[gomarlins3]

Some of these have been discussed on the site already and I have printed them to help me (or the professional) to do the job. I was looking for suggestions on some of these mods that haven't been discussed here.
List:
Cruise control- already printed
Tinted windows- anyone done the fronts?
Install cd changed- printed
Bass tunnel in rear cubby hole
K & N filter
Dead pedal cover
HID head lite bulbs- can't afford the real thing, so it's just the bulbs
Arm rest- ordered from JC Whitney as suggested by board member.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Rick]

The "HID" bulbs won't give you any more light, they just change the color of the light. In fact because they filter it with a blue tint you actually get less light. I have em in my car, and they are ok for city, but they do look somewhat blue when on. For in the city they are fine, but I'm kind of hoping perhaps for one to burn out to see if there is that much of a loss or not over a normal bulb.

 

[gomarlins3]

Thanks for the advice. Could you just take out one of the 'blue' ones and install the old one, then check them. Just a thought.

 

[Atheos]

Not that there aren't a ton of insights with window tint, but
here's mine with mirror on the doors, and endurance on the rear.
going to remove the endurance tommorow, and replace it with 5 percent.
didn't want to push it by having mirror on the rear (it's illegal here)
http://www.atheos.net/insight/index.php

 

[Insighter]

Tint...

That mirrored tint looks really good. I wish I could get away with it here in California.

 

[bassplayer]

Had the whole car done fronts, side, rear , rear lower , front sun sheild .. Guy who did it said it wasn't any problem..

Bassplayer

 

[Insighter]

??

I take it you are not in California, because having any tint on your front windows is illegal in California. The only exception is for transparent, colorless film that allows 88% of the light through. And technically it has to allow 88% of the light through once installed, so whatever little factory tint is there can push you into the illegal zone.

My buddy's wife has been ticketed twice in the past 9 mos. for having her front windows tinted. She has a VW Passat with 35% on the rear windows and 38% up front. Her interior is black, so that really makes it look darker in the car. And she is young and pretty, so that makes her an attractive person to pull over.

Reflective tint itself is legal for now on the rear windows, but I would not be surprised to see that change. To put reflective tint on your front windows in California is to beg to be pulled over. It is really draws attention to your car.

 

[Atheos]

It's illegal here too, and I hear about people getting harrased for it all the time at the shop I work in.
(we do tint & aftermarket electronics)
I know it's probably a matter of time until I get harrased, but until then I like the look of my insight
When I see cops, I just roll down the windows.

Not sure what I'm going to do in the wintertime.

One good thing, is that at night it just looks like regular tint, which is when
I do alot of my driving.

 

[gomarlins3]

Tinting is scheduled for Tuesday next week.

 

[Motty82]

Solar Panel on Roof

I really want a Solar Array on the roof of my Insight... 8) Get a little extra power from the sun instead of having to exit Lean Burn in order to charge the batts up during cruising?! Unfortunately, I think I will wait for that to be an option for a future car instead of modifying my Insight as I am quite smitten with the way this car performs as it is. :lol:
~Martin
2000 5 Spd

 

[gomarlins3]

I had the tinting done, cruise put in, installed a Honda CD changer and had a powered subwoofer tube placed in the 'trunk.' An expensive but fun week. K & N went in two weeks ago. I think (hope) I am done now.

 

[Mr. Salty]

I have tinted all the windows, including the windshield. All the glass is now the same percentage as the small trunk window. Not too dark but a great improvement. With all the glass being the same it does not appear as an aftermarket modification; and yes I am in California and in rush hour traffic every day. Six months later still not even a glance from the law.
I also changed to a Sony head and 6" MB Quart monitor speakers. The modifications to the speakers and door panels were tricky. Everything still appears to be stock. A deterant to would be thieves.
The best modifiation I have done was the addition of a product called "Quiet Coat." It is a paint on product that dampens vibration. In other words it greatly reduces road noise (a big deal in this car) and "deadens" base response. If you knock on my insight, it sounds like it is made of plastic. Its a semi laborious insallation. It took me about 3 days, but now the body does'nt rattle when the base bottoms out and rough highways don't sound like static.
Have fun.

 

[gomarlins3]

Where can I buy this 'paint'? What's the name and how much? I agree that there are some rattles/ noises that are intrusive and wouldn't mind limiting those.

 

[Mr. Salty]

The paint can be found online @ Quietcoat.com. I purchased a 5 gal. bucket for $400.oo and split the cost with a friend. I used two gallons. That was enough to do three coats on the interior. I did not touch the aluminum battery
casing. I didn't want to void any waranties and it also has a great warning lable stamped into the top. It promises death to any nonhonda persons who dare open it. It was tempting, but it would only be more to reassemble later. Also you'll love the honda answer to insulating the quarter panels. I'll leave the "hi-tech" solution suprise to you.