Builds LX450 where to start! (4 Viewers)

[scottryana]

I like the S4 but might be a little small. Do you know anything about the S6 or S8? I have heard both are terrible to work on with the V10?

Lease return Audi B8 S4.

 

[Douglas S]

I like the S4 but might be a little small. Do you know anything about the S6 or S8? I have heard both are terrible to work on with the V10?

I'm not too familiar with them. They depreciate fast so I imagine there are significant maintenance costs associated.

If you're looking for something sporty, AWD, and fairly large there aren't a lot of options out there.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

I have been flirting with a 2009 Audi S6 with the 5.2L V10. Really want a nice comfortable and moderaitly quick sedan. Each time I go look and them I love the sound and feel of the engine but man opening that hood....shivers. one plus with Audi is the interior fit and finish is superb and it feels like quality.

I agree on your WRX STI interior concerns. Feels like cheap toy.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

Anytime someone is looking for a AWD vehicle it's hard to think past the Subaru's. Everyone one loves those things. There are also Jeep Grand Cherokees that have AWD but it is still a Jeep. I have a friend in Colorado that loves his and when I was riding around in it it was very comfortable and interior was very nice. You can even get it with a diesel.

 

[DudeAbides]

Turbo Forester? Gives you something to tinker with, HP can be bumped significantly. Mild lift can make it stand out.

 

[scottryana]

Going to try out the LED headlight craze since us LX guys can't get cool projectors. lol.

They just arrived today from China, took less than a week and instead of $500 for the pair buying in the US they were $206 with shipping.....

These are the VLEDs that they want $250 a pair for
http://www.vleds.com/led-headlights/9006-hb4/9006-lmz-2725.html

These are the LED's I bought for $103/pair

I am probably going to pull the Slee harness not because it isn't made really well but since these should take less power than the stock bulbs and I would like to get some of the extra wiring out of the way. Even with less power usage 90w vs 110w they should put out a lot more light.

They are rated at 4500 lumens.

 

[scottryana]

Oh I also ran Elephant Hill in the LX today. Very fun and cool trail. I ran into a couple in the parking lot with a 4runner that thought they would do it, but it was basically stock on 32's once they got up the first section and on the top looking down over the "Elephant Hill" they said no way in hell. They probably could have made it but I am glad they knew their limits. Only bad part was they went home and left me spotter less backing down the switchbacks. I am losing nerve in my old age, if you haven't done it and you have a moderately built 80 it is fun. No pics since I was by myself.

 

[scottryana]

The "before" shots. I used manual settings on the camera, all at ISO800. Taken on a dead end back road in Moab, with no street or house lights. I will edit and put the befores and afters right next to each other once I swap the LED bulbs in tomorrow.

**EDITED to put BEFORES and AFTERS together in later post**

 

[NLXTACY]

I like the S4 but might be a little small. Do you know anything about the S6 or S8? I have heard both are terrible to work on with the V10?

I've had the A4, S4 and RS4. I liked the A4 the best probably because I actually got to drive it the most without interuption. The RS4 was a crazy bat out of hell but I only got to drive it for 5 out of 12 months. Fxxx that. Never again. Size-wise I like the S6 better. I nearly bought a used RS6 but the owner changed his mind. But the size better suited me.

 

[scottryana]

Yeah, might be sneaking the LX450 in by registering it in Montana through a loophole. And buying a motorcycle for fun instead. lol.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/02/exotic-cars-and-montana-plates/

I've had the A4, S4 and RS4. I liked the A4 the best probably because I actually got to drive it the most without interuption. The RS4 was a crazy bat out of hell but I only got to drive it for 5 out of 12 months. **** that. Never again. Size-wise I like the S6 better. I nearly bought a used RS6 but the owner changed his mind. But the size better suited me.

 

[scottryana]

Did I mention that I hate wiring???? All of this was basically just stuffed into the headlight buckets. I ended up pulling the Slee Harness and a bunch of this mess. I am basically going to end up rewiring every after market circuit on the truck I am convinced none of them are done right.

This is how a professional shop wires a relay??? This is the shop that had the Lamborghini's, GTR's, high end imports.

 

[scottryana]

Well the lights seem pretty nice but right away I ran into a problem.....

 

[scottryana]

Soooo for all you smart guys out there what do you think will happen if I run one LED low side bulb and one regular low side bulb?!? They are 45w and 55w respectively so not hugely different wattage wise.

Both lows on:

Highs and lows on:

 

[concretejungle]

Those are nice! I think the way that LED technology is accelerating so quickly, there will be some really good and cost effective direct fit plug and play soon.

I know there are a few out now, but not sure on the quality vs. cost.

 

[1973Guppie]

looks like you might be able to just trim those heat vents in order to make it fit? should not effect it too much? A dremel should do the trick? that along with some careful leverage to maybe move that pipe a few mm?

 

[scottryana]

Hmm didn't think about dremelling the fins...... The "pipe" has zero movement it's an AN12 fitting connected directly to the tank

 

[scottryana]

Dead end alley in Moab.


Low Before:

Low After (remember I only have 1 of the LED's installed as the passenger side won't fit)

 

[scottryana]

Highs Before:

Highs After:

 

[scottryana]

Tried to get a couple more easy to identify pics so two lane hwy.

Low:

High:

 

[scottryana]

Ok last one.

I wanted to see how they looked from the other side of the lens. This is 50yrds away camera 5' high. Very hard to get a picture like this that is worth anything.

Low:

High:

High and dual 10" specter driving light bars: