08 Acura MDX HID full optical retro

A few people have expressed some interest in using these, I wanted to at least get some pics up to give a good insight into what these are.

It seems like they could very well be an alternate for those looking at rx330 non-afs -- by that, I mean that the bowls and lens holders are at minimum very similar, if not identical, to the rx330s -- so using the lgt shields should allow a direct bolt-up using MSG's very good write up.

As a bonus, the MDX lenses are nice and clear (definitely clearer than the lgt lenses, and also a bit less convex fwiw).

There are many different approaches one could take to use these complete optics, including shields. I really liked the promising look of the MDX shields, and wanted to maintain the overall integrity of the optics, so the effort was worth it to me. I tried to use a minimalist approach -- I won't say it's the ideal way, but it has worked beautifully over all the bumps for over a year now. I will update with comments as I get it all together.

Here are the detail pics:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_1127.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_1115.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_1120.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_1126.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_1118.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_1119.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_1116.jpg

Here are the process pics:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0107-2.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0101-1.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0102-2.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0105-3.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0106copygrindnubs-shieldcorn-1.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0117copy-1.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0114bright.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0111.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0119.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/IMG_0120.jpg

the $$$ shot...

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/Cutoff-nofogs.jpg

This is an amazing write up. Thank you so much for the detailed pics. Highly appreciate it!

Now to source the MDX (or rx330) projectors.

Did you use a PnP D2s kit or OEM ballasts and bulbs?

very nice i am about to take pictures of my retrofit, i am just on the fence whether or not to black out my housing on my 08 or not. My current project is as follows:

Tsx Projectors + clear lenses

Denso Slim Ballasts

Philips 85122+ Bulbs

i like how the mdx's seem almost stock, did you use a clear lens on it or no?

I am also running 07 or 08 MDX optics, expect I retained the LGT shield. Perhaps my eye is untrained, but I really was unable to differentiate between the LGT and MDX lenses. I went with the MDX lens to be on the safe side. The lens holders were identical, down to the part # iirc.

FWIW, I paid about $150 for the projectors, lens & lens holders on ebay.

To the OP, great post. This will really help with other members looking to join the retro club.

The MDX shields would give you more spread to the sides and narrow the center line of the beam intensifying it thats why it has that funny shape and the LGT shields are uniform on both sides. FWIW the RX330 Non-ASF have the same style shield except it has a huge mounting bracket.

I am also running 07 or 08 MDX optics, expect I retained the LGT shield. Perhaps my eye is untrained, but I really was unable to differentiate between the LGT and MDX lenses. I went with the MDX lens to be on the safe side. The lens holders were identical, down to the part # iirc.

 

FWIW, I paid about $150 for the projectors, lens & lens holders on ebay.

 

To the OP, great post. This will really help with other members looking to join the retro club.

looks good. you used the legacy shield correct? did you cover up the "squirrel finders"?

in the picture, theres a great big glare box on the garage.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/duluoz_01/Cutoff-nofogs.jpg

thanks for the kind words, gents.

Cat: I would have liked to use oem ballasts, but didn't have much luck sourcing at the time -- I've been boosting my 85122s with DDM 55s for about a year -- I think it'd be hard to go back to 35W.

kp: I used the MDX lens which is pretty clear.

finse: yeh, i think i paid 165 for these on ebay; the pics in post 1 are the originals from the seller.

luv: good info, thanks. that's sort of what I was thinking when I first saw them; the spread is really nice, shoulder to shoulder.

nai: no used MDX shield -- but good eye you are correct, i left the squirrel finder open; it was ok with 35W, but is a little too much with the 55s -- next time I get in there... also think my p/s is aimed a bit high in that pic.

hmm interesting. i have never seen oem hid parts, so i just always assumed that they don't have any glare devices. also, i don't know if my car is aimed low, but i also notice a lot of oem cars are aimed high (especially tsx's).

i never really tried measuring and aiming my lights to spec, they are just low enough imo to look right in most situations, keeping the light below the side mirrors of the car in front of me. so on a level road, my lights are angled down towards the road. on a lot of oem cars i notice the lights are not parallel with the ground but actually angled a little bit upward?

there's a very good h/l aiming thread that i used, also thanks to MSG: http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/align-your-headlights-if-you-dont-know-now-you-do-54740.html.

i kept my right side just a smidge higher than spec out of deer paranoia (i had one leap into my p/s headlight, banging my car up really good just months earlier -- actually that was my primary reason for doing the retro...). since then, i really like to light up that right-hand shoulder...

Good write up! If you don't use the 3 washers and move the lens closer to the shroud, I'm assuming the light projection will be reduced because of the light hitting the shroud?

I searched on eBay and found the MDX projectors, but they're different from the one you have. Would you think it's applicable?

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u246/HIDparts/Acura%20Projectors/IMG_2601.jpg

Good write up! If you don't use the 3 washers and move the lens closer to the shroud, I'm assuming the light projection will be reduced because of the light hitting the shroud?

 

I searched on eBay and found the MDX projectors, but they're different from the one you have. Would you think it's applicable?

 

The listing says these are for halogen / hid kit. If that's the case, you're better off sticking with your oem setup.

^yeah, i'd make sure to get an OE d2s setup only.

re: the washers: if you look at the stock setup, the lgt projectors actually have a pretty big gap between the lens/bezel. I spaced the mdx's primarily because it would bug me, lol. I'm really not certain whether you would lose any appreciable or vast measure of output.

In hindsight, I could have probably just as easily made some brackets that thickness (3 washers), and mounted the assemblies that way.

http://store.theretrofitsource.com

This place has some decently priced goodies

http://store.theretrofitsource.com

 

This place has some decently priced goodies

They mostly carry bi-xenons and RX-AFS projectors which require medium to high amounts of modifications.

Do you have a picture of the shield after you did all of the cutting? Or a picture of the lower 2 screws? Did you slot the lower 2 all the way out or is there still some metal to contain the screw?

I am interested in using the full MDX optics, but am worried that they may eventually slide down or come out or something. Thanks!

yeah, i left metal at the bottom, they are oval slotted about as far as you can take it (while still maintaining structural soundness) to the bottom. i was a little concerned about the sliding question as well with my method, but no issues at all (even with the jolts i get every now & then from riding on swifts ). sorry the pics posted are the whole lot.

if you're really concerned, it would be just as easy to fab up some simple brackets, and just drill right through where you need to mount and fasten -- that could actually take care of the spacer/washer step also, all in one move.

They look alot like the MDX units.

^ please do, sounds interesting -- are those bi-xenons?

Look pretty good.

Makes all the work I did to get TSXs in mine not really worth it.

Well, I got a second set of MDX D2S projectors. I want to go back to my orignal, non blacked out housings. This time around, I plan to follow this process, I will be sure to take before and after pictures of the cutoff / spread using LGT and MDX shields.

Thanks again for the write up, I'm definitely planning on referring to this thread when I get started.