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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 09:47 AM
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Default Considering new headlight project

I am finally done with my C4 headlight project. I am starting to get questions from C5 owners about whether I will design a similar product for C5s. I would like to know thoughts about my preliminary design and how many people would like fixed lights. I did a little photoshop work this morning to get an idea of how it will look. Here is a picture I designed and below is my actual C4 design. If any of you followed the C4 process, you know it can take a while to do it right. I do not expect a C5 design to take as long due to my additional engineering resources that I have gained over the last 2 years.


Last edited by blr33439; Sep 15, 2012 at 09:26 PM.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by blr33439
I am finally done with my C4 headlight project. I am starting to get questions from C5 owners about whether I will design a similar product for C5s. I would like to know thoughts about my preliminary design and how many people would like fixed lights. I did a little photoshop work this morning to get an idea of how it will look. Here is a picture I designed and below is my actual C4 design. If any of you followed the C4 process, you know it can take a while to do it right. I do not expect a C5 design to take as long due to my additional engineering resources that I have gained over the last 2 years.

Not a big fan of fixed lights . Your C4 looked better the original way . But as long as you like it, its all good.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 12:13 PM
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Your design looks better than some of the fixed headlight designs I have seen. But, I guess I am just a traditionalist - I like the pop up lights on mine.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 12:59 PM
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I'm a popup fan as well. I think you would be entering a small target market crowded with existing fixed light providers.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 01:30 PM
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I'm not a fan of fixed headlights but I like yours better than any of the others I've seen.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 01:33 PM
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Makes the car look like a 3000GT. I guess some people would be into that tuner look.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 01:40 PM
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I'm a big fan of the lower opening sun gun headlights (I have them installed on my Vette), but if I were considering a fixed light I would choose yours over the Depo style. I appreciate your creative and stylish design.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 02:04 PM
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BLR that is definitely some fine work on your C4. Looks like a well made, well designed product.

In my specific case, I like the pop-ups, but I am disapointed by the stock light output. I will eventualy pull the trigger on some ACA pop-ups. These retain the stock pop up, but incorporate a clear projector/lense (huge light output improvement over stock).

Like stated above it is a small niche market. There are what I consider 3 levels of fixed lights currently. 1. The in-expensive depo lights. Several vendors including E-bay have these. 2. The high end lights made by Radio Flyer (forum member). VERY good quality from what I can see, but they come at a premium. 3. Stealth cannons, I know JW sells them, not sure who makes them. Also a higher end option.

I'm sure I forgot a model or vendor, but the ones above seem to surface the most on this forum & the internet.

Mike

Last edited by 3318C5; Sep 15, 2012 at 02:06 PM.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 03:14 PM
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make a cheaper version of the radio flyers and you'll have a big market
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 06:37 PM
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It looks like a quality product on your part. The only thing I don't care for on your C5 look is that it seems so obvious that they are converted pop-ups. I think for a fixed headlight on the C5 it needs to appear as if it was/ could have been a factory integrated design. As always price is a big factor in the success of the item too.
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Old Sep 15, 2012 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by f6john
It looks like a quality product on your part. The only thing I don't care for on your C5 look is that it seems so obvious that they are converted pop-ups. I think for a fixed headlight on the C5 it needs to appear as if it was/ could have been a factory integrated design. As always price is a big factor in the success of the item too.
I am curious on your comment because it seems that you have an idea of what headlights should look like. Are you referring to other designs such as this one:


There is also this style I have seen for mazda RX7:


I really love this acura NSX design, but I don't think it will work on the C5:
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Old Sep 16, 2012 | 09:41 PM
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I like the NSX look too but I agree that I don't see a way to do something similar on the C5. The current crop of headlight upgrades include a unit that completely replaces the C5 headlight and the shroud follows the lines of the hood, fender, and nose as close as possible. Legal issues aside I would be happy with headlights mounted in the fog light area. I am not a fan of anyone's frog eye look.

If cost was no object, the killer look on your C4 design would be if the headlight bucket was molded into the hood for a seamless look. Even that would be a problem with the C5 lines.
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Old Sep 16, 2012 | 09:54 PM
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Personally I like pop ups better.
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