City Lights Mod

[kyle's protege5]

I took my headlights out the other day to repaint them a semi-gloss black from the original flat black that I had originally painted them. So I did something that I always wanted to do.

Has any one ever noticed the circle on the back of our headlights towards the top, on the high beam side? If you look close there is the marks for what appears like a bulb holder. So I decided that I was gonna Dremel that out and put in city lights!

I used some extra sockets that I had saved off of an Accord that I scrapped out. I'm gonna get some bluish bulbs to match the others soon.

For the wiring, I just tied into the parking light right below. I also disconnected the parking part of the turn signal, so that it only flashes with the turn signal.

1. Remove the front bumper

-Remove the 3 plastic push locks in the fenders
-Remove the 1 push lock and 2 screws under the bumper in front of the fender on each side
-Remove the 2 screws along the bottom of the bumper holding it to the core support
-Disconnect any wires going to your fog lights if you have them
-Remove the 2 screws and the push locks holding in the grill and remove the grill
-Gently pull out the bumper under the side of the headlight.
-Bumper should come off now
2. Remove both headlights

-Should be 1 screw on top and one on each side I believe
3. Remove everything you can from headlights

-All the rings, screws, brackets, clips everything you can get off.
-Don’t forget the little screws that hold the clear cover on
4. Put lights in one at a time into oven preheated to 250 for about 8-10 minutes
5. Carefully pull light apart removing the clear cover

-Don’t get any of the grey glue on the clear lens or your screwed. It’s a PITA to get off
-Let the lights cool off so they are easier to work with.

*At this point if you’re going to paint the housing black, I would do it now so it can be drying while you are doing the other work.
I also recommend smoking the back of the turn signal lens. That turned out sweet with the black headlights

6. Find the exact center of that circle on back
7. Drill a 1/8" hole with the sharpest bit you can get, all the way through the reflector

-Drill it as straight as you can. The bit will want to walk to the side since the reflector is curved.
8. I then used a UniBit (Step Bit) to drill the plastic out to the 9/16" (That’s the size of the circle part of my bulb holder. Just measure yours to know what to drill to)
9. Then using a Dremel, cut out the little slots to the sides of the hole to match your socket.
10. Now CAREFULLY Dremel out the reflector. Go slow and keep checking it by sticking your bulb and socket from the back.

-If you get to aggressive you will chip out your chrome. If it chips a little don’t worry, It’s so hard to look up into your light to see the bulb that no one will ever notice.
11. It will end up being an oval to the left and right since the bulb is coming through reflector is at an angle to it.
12. Put cover back on light, then bake another 8-10 minutes to melt glue back together

-After you pull it out of oven push it together really good, and put clips and screws back in while its still warm
13. Reassemble everything back into the light
14. Put lights back in car
15. Put bumper back on
13. Now wire it to the turn signal light below it. (Or wherever you want)

-The wire you need to tie into is the black for the ground, just tap into it, don’t cut it.
-The other wire is Green with black. I clipped it off about 1” from the socket. I then added to that wire to make it even with the black one, and attached those to female spade connectors. Those fit perfectly into the Honda bulb holders I used.




Here are the pics.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=191&pictureid=1000

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=191&pictureid=999

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=191&pictureid=995

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=191&pictureid=998

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=191&pictureid=997

[fishdonotbounce]

I don't see any pics :D

Edit: Now I do. Looks pretty good.

[boostdprotegelx]

neat!

[kyle's protege5]

Thanks, i always liked how it looks on jags, and what not. The 6's have it stock. Ours have the place for it, but its not there. Wonder if the JDM ones have them in?

[P-Funk!]

sweeeeet mod!

I suspect a lot of people will jump on this!

[JC-MP5]

Very neat! Needs more outdoor pics!

[BlackCherry]

Wait wait, this confuses me, what does this do now?

[JC-MP5]

It's the same idea as the not-as-bright daytime running lights on certain cars. (Chevys, my GF's Accord lol) At least it appears to be?

[boostdprotegelx]

Wait wait, this confuses me, what does this do now?

it's a small bulb(generally of blue or red color) that runs w/out your other lights, making your housing appear the color of the light.

[BlackCherry]

Oh that's pretty neat, I've never heard of this before, can someone post up a picture of an accord or a chevy with these on as posted before. This mod sounds sick

[boostdprotegelx]

Oh that's pretty neat, I've never heard of this before, can someone post up a picture of an accord or a chevy with these on as posted before. This mod sounds sick

go to yahoo. and search city lights in the photos section.

[BlackCherry]

http://www.clubcivic.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=21369&stc=1&d=1155542274

Like this?

[BlackCherry]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h190/NYbadboy911/my%20baby/DSC02932.jpg

You can see it easier on this one

[JC-MP5]

Hrmmm. Maybe it wasn't what I was thinking...

[BlackCherry]

I'm actually thinking about this now, this was a while back. I saw a p5 parked at a store i was at. It was completely modded. The headlights were flashing green for the alarm system I guess? I guess they could've been put in the same spot as kyle's protege5 did but hooked up to the alarm system?

[boostdprotegelx]

I'm actually thinking about this now, this was a while back. I saw a p5 parked at a store i was at. It was completely modded. The headlights were flashing green for the alarm system I guess? I guess they could've been put in the same spot as kyle's protege5 did but hooked up to the alarm system?
prolly some lame ass strobes. not city lights. this is cooler.

Hrmmm. Maybe it wasn't what I was thinking...

it's exactly what i said:) good stuff

[BlackCherry]

They seemed cool at the time lol they just sound dumb now.
And can you confirm that the pictures that I posted are the ones what this post is about?

[boostdprotegelx]

They seemed cool at the time lol they just sound dumb now.
And can you confirm that the pictures that I posted are the ones what this post is about?

yes.

[BlackCherry]

Alright cool, I'm down for this mod
All I gotta do is dremel a hole and plug the light in? How am I wiring this light and what size bulb?

[boostdprotegelx]

Alright cool, I'm down for this mod
All I gotta do is dremel a hole and plug the light in? How am I wiring this light and what size bulb?

..that's something this dude will have to tell you. but in all reality.. you COULD just dremel a totally new hole and pick your own size bulb/socket and wire it to i suppose a switched power. or constant, depending on if you wanted it on all the time, or just when you feel like it

for me, if i had fogs, i would have the fogs and city lights on at the same time with the running lights.

[BlackCherry]

But where do the lights come though so that the light reflects? Do you dremel though the relectors too?
And I'm just gunna take a random guess. If I do this and make my lights red, I can probably get a ticket for it, correct?

[boostdprotegelx]

But where do the lights come though so that the light reflects? Do you dremel though the relectors too?
And I'm just gunna take a random guess. If I do this and make my lights red, I can probably get a ticket for it, correct?

meh. maybe, maybe not. depends on the cop. some dont really care.

yes through the reflector i believe. or above it so the light reflects ON it.

[BlackCherry]

Ok, so lemme get this straight.
Basically dremel though the housing and through the reflector get a bulb that fits the hole that I dremeled. Then wire it all together. Like you were saying before hook up my daytime running lights, fogs, and these city lights. So basically I can turn the light nob once and it'll all turn on.

Ok, now how am I holding this bulb steady?

[boostdprotegelx]

Ok, so lemme get this straight.
Basically dremel though the housing and through the reflector get a bulb that fits the hole that I dremeled. Then wire it all together. Like you were saying before hook up my daytime running lights, fogs, and these city lights. So basically I can turn the light nob once and it'll all turn on.

Ok, now how am I holding this bulb steady?

correct.

your hole should fit the socket you drill.

[ScratchNSniff]

http://www.clubcivic.com/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=21369&stc=1&d=1155542274

Like this?

You on clubcivic as well, or just a link you found...

[BlackCherry]

You on clubcivic as well, or just a link you found...

Naw just found it on google images, it just happened to come up from there

[BlackCherry]

correct.

your hole should fit the socket you drill.

But I don't get how I'm getting the light to stay steady there. Like for example the highbeams twist in to lock. You can't just stick a bulb in a hole and expect it to stay. Sorry I'm kinda dumb x)

[boostdprotegelx]

But I don't get how I'm getting the light to stay steady there. Like for example the highbeams twist in to lock. You can't just stick a bulb in a hole and expect it to stay. Sorry I'm kinda dumb x)

if you notch it correctly you can.

[BlackCherry]

Ok, well basically here's the idea that me and my friend just came up with. Basically splice the side marker light. So that the light comes on with the one turn of the nob, but it doesn't flash with the turn signals, so I'm not asking for trouble. And then add a 2nd switch the turn the side markers/city lights off just so I have that ability.

Another problem that I came up with. Was if you dremel though the highbeams couldn't the chrome coating chip?

[BlackCherry]

Actually...I could just say fuck the side marker lights, take those out replace them with red bulbs and runt hat straight to the lights

[i12drivemyMP5]

This is cool mod. I think if I ever did it I would just run it independent of all other lighting where they'd be on with whatever other combo of lights or even without any other lights.

[smurfedpro5]

not bad

[kyle's protege5]

im gonna update the first post with some more tips on how to do it.


Also by clipping the wire feeding the parking/turn signal, and using it to feed the city light, means that its on through all the positions. And if you do the fog light mod, you can have just the city light and your driving on if you want, which is how i drive most of the time.

Another thing i did was to shave off the fender and bumper turn signals, so i only have the city in the front as a parking light, and then the turn lights up its bright filament for a turn signal.

I have no side turn signals in the front, but o'well, hasn't been a problem in almost 7 years!

[dannyxcarr]

i would love better/more pics and a walk through. looks like a cool mod! i'd also be interested in trying to figure out how i could get my fogs to come on with my parking lights instead of with my headlights. then i could drive with the city lights and fogs... should still be bright enough to see the road as well as not get pulled over.

[StealthWyvern]

its not a new mod... a few people has alreay done it on this board..

Edit: This was on a pair of used headlights I had purchased. 2 other people had done this on the boards.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/StelathWyvern/Busted%20headlights/DSCF1458.jpg

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd231/StelathWyvern/Busted%20headlights/DSCF1459.jpg

[kyle's protege5]

i would love better/more pics and a walk through. looks like a cool mod! i'd also be interested in trying to figure out how i could get my fogs to come on with my parking lights instead of with my headlights. then i could drive with the city lights and fogs... should still be bright enough to see the road as well as not get pulled over.

Just search for that, there is a how to on it. It does look cool with just the fogs and city lights

[kyle's protege5]

its not a new mod... a few people has alreay done it on this board..

Edit: This was on a pair of used headlights I had purchased. 2 other people had done this on the boards.

Thats cool. No one said it was a new mod.

At least mine dont look like a rat chewed the hole :) J/K

[StealthWyvern]

Thats cool. No one said it was a new mod.

At least mine dont look like a rat chewed the hole :) J/K

lol yeah whoever did that job did it half ass'd at best. No I was just simply statign that it wasn't a new mow. A few people came across to me like it was new.

[oem plus]

Actually...I could just say fuck the side marker lights, take those out replace them with red bulbs and runt hat straight to the lights

That's exactly what i've been thinking. I deleted my side markers a while ago,but the wires are still there. My buddy has a VW with city lights and I always wanted to copy the design. I was going to drill a hole at the bottom of the hi-beam housing and use a grommet to hold the light in place. Since it would turn on with the parking lights, all the hard work of wiring is done.

[BlackCherry]

I wanna see some more pictures of this on our car, night time pics would be sick

[StealthWyvern]

Thats cool. No one said it was a new mod.

At least mine dont look like a rat chewed the hole :) J/K

You should make a real quick how-to on doing this along with the disabled parking light mod that you did.

[BlackCherry]

You should make a real quick how-to on doing this along with the disabled parking light mod that you did.

Agree'd!

[BlackCherry]

That's exactly what i've been thinking. I deleted my side markers a while ago,but the wires are still there. My buddy has a VW with city lights and I always wanted to copy the design. I was going to drill a hole at the bottom of the hi-beam housing and use a grommet to hold the light in place. Since it would turn on with the parking lights, all the hard work of wiring is done.

The thing is, would the lights reach there you think?

[kyle's protege5]

The thing is, would the lights reach there you think?

just solder in some longer ones.

[widgit117]

Or a simple splicing will work. Just make sure you use heat shrink tape and use a wire insulator tube.

[kyle's protege5]

You should make a real quick how-to on doing this along with the disabled parking light mod that you did.
See if thats better on the first post now

[kyle's protege5]

Or a simple splicing will work. Just make sure you use heat shrink tape and use a wire insulator tube.

Ya thats true, i'm just a huge believer in soldering. As much wiring as i did in my car, with the emanage, all the gauges, water methanol kit, o2 clamp, all new wiring for stereo, and probably more that i cant think of, I dont ever want to have to chase down a loose wire.

And I love heat shrink too :)

[StealthWyvern]

See if thats better on the first post now

at a quick glance it looks goo but you might want to update a picture of how you tapped into the lights and what not. I'll go back and read it when im not so busy at work.

[kyle's protege5]

at a quick glance it looks goo but you might want to update a picture of how you tapped into the lights and what not. I'll go back and read it when im not so busy at work.

Good idea, i will try to get some.

If i would have thought of it, i could have taken pics when i was doing it.

[Changed1MG]

Doesn't drilling straight into the housing and reflector without creating some kind of seal seem like asking for a moisture build-up problem?

[StealthWyvern]

Doesn't drilling straight into the housing and reflector without creating some kind of seal seem like asking for a moisture build-up problem?

The bulbs have a seal on them.... just like any other twist in bulb

[kyle's protege5]

Doesn't drilling straight into the housing and reflector without creating some kind of seal seem like asking for a moisture build-up problem?

There is s seal on the socket that i used. Rremember, the lights are not sealed, there is 2 vents tubes on the back of them. But yes i would recommend using a seal like i did.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=191&pictureid=1051

[kyle's protege5]

The bulbs have a seal on them.... just like any other twist in bulb

Didn't see you already answered that! Sorry, Ya what he said!

[kyle's protege5]

anybody do this yet? lets see some pics!

[StealthWyvern]

anybody do this yet? lets see some pics!

no pics yet.. I'm still deciding on if I should try and make my busted up set work. IE bake them apart and peice together a good set from the busted ones on my car and the busted ones I got from treflip999.

[Ian!]

Not yet. I'm also deciding if I want to black out my lights at the same time or just leave them chrome.

[kyle's protege5]

Not yet. I'm also deciding if I want to black out my lights at the same time or just leave them chrome.


black looks so much better imo. it totally changes the front look of the car.

[mynameisdaniel]

lol this mod is stock on our Australian lights, probably what that cutout is for. We use that as our parker lights and the circle light below it is our indicator :P