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It is really just getting a mold made so the lens shape is repeatable.
What about producing these without carbon fiber?
I actually dislike the look of carbon fiber as it seems so.... early 2000's to me. Of course, the strength and functionality of carbon fiber is undeniable but I just think it's borderline tacky. I do know I'm in the minority on that feeling as somehow carbon fiber seems to be as popular as ever for the "looks". If I had another car with carbon fiber panels or anything like that I'd definitely want them to be painted body color.
What about just plain black (cheap) plastic for those inner moldings? Not only would it bring cost down but it also would be aesthetically preferable to guys like me.
Last edited by jamesc5z; Jun 5, 2018 at 04:52 PM.
Reason: Edited for grammar
I actually dislike the look of carbon fiber as it seems so.... early 2000's to me. Of course, the strength and functionality of carbon fiber is undeniable but I just think it's borderline tacky. I do know I'm in the minority on that feeling as somehow carbon fiber seems to be as popular as ever for the "looks". If I had another car with carbon fiber panels or anything like that I'd definitely want them to be painted body color.
What about just plain black (cheap) plastic for those inner moldings? Not only would it bring cost down but it also would be aesthetically preferable to guys like me.
Anything is possible. The inner section is smooth, so could realistically just paint it black.
These are the only non-pop up's I like on the C5 since they are flush with the hood, and have that factory/stock appearance.
I just wish they weren't so damn expensive (Corvette tax) - $1200-$1400. Hopefully some ebay vendors/manufacturers will step in and make a lower cost option for flush-style headlights. I'd be willing to pay $200-$300 tops based on what aftermarket headlights cost for other cars.
You should price an ebay projector to start with. There is no "Corvette tax". You have molds, prototyping, etc, sold to a very niche market, so ROI isn't going to incredible. Plus, if you add in the HD option with actual projector housings, that 1400.00 might have 350.00 margin in it. Then you have to put the investment up front, pay the vendor fees...
300.00 for headlights. The composites labor alone is 300.00. You better wait for china to make something and expect it to look like china made it...(hint...it's on here already).
You're comparing a bunch of components to aftermarket headlights that simply replace the factory glass and beam mounting...whole different ballgame.
You should price an ebay projector to start with. There is no "Corvette tax". You have molds, prototyping, etc, sold to a very niche market, so ROI isn't going to incredible. Plus, if you add in the HD option with actual projector housings, that 1400.00 might have 350.00 margin in it. Then you have to put the investment up front, pay the vendor fees...
300.00 for headlights. The composites labor alone is 300.00. You better wait for china to make something and expect it to look like china made it...(hint...it's on here already).
You're comparing a bunch of components to aftermarket headlights that simply replace the factory glass and beam mounting...whole different ballgame.
To add to that, most aftermarket projector headlights that are in the $100-300 range use cheap halogen projectors that cost maybe $10-15 a pair. The HID projectors Radioflyer uses in the ACA kits are about $60 a pair, and the Light Cannon kit uses two pairs of projectors that are about $120 a pair. Add in ballasts and bulbs, and the material cost alone is easily 10 times higher than a cheap China set.
As K.I.T.T. and Tsumi have said, making a custom headlight for a car, especially a C5 where the factory light was a flip up compared to a fixed that you are intending to create, is a big difference with a lot up front work/cost.
200-300 is the projectors and maybe the bulbs alone depending on how many you do.
From: Philadelphia PA (Birthplace of the USA, UNESCO World Heritage City)
Originally Posted by Tsumi
To add to that, most aftermarket projector headlights that are in the $100-300 range use cheap halogen projectors that cost maybe $10-15 a pair. The HID projectors Radioflyer uses in the ACA kits are about $60 a pair, and the Light Cannon kit uses two pairs of projectors that are about $120 a pair. Add in ballasts and bulbs, and the material cost alone is easily 10 times higher than a cheap China set.
HID is outdated. LEDs are cheaper, less complex, and more reliable. MOSTPLUS LED bulbs (which many C5 owners on this forum use) are literally $35 for a pair and are great quality. So then it's just a matter of designing the housing and lens.
Again, you have a LOT more people modding FD RX7's than you do C5 Corvettes. Good luck finding an FD that's NOT modded, so again...bigger market to work with. Also, those kits have been copied and reproduced over and over. When RMagic first came out with the FD setup, they were loot.
I've clayed a setup twice now, that's a hell of a lot better looking than any current C5 non-flip offerings, but the Corvette community asks for fitment and finish and DOT and all these things, that quite frankly the "JDM" and japanese tuning market doesn't. That's where your "Corvette COST (not tax)" comes into play. Corvette guys driving old C5's want the best of the best for cheap, and it's not possible.
You want me to bust out a badass setup for 500.00, I'll do it right now. I don't want to hear whining about needing to body work it slightly or using LED's though.
Last edited by KnightDriveTV; Jun 6, 2018 at 11:33 AM.
Again, you have a LOT more people modding FD RX7's than you do C5 Corvettes. Good luck finding an FD that's NOT modded, so again...bigger market to work with. Also, those kits have been copied and reproduced over and over. When RMagic first came out with the FD setup, they were loot.
I've clayed a setup twice now, that's a hell of a lot better looking than any current C5 non-flip offerings, but the Corvette community asks for fitment and finish and DOT and all these things, that quite frankly the "JDM" and japanese tuning market doesn't. That's where your "Corvette COST (not tax)" comes into play. Corvette guys driving old C5's want the best of the best for cheap, and it's not possible.
You want me to bust out a badass setup for 500.00, I'll do it right now. I don't want to hear whining about needing to body work it slightly or using LED's though.
I'd take some now for my ST1 car which still has pop ups on it, I have lens but never got around to pulling them out
HID is outdated. LEDs are cheaper, less complex, and more reliable. MOSTPLUS LED bulbs (which many C5 owners on this forum use) are literally $35 for a pair and are great quality. So then it's just a matter of designing the housing and lens.
We've had this discussion before. LED bulbs are not safer nor better than halogen bulbs. HIDs in halogen projectors aren't any better. There is a reason LED projectors are significantly more expensive than HID projectors. If car manufacturers can be DOT/E-code compliant with LED bulbs, why haven't they done so already?
Honestly, full hid projector kits with bulbs and ballasts are not as expensive as they used to be. I used to pay some good money through TRS when I would retrofit older headlight housings. I can do it now, for half to 2/3 the price.
Again, you have a LOT more people modding FD RX7's than you do C5 Corvettes. Good luck finding an FD that's NOT modded, so again...bigger market to work with. Also, those kits have been copied and reproduced over and over. When RMagic first came out with the FD setup, they were loot.
I've clayed a setup twice now, that's a hell of a lot better looking than any current C5 non-flip offerings, but the Corvette community asks for fitment and finish and DOT and all these things, that quite frankly the "JDM" and japanese tuning market doesn't. That's where your "Corvette COST (not tax)" comes into play. Corvette guys driving old C5's want the best of the best for cheap, and it's not possible.
You want me to bust out a badass setup for 500.00, I'll do it right now. I don't want to hear whining about needing to body work it slightly or using LED's though.
Would love to see what you come up with. I ain't scared of a little tweakin here and there.
Last edited by Stealth02; Jun 6, 2018 at 03:22 PM.
We've had this discussion before. LED bulbs are not safer nor better than halogen bulbs. HIDs in halogen projectors aren't any better. There is a reason LED projectors are significantly more expensive than HID projectors. If car manufacturers can be DOT/E-code compliant with LED bulbs, why haven't they done so already?
I have OEM LED low beams in a 26k Subaru Impreza Limited. And they're adaptive (lenses turn with the steering wheel). Economy of scale must be working in Subaru's favor. These headlights are leaps and bounds better than the OEM HIDs I had in my Mustang.
I have OEM LED low beams in a 26k Subaru Impreza Limited. And they're adaptive (lenses turn with the steering wheel). Economy of scale must be working in Subaru's favor. These headlights are leaps and bounds better than the OEM HIDs I had in my Mustang.
LED bulb (in reflector), not LED projector/headlight assembly. Do you have a physical LED "bulb" you can change out in your Subaru?
