Elantra Mods

[viper.racergtsr@gmail.com]

During my down times at work, I compiled quite a list of mods I'd like to do to my Elantra. Most of these have been covered numerous times throughout the forum, but it may not be a bad idea to have the basics covered in a sticky thread. I have ideas for quite a few on my list, but I'm always looking for input from people who have done these things to their cars.

Starting with two of the largest pieces of the car, headlights and taillights. Who makes the best aftermarket replacement versions of these? I know AnzoUSA makes nice projector headlights with CCFL halos, and I do know they make tail lights as well, but no pictures on their website. The headlights I've noticed look remarkably similar to those of CG or on Shark Racing. As for taillights, Shark has some as well, but does anyone know of any others in LED? And on a smaller note, has anyone seen a replacement fog light housing?

On to HIDs. DDMTuning makes inexpensive and fairly high quality kits in all the regular Kelvin ratings. I'd like to go with a 5K for my low beams, stick with halogen highs, and I've thought about replacing my fog lights with something like a 2500K to use solely in fog or snow. Any thoughts on this?

There are multitudes of LED accessories available for our cars, from 3rd brake lights to the smile kit and bumper reflectors and all the interior and exterior small bulbs. Is exledusa kind of the go to company for those pieces?

Has anyone seen replacement mirrors with the side repeaters available? I only have a GLS but I love having the lights in the mirror for turn signal. Would this be a huge undertaking if the parts are even available?

Everything audio has already been touched on in another sticky so I'll just leave that one alone.

As far as simple exhaust changes go, does anyone have good ideas? I'm going to bring my car down to a local exhaust shop on Saturday and let them have a look. I don't want anything that sounds too "ricey" so to speak, just a nice purr at idle and noticeable during acceleration.

And my last topic, debadging. Any ideas on the easiest way to remove the "Elantra" from the rear end?

I hope this isn't too long winded for most folks. I'll happily edit this post if good information is offered so we can make it in to a nice sticky, and if anyone has any more ideas, please feel free to post them. I always love hearing new ideas.

Thanks for your time.

[PLP]

I can comment on this what I am experienced with.

Originally Posted by viper.racergtsr@gmail.com

Who makes the best aftermarket replacement versions of these?

Why don't you get OEM projectors? They go on eBay for about 500-700 a pair with HID.

Originally Posted by viper.racergtsr@gmail.com

I know AnzoUSA makes nice projector headlights with CCFL halos, and I do know they make tail lights as well, but no pictures on their website.

Or do your own retrofit and use xB LED as DRL setup/halo like at night with FX-R projector or some other high quality set up.

Cost wise would be same as going OEM I guess, unless you stick to your own headlights (meaning, you would not get another pair).

Originally Posted by viper.racergtsr@gmail.com

On to HIDs. DDMTuning makes inexpensive and fairly high quality kits in all the regular Kelvin ratings. I'd like to go with a 5K for my low beams, stick with halogen highs

5000K - make sure it is a good quality HID lamp. Otherwise you will not be happy. I put H11 rebased into my Rondo. It took me 3 years to find the right HID lamp that was pure 4300 K that does not give too much color flicker. It was Morimoto H11 and of course it did cost a little more than "inexpensive one".
However, for the general set up - I found little to no difference between 50 and 200 USD HID kits.

Low beam - OK, high beam - keep halogen. That is the way to go. I hope you are talking about projector setup, not reflector...

Originally Posted by viper.racergtsr@gmail.com

and I've thought about replacing my fog lights with something like a 2500K to use solely in fog or snow. Any thoughts on this?

Don't, just... don't.

Why? It will blind you. the amount of light you will pour down the road will be excessive and you will not see anything further on the road than your fogs.
If you really want to use yellow light in fogs - find (they are not cheap) yellow SELECTIVE halogens. This is not just a yellow light. It is a special band of yellow that really improves visibility.
Of course it will not be like day and night comparing white and selective yellow, but you may gain 20-40%.

And again - do not put anything more than 27-40W into fogs. And forget about HID. Just answer yourself - have you ever seen OEM HID fog setup? Nope, you have not. And it is because it would be pointless.
It was tested and found that HID would emit too much light that is REFLECTED, what will result in... guess what - poorer visibility because the reflected light will blind mainly YOU.

I guess you heard about "foreground limiters" in projectors. This is a shield that cuts off some part of the light from the front of the car to allow your eyes to see further at night.
It is exactly same when you turn on interior lights while driving at night. All of sudden you do not see so good anymore, do you?

Same will be with fogs.

Originally Posted by viper.racergtsr@gmail.com

There are multitudes of LED accessories available for our cars, from 3rd brake lights to the smile kit and bumper reflectors and all the interior and exterior small bulbs. Is exledusa kind of the go to company for those pieces?

As for interior I found the best to use 24-48 SMD LED light panel for the main light and some smaller in the glove box (if equipped with light). However, in the trunk I put two 15 cm stripes of SMD LED and glue them to the top of the trunk. Great improvement.

[Monsieurhunt]

Originally Posted by viper.racergtsr@gmail.com

And my last topic, debadging. Any ideas on the easiest way to remove the "Elantra" from the rear end?

hairdryer and dental floss is the best solution.

[viper.racergtsr@gmail.com]

I'm not interested in doing any retro fitting. I don't trust myself enough to pull my lights apart. I have no intention of ever running a HID system in my car without the projectors. Thanks for the fog HID info. I'll steer clear of that idea and just use a yellow halogen bulb. Thanks for your input, PLP. And thanks for your input, Monsieurhunt.

[Nagasami]

For the fog lights i used the Putco 3000k halogen replacement yet yellow. It look pretty nice and the the visibility is good too. I might get a picture tonight if possible lol

[OkieRich]

Originally Posted by viper.racergtsr@gmail.com

I'm not interested in doing any retro fitting. I don't trust myself enough to pull my lights apart.

Great minds think alike. I'll leave it to the forum pro's.

[PLP]

Originally Posted by viper.racergtsr@gmail.com

I don't trust myself enough to pull my lights apart.

Originally Posted by OkieRich

Great minds think alike. I'll leave it to the forum pro's.

that's why I bought aftermarket/replacement headlights...
Of course low beam and high beam are crappier than OEM, but since there is going to be a projector fitted I do not quite care.

[vit]

exLEDshop (english international store of exled) sells fully completed tails, heads, and bumper reflector LEDs. exledusa is good for customizations as well, though at the moment they don't sell everything exledshop does.

[dec3ption]

Originally Posted by vit

exLEDshop (english international store of exled) sells fully completed tails, heads, and bumper reflector LEDs. exledusa is good for customizations as well, though at the moment they don't sell everything exledshop does.

not to hijack but these look like some pretty nice headlights... I'm so close to wanting to pull the trigger on some new ones and then put HIDs in them, but can't make myself do it for some reason!

AUTOLAMP AUDI Style Head Lights for Avante MD (pair)

[PLP]

[QUOTE=dec3ption;1214805]I'm so close to wanting to pull the trigger on some new ones and then put HIDs in them, but can't make myself do it for some reason!/QUOTE]

Don't.

Better add to your budget for OEM such as this one
2011 Hyundai Elantra I 35 Avante MD KDM Projector Headlights CCFL DRL | eBay

Those replacements are cheaper, and crappier as one would expect.
Light distribution is poor.

Look for OEM HID setup that you could directly put into MD. I do remember seeing them for about 650-750.

EDIT:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elantra-Hyun...dd37e1&vxp=mtr
I guess they got more expensive...