PIAA driving light mod
 

For those of you that missed it on the M.net forums, here it is. Credit goes to ThePass on the M.net forums for the idea.

could you get some more photo of the install or some photos from under the hood.

I would like to see some photos of how you mounted them and all that.

BTW great work

So the turn signals are in the case?

How is the wireing?

Sigh... if I had 300 to spare on lights... I'd do this so quickly. Guess my 2 sets of cheap driving lights will have to do.

neat looking, only if there were a superlight hood available that was complete without the barn door provisions

The Piaa 3000's have a high (driving) low (fog) and a signal marker in them.

I'm wanting to do this mod baaaad! I hate the barn doors. They screw with high speed handling, add a bunch of drag and wind noise is noticably louder with them up. Doesn't hurt that you can lose 20-25lbs of weight that's high and forward of the axles either.

Would love to see any pics of the process or ideas for how those are mounted in.

1. How adjustable are the beams up and down?
2. How glaring for oncoming traffic?
3. Is the yellow low/fog beam OK as the regular light?
4. Can the low and high be run at the same time?
5. What do you think of the light distribution at night?

Mach - there is a company that makes fiberglass hoods around that deletes them. Can't remember the name but if you look at m.net you'll find it easily.

i like the vette =)

seriously though where are the turn signals?

okay answered my own question
http://site.racinglab.com/images/piaa_p3000_sample1.gif

but i can barely see my turn signals with the high beams on i wonder if having them that close you can still see even see them.

I'm not worried about front turn signals exept for any legal issues. What do I care if oncoming traffic knows I'm turning or not? Behind me? Sure. In front? Meh...

holy cow, more info please!! those aren't cheap though, I just looked them up online.

A good price is about $275 for the pair. I look at it partially as a performance mod. You can gut the pop ups for weight savings and the aero is much better at night. Haven't found anything else like them for less.

anyone know if these cause any legal implications?

me likey,

EDIT: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PIAA-...mZ130248588610

You can find them cheaper. I've got a local shop that quoted me $275.

only reason i could see why it wouldn't be is if thelight isnt DOT approved

I like. I am very tempted to do this..

What did you use for the lens?

For those who were asking about legality, some jurisdictions have laws requiring head lamps (after dusk) and specifically defining the use of fog lamps ONLY as inadequate after dusk, and that fogs are not a substitution for head lamps and warrant a stop at night. Don't quote me on that for your own state, I only checked Wisconsin regs about that stuff.

So if there are 2 unprotected left turns (you and oncoming traffic both going left), you don't want the oncoming vehicle to know you're turning left instead of straight? :bang:

I point when I turn left if someone is coming. ;)

Haven't had front signals in almost 2 years now. I've never been stopped for anything lighting related in the car, even with some crappy h4 housings and retarded bright HID lights.

Personally I wouldn't mind doing this mod myself, but for 300$ I'd almost rather just get the stupid priced low-profile MOSS kit that used to be 370$ and is now 500...

Bad ass, but the idea is not new...

I looked into doing it if I had gotten a NA.

https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6429

http://www.racerwheel.com/pia-3051.html

$275 on this website also has $20 rebate with this code DCH909 with any purchase over $200
and what lenses are over them?>

Lexan? Cut and wrapped with rubber trim.

I think I'd opt for the jdm ebay clear signals and just cut the back side to fit. I think I'd spend more than $50 of my time trying to get lexan lenses right. And I like the idea of them following the contour vs. flat. Ttim mentioned this in the other mt.net thread.

Yep, though I'm not exactly proud of those lenses. I was under some time constraints and had to get the job done. They surely can look a lot better. Check the M.net boards for ThePass' light mod. His are badass.

Got mine for like 275 shipped I think

Blinkers aren't really an issue because I wired them to be used along side the parking lights.

Everything is pretty much pre wired and has a neat little harness. Only minimal wiring is required.

I'll put some underhood pictures up when I get some free time

1. Adjustable enough to get the beams where you need them.
2. The glaring isn't bad at all compared to some other lights on the road
3. The yellow fog beam is ok as the regular light, as the diagram shows it has a wider distribution.
4. Both lights can't be run at the same time ( on the stock harness ).
5. Light distribution was either better or equal to my old barn doors. But those lights were pretty old.

That looks great! hmm AAC flush mounts or these..

As a courtesy? Sure it would be nice for him to know I was turning. Functionally? What does it matter to me if he doesn't know? If he thinks I'm going straight he just waits to make his turn. Doesn't hurt me at all. It's just rude.

There is a marker lamp there that functions. We just don't know how easily it is seen with the other lamps on.

From the looks of the install, there's still room in there for more bulbs/lights if it's a must. One of the reasons this is appealing to the turbo guys is it makes space for intakes and pipes... The NA guys could then get some cold air and use it in a similar manner as the NB. It's just not as easy now with the headlight motor sitting there.

fuck yes.

I did something similar once with cheapo fog lights and no cool lens or integrated turn signal. Didn't look even a fraction as nice and professional, now that I see how you did yours (the right way) I might need to re-visit this in the future.

I agree, plus the jdm ebay lenses will go well with my jdm clock. :giggle:

If you use the stock lens (or aftermarket version thereof) make sure you don't melt the plastic like I did...

Bringing it back from the dead, any updates on this setup, any melting/deformity issues?

None to speak of. Whole thing is the same as the day I put it in.

how bout those undehood pics...?

yeah, pics of the wiring and such would be nice to see.

Yeah yeah I'll get on that tomorrow. Wiring is all in a neat little harness that just hooks up to your battery. Not much to show. I hooked the relay up to the parking lights so they'll kick on when I turn the parking lights on.

must. have.

Woohoo! glad to see someone else finally implementing my setup! Nice job it looks very clean.
As to questions about this setup, first off there are turn signals built into this light - check the p-3000 on the piaa website and you'll see there is a third bulb in the center which is a 5Watt "marker" bulb - This is what I wired up for the turn signal.
As for the lens, I used a 1/16" acrylic sheet, cut to shape and trimmed with vac hose slit down one side but lexan or the like will do just fine.
Biggest benefit is how great it looks. Second is that you get to gut the lights, motors, etc. and save 20+ lbs. You can make lightweight aluminum brackets to hold up the headlight covers themselves and remove the rest.
Job well done rccote. Cheers!

Mine (though my car has changed a bit since the photos):

http://clubroadster.net/forum/garage...&image_id=3078
http://clubroadster.net/forum/garage...&image_id=3072

-Ryan

How did you aim/adjust them?

stop racing at night

(and lose some weight)

:cool::cool:

$275 saved

I might try moving my driving lights up there, they're blocking airflow in the mouth. I'd replace the popups, but a lot of my driving is at night so I need as much light output as possible.

How is the space under there, and what does the mounting look like?

Does anyone have a recomendation for driving lights that will replace the headlights? I might see if 93-02 camaro low beams will fit. I wish they made oval projectors so I could use 4300k hids..

If someone wanted to find a cheaper route:

Hella FF 75 Lights

You would have to replace the bulbs with three prongs to pass inspection if they check your high beams, and fend for yourself for indicators. It is only $100 though, and still great PIAA light quality/pattern. You could even put some HID bulbs in there if you were so motivated, but I'd wonder how bad the scatter would be...

those look like they were made to fit in a TSI

Theres a guy on CR.net that took the molded TSIs and put fogs similar to that in them. Looked cool until he molded in some side markers too..

Under hood picks any one?

Looking to clean up the bay some more before I move, this would be a great project.

Under hood shot with the headlights covers off, even though I've improved on several things since then so this is an old shot:
You can see how much room is freed up in those front corners of the engine bay, which allows you to do whatever you want for an IC setup or whatever you want to put there.
The brackets I use to hold the headlight cover lids on are not in this shot.. you can see the very ghetto version of a bracket I was using for a while on the drivers side corner but that has been done away with in favor of some good looking aluminum stuff.
You can see the PIAA fuse holders over on the side of the fuse box on the pass side just barely. Wiring is very simple.
-Ryan

http://clubroadster.net/forum/garage...&image_id=6003

Nice install, the PIAA's look good, I did a similar deal with some CATZ driving lights a few years ago on my NA.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/4...e73736bst8.jpg

hmmm, tax return needs to hurry up and get here!!

suddenly my pics arent working...

edit: ok, now they work... odd

I heard you know have to become a member/contributor/ppv to attach pics. Next step is photobucket etc.

for the guys that have done this how much room do you have left around the lights above and below?

Hurm, that Hella FF75 and some ebay HIDs are TEMPTING!!!

And how much room is required above and below? I would like to do this with some other driving lights but the fit is a little snug and that worries me a little.

The Optilux 2020 and the Pilot HE series are all dual beam lights that might work also. The Optilux is a $50 unit and the Pilots are $100. They are both compact rectangular fog/driving units. I'm having a hard time finding reviews on the quality of the light and beam patterns though. Both use 2 H3 bulbs so they are easy to lamp up.

http://i.s.shopwiki.com/i/data/0x0/5...LmpwZw====.jpg

http://www.pilotautomotive.com/image...1068B_prod.jpg

Here's another one from a company I've never heard of, Peterson. $60 with ion bulbs.

http://www.montanajacks.com/images/p...watcheradd.jpg

you might ask about those on the forum hidplanet.com/forums
Lots of light modding discussions there with a high interest in cutoff patterns.

any ideas if someone would give a discount if we all went in together on some of these?

$60 sounds much better than 275... they look nice too. hmmmm...

the pass, your pic isent working.

Dammit... this is all so tempting. The only thing I worry about is cutoff. I want more light than my dual driving light BS... but I don't want to be the guy that blinds oncoming traffic.... I hate it to much.

dude this is post number 5 in the past 10min of BS you're gonna get banned, cut that shit out.

Go to the meet and greet section and post up an intro thread. Last chance before the ban stick comes down on you.

I am for sure doing this after I get some things sorted out on the car, but I would love to see some pictures of how you guys are actually mounting the lids. I want to avoid having rivets through the lids, but haven't figured anything out yet besides possibly using the little "U"s on the side of the lid.

Yeah. It's tough since none of these are made as headlamps they could just scatter like crazy. I'm taking a flyer at the Optilux unit. Only $48 bucks shipped off amazon. If they suck they'll go right up on CL. I'll be checking the beam pattern before mounting anything.

Don't know about lamping them up with higher wattage halogens or going HID. They are dirt cheap. Might not take the extra heat. We'll see what happens. I've added so much weight to my car with the roll bar, bracing and turbo stuff it would be nice to lose the weight of the headlamps/motors.