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Retrofit Bumper and LED
- Thread starter newbie1235
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- Model S
Kalud
Active Member
artsci
Sponsor
This will require a total replacement of the bumper assembly. Knowing Tesla if they even make it possible it will be very expensive.
Pretty certain you'll be looking at both a new bumper and hood. The new hood looks to have less of a curve than the old style, and definitely extends a little further forward.
I'm really ok with the look of the original design still. I am hoping however, that they at least make the headlight upgrade an option.
I'm really ok with the look of the original design still. I am hoping however, that they at least make the headlight upgrade an option.
Fusion
Member
artsci
Sponsor
I might be interested in a headlight upgrade, if it's possible, but only if tests reveal the LEDs are superior to the best HID, not the stock HIDS on the Model S, which are quite mediocre, but upgraded HIDs of the kind ucsbwsr is planning to do. Otherwise the LEDs will definitely not be worth it.
Cyclone
Cyclonic Member ((.oO))
Wow. Compared against my other vehicles, the S has the best headlights. Even better than the HID retrofit I did on the 4Runner with its projector housing (I know many just put HIDs in on reflector housings and those suck). I guess ignorance is bliss!
DDotJ
Member
Yep, same here! I came from a car with incandescent headlights (about as bright as the DRLs on Model S) from a 2001 car. The Xenons have been wonderful, it's scary driving my old Lexus now. But I would be interested in an LED retrofit if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
They ALWAYS say no retrofit but there is NO reason why the bumper cover couldn't be. There isn't much to the front bumper and the primary secure points are the same. (Remember the Model S door sills suposedly weren't retrofittable... and yet they are n my car.
I'll take pics when Ive completed it
I'll take pics when Ive completed it
They ALWAYS say no retrofit but there is NO reason why the bumper cover couldn't be. There isn't much to the front bumper and the primary secure points are the same. (Remember the Model S door sills suposedly weren't retrofittable... and yet they are n my car.
I'll take pics when Ive completed it
Won't the hood need replaced with a flatter design too?
Reminds me of Tesla hoping the cars to last a million miles. The more upgrades that are retrofittable, the fewer versions of components they have to maintain when the older car needs repair.
llavalle
Member
I was VERY interested in the LED headlights for the adaptative function. Turns out the high beam do not move. Only the low-beams...
See this Bjorn video for the X :
See this Bjorn video for the X :
Cyclone
Cyclonic Member ((.oO))
How would you get to the jump posts on a car with a dead 12v? Would you remove the bumper cover to do that?
The thing to remember with the LED lights is they are adaptive like the MX, so they will use a control line to tell them which way to point and perhaps a separate power line for the stepper motor. This definitely means a new wiring harness and perhaps a new connector. Depending on how the ballast is handled, that would be an additional complication.
So, can you hack your harness to power the lights? Sure, but you will likely compromise any warranty/ESA coverage you have and you are not going to get the adaptive function as the signal lines do not exist and the car is not going to know it should be pointing headlights even if they did.
So, can you hack your harness to power the lights? Sure, but you will likely compromise any warranty/ESA coverage you have and you are not going to get the adaptive function as the signal lines do not exist and the car is not going to know it should be pointing headlights even if they did.
It may. It may not. It depends on how the car is communicating with the lights currently. If it's a CAN connection there would likely be no need. I believe as it sits the Model S's headlight controller is in the headlight as well. So in theory it could potentially be as simple as swapping the capsule and telling the car it's there which you'd ave to convince Tesla to do.
The Model S's headlights are objectively pretty horrible. Poor cut-off, beam cross-over, non-adaptive. If you're coming from any halogen light they'll seem like quite the upgrade but if you're coming from another luxury car you can almost immediately tell they're mediocre. They use really cheap components too. Someone did a complete tear-down and finally explained why they are as bad as they are.
The hood is very likely identical. It appears Tesla was going for as much change as they could without changing sheet-metal, similar to what BMW does with it's LCI changes. The nice thing about BMW is they generally make retrofit kits available. The not so nice thing about BMW is that those retrofit kits are so expensive you may as well buy the newer car. I vaguely remember the 7 series LED light swap costing $6000.
Gizmotoy
Active Member
Or just a prototype of the bumper while the headlights were still being worked on. That photo is taken inside the lobby of Tesla HQ in Palo Alto. There's another one where it's parked near the chargers in Tesla HQ's parking lot. Could have been a test to see how it looked.
Kalud
Active Member
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