPUTER USING A WEB BROWSER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 Btw, does anyone know where I can get amber 7440 bulbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_J Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Nice...I gotta get those. Did you also reverse the right license plate bulb? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 What do you mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Amazon has the 7440 bulbs, thats where I got them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fonts Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Hey, no worries, you gotta do what you like, that's the important thing You can't go wrong on ABP Also very nice Spoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 Amazon has the 7440 bulbs, thats where I got them. Thanks for the info. Unfortunately they're mostly the LED kind. The few Polarg traditional single filament amber bulbs I found on there were too expensive. I finally sourced some from good ol' NAPA for $18...ouch! They'll have to do for now but I think they'll look pretty out of place with the see-through tail lens. I'm going to ask my friend in Japan to send me some stealthy chrome ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Try spraying a light coat of silver paint over the bulbs. Tends to give them a silvery/iridescent look when not lit (stealthy) but they still flash amber. I did it to my front turn signals and it works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 Haha you're a brave DIY guy! The paint wouldn't melt or crack after a while? What type of paint did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGT Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 damn. they need these for the new STI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rurouni_x Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 looking good with, mad JDM yo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Haha you're a brave DIY guy! The paint wouldn't melt or crack after a while? What type of paint did you use? Call me McGyver, lol. Good ole Krylon. Just the cheap stuff. Not a lot of paint, just a light haze. Mine was painted 6-8 months ago and no issues yet, so I don't think heat or cracking is an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christurismohk Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 Looks good Will! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 19, 2009 Author Share Posted October 19, 2009 Thanks mang! It's my poor man's attempt at being JDM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowBound BP5 Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 Call me McGyver, lol. Good ole Krylon. Just the cheap stuff. Not a lot of paint, just a light haze. Mine was painted 6-8 months ago and no issues yet, so I don't think heat or cracking is an issue. Hi Mike I think I'm going to give your McGyver method a try. What exact shade of silver did you go with? How many coats? And do you have a good way to hold the bulbs when you spray them? Any taggers on this forum? I don't feel like buying an entire can just for a couple coats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m sprank Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Well, I used cheap silver paint from Lowes. Gave it one light mist, waited about 30 minutes, hit it again with a light mist. Installed them the next day. It wasn't so much about the color of silver. I was trying to copy the expensive Silverstar bulbs. Just trying to make the bulb "incandescent", so it doesn't look orange in the day light. Not too much paint. it just takes a light coat. Not trying to block the light, just hide the bright orange bulb. Mine still shine nice and amber and cost 1/4 of the Silverstars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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