| xcel |
Hi All:
___I received a boat load of accessories for the X from Tim this afternoon but the wife wants to go to a movie … Hhhmmmm, Movie … Install the accessories … Install the Accessories … Go to the Movie … Install the accessories … Darn it, I have to go to the movie or I won’t have the wife and with no wife, no X to install accessories onto ;)
___To all of you contemplating the X accessory install yourself, the Form fit front deflector looks to be a breeze, the meter trim looks to be a breeze, the Burlwood shift knob is a breeze, the wiring harness looks to be a breeze, the Fender flares need a TW paint job so I will hold judgment but they look relatively easy to install, and the Chrome side steps were a breeze! Painted rear deflector … I am still waiting for some TW touch up paint before the X goes under the drill but that looks relatively painless. The Member AcuraMDX.org plates were a breeze also. Just do it and take the family on a vacation in the X with the money saved!
___Tim, thanks again for the quick shipment and the great prices! I can’t wait until the mats and steering wheel arrive :)
___Good Luck to you all ...
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| andrep |
Hi XCEl,
Glad to hear the accessories are a relatively painless matter to install. This is will be a factor in my present decsion between:
1. A base Silver/Ebony with tons of dealer installed accessories, or 2. A Touring Silver/Ebony with no dealer accessories but plenty to be added later at my leisure.
Part of this calculus is how likely am I to screw-up an install and, of course the labor involved. It seems my dealer wants to charge $1K over the price of parts I want if purchased online.
I really welcome peoples' recommendations between alternatives 1 and 2 (above).
Thanks,
andrep |
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| hammermdx |
| I would buy the accessories from Tim and install them yourself. Just depends on how handy and how much free time you have. Tim provides very detailed instructions and fellow members here always offer great advice. Good Luck! |
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| phins2rt |
| I agree with Hammer. I think just about anyone can install most of these accessories (the wood steering wheel being one I plan on NOT doing). But it does depend on your free time as well. Some of these items do take a couple of hours to install, but it is all worth it when you can look at your X with a sense of pride and say "Hey, I added those myself!" Good luck with your decision.:D |
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| m2pc |
| Agree with the above. As for the dilemma, lets see, install or movies......:confused: ....:eek: I think I got it!:p To the drive in and install there!:D JK, but it would have been a funny site |
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| andrep |
Thanks all for the advice and comments -- as of now, leaning towards getting the touring and buying accessories from Tim.
I hope to "oficially" join the club with my X soon!
andrep |
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| hockeyplayer |
| Wiring harness?? Wayne what is that for?? |
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| xcel |
Hi Hockeyplayer:
___Just in case I have to haul anything larger than the bike rack … You know, like possibly 4 mowers on a dual axle trailer of some kind I might have lying around ;)
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| Wazowski |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
... Painted rear deflector ? I am still waiting for some TW touch up paint before the X goes under the drill but that looks relatively painless....
Hi Xcel! FWIW, if you just can't wait for the touch up paint, you can use any color paint (or even primer) since everything will be concealed by your tailgate deflector anyway after it is installed. I even ended putting on a generous "glob" of black silicone on all of the bolts/holes to make sure everything was moisture-proof. A clean and very painless install, indeed. :cool:
WRT your wiring harness, I take it that you've already installed a trailer hitch? Did you install the OEM hitch from Tim? I'm thinking of doing that next. Was it also a painless installation?! I'm still torn about the transmission and power steering coolers. The thought of yanking my front bumper off my X is not appealing to me yet. Although I plan only to "tow" bikes, ya' just never know if you might need tow a boat someday! ;) |
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| xcel |
Hi Wazowski:
___I started this thread a few weeks ago … I did install the Texas-DAR painted rear deflector reflector as discussed here so it was just a matter of receiving the touch up paint. Your install tip surely would have worked if it was a time critical task as well!
___For the hitch, I purchased a Class III – 3500 pound MDX hitch from Etrailer.com for just $99.00 and $21.00 shipping. Here is the link to the particular Hidden Hitch, model number 70545. It uses round tubing just like the OEM so it looks very nice from the rear. If you wanted a round over the muffler hitch, Hidden Hitch offers another tubular model number 75124. I have the feeling this is the hitch that Acura sells as the OEM for the MDX. When you see pic’s of the Acura hitch and this one side by side, they are practically identical that I can tell … You can see this hitch over at Etrailer.com here. The extra $47.57 for the second was not worth it IMHO but that is just me talking. As for the install of the Hitch, they are the easiest item to install as long as you have another person to start the bolts once you have the hitch up in the air. My 10 yr. old helped me with that task and he did a great job in the process!
___The OEM MDX Trailer harness came from Tim at a hair over $51.50. I could have and probably should have just purchased a non-OEM MDX harness from E-Trailer and saved a bit but with the OEM, I was sure to receive the (2) sealing grommets that were sized perfectly for the X.
___Everything and I mean everything has installed with a minimum of hassle although I did not install the coolers or the fender flares just yet. Hopefully the painted Fender Flares will be finished tomorrow and I can pick them up for a Thursday afternoon install. The Wood-Grain steering wheel is the only item I cannot install myself given the lack of a puller and the lack of experience with airbag circuitry on the column.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
___Everything and I mean everything has installed with a minimum of hassle although I did not install the coolers or the fender flares just yet. Hopefully the painted Fender Flares will be finished tomorrow and I can pick them up for a Thursday afternoon install. The Wood-Grain steering wheel is the only item I cannot install myself given the lack of a puller and the lack of experience with airbag circuitry on the column.
Get that digital camera crankin' Wayne. We want some pics. OK, maybe it's just me that wants some pics. I need to live vicariously through your upgrades. :) |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by crmsnidol
Get that digital camera crankin' Wayne. We want some pics. OK, maybe it's just me that wants some pics. I need to live vicariously through your upgrades. :)
Another vote for excel's pics:29: |
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| xcel |
Hi GreatScot and Crmsnidol:
___The X is still missing front tints, painted Fender Flares, Wood-Grain steering wheel, and the Chrome 03 Premium wheels. I might see the FF’s tomorrow and install. I may also install the Chrome rims tomorrow since they are in the garage as I type. If I was smart, I would wait another two or three weeks for the salt to wash away … I’m not that smart however ;) I am also waiting on the TW Door Edge guards. Thanks again Crmsnidol!
___Tint’s will come when I find a quality tint shop in my locale. Any help from anyone in Northern IL. would be a great help with that particular upgrade.
___On another accessory type note, I spoke with Rjmitche in person yesterday at his office. I think I convinced him to purchase and install some Chrome Side Steps and a Form Fit front deflector for his MBP X … I can’t wait to see his finished off as well. Just don’t tell his wife how much those accessories cost ;)
___Good Luck to the both of you with the many upgrades to come!
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi GreatScot and Crmsnidol:
___The X is still missing front tints, painted Fender Flares, Wood-Grain steering wheel, and the Chrome 03 Premium wheels. I might see the FF’s tomorrow and install. I may also install the Chrome rims tomorrow since they are in the garage as I type. If I was smart, I would wait another two or three weeks for the salt to wash away … I’m not that smart however ;) I am also waiting on the TW Door Edge guards. Thanks again Crmsnidol!
___Tint’s will come when I find a quality tint shop in my locale. Any help from anyone in Northern IL. would be a great help with that particular upgrade.
___On another accessory type note, I spoke with Rjmitche in person yesterday at his office. I think I convinced him to purchase and install some Chrome Side Steps and a Form Fit front deflector for his MBP X … I can’t wait to see his finished off as well. Just don’t tell his wife how much those accessories cost ;)
I just had my fronts tinted 20% charcoal on Tuesday and it looks great. I'll snap some pics this weekend and post.
I won't have my replacement brackets until middle of next week. My wife is taking me away for the weekend next week as a celebration for completing school. I hope to have the stereo upgrades and other step on by then. The amps have been sitting at UPS in CA for 7 days now. No departure scan yet:3:
I am still considering the formfit deflector - especially after seeing greatscot's! I'm heading to a local BestBuy to check out the Creative Nomad Zen today. That might just be my next "upgrade". |
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| diceboy |
| Has anyone actually installed the wood steering wheel, or do you usually take it into your dealer for the install? I downloaded the instructions from hondacuraworld.com and it doesn't look easy...:8: |
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| haler |
I am new here, an am anxiously awaiting my Sage 93 MDX.
I saw on E-Bay motors Lighted running Boards for $245 for the set. I have 2 questions for anyone familiar with them,
1) are they of equal quality to the Dealer Installed, (the Dealers are not lighted)
2) are they easy to install?
Also am interested in the Painted "Spoiler" anyone get those?
Thanks in advance
:rolleyes: |
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| greatscot |
Welcome aboard haler,
Lots on here have painted rear deflector, just do a search and you'll get your fill. Now the lighted running boards for the X I haven't heard of before, that's a new one on me. |
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| haler |
Thanks for the welcome...
see this link to ebay motors and the "lighted Running Boards"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...6&category=6766
I would appreciate opinions on them vs. the Dealer installed ones, besides being less expensive then the Dealer Option I like the Lighted platform when it's Dark |
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| phins2rt |
| It looks like they're plastic (polymer). I believe the OEM ones are aluminum. The install to get the lights to work may be kind of tricky. It would seem to me you would have to do some drilling, etc. to get a wire to the running boards. Just my $.02. I know I have seen this item discussed before so you may want to do a search and see what you can find.:D |
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| rjmitche |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
___On another accessory type note, I spoke with Rjmitche in person yesterday at his office. I think I convinced him to purchase and install some Chrome Side Steps and a Form Fit front deflector for his MBP X … I can’t wait to see his finished off as well. Just don’t tell his wife how much those accessories cost ;)
xcel - it was good to finally meet you in person the other day. I only wish we had had more time to chat (do I feel a No. Illinois meet coming on? :)). Sorry I was running a bit late (construction traffic on 22 was a bear that day :rolleyes: ). And... unfortunately, you had to see my X in it's 'extremely dirty' state - you probably had trouble determining it was blue when I pulled in! ;)
As far as the side steps and front deflector go... I'll have to convince the 'Chairman of the Board' - she keeps asking how come I have to keep spending more money on this $40K+ vehicle. Maybe after I get the X nice and clean this weekend I'll be able to convince her. :D |
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| Wazowski |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi Wazowski:
....
___For the hitch, I purchased a Class III – 3500 pound MDX hitch from Etrailer.com for just $99.00 and $21.00 shipping. Here is the link to the particular Hidden Hitch, model number 70545. It uses round tubing just like the OEM so it looks very nice from the rear. If you wanted a round over the muffler hitch, Hidden Hitch offers another tubular model number 75124. I have the feeling this is the hitch that Acura sells as the OEM for the MDX. When you see pic’s of the Acura hitch and this one side by side, they are practically identical that I can tell … You can see this hitch over at Etrailer.com here. The extra $47.57 for the second was not worth it IMHO but that is just me talking. As for the install of the Hitch, they are the easiest item to install as long as you have another person to start the bolts once you have the hitch up in the air. My 10 yr. old helped me with that task and he did a great job in the process!
....
Thanks for the info, xcel. After much research and contemplation, I decided to go with the exact same Hidden Hitch (model no. 70545) that you installed. I talked to my dealer, and he was actually very reasonable! Unlike some of the other unreasonable dealers I've heard about on this board, he didn't try to give me the hard sales pitch to purchase the OEM trailer hitch w/ coolers for my intended use (or non-use). Instead, my dealer said something to the effect "Oh, for a bike rack? . . . you should just put on a Class III hitch yourself since it's much cheaper. You're not going to be towing anything, so you don't need the ATF and PSF coolers." When I asked my dealer about hypothetical potential tranny problems down the road and potentially voiding the warranty, he indicated to me that it "shouldn't be a problem" since I'm not towing anything -- just a bike rack! My thoughts, exactly! :) Now, I just have to sit back and wait and hope that my hitch arrives from etrailer.com in one piece with all of the hardware intact! :D |
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| xcel |
Hi All:
___Diceboy, just head on over to your local body shop and get a quote. I had mine installed for $33.50 three days ago.
___Rjmitche, it was great to meet you the other day as well! How about we have a Northern IL. MDX meet at my home and we all head on over to Six Flags – Great America for an early afternoon joy ride on one of the many coasters? It’s less than 2 miles away as I stare at the top of them from the deck right now. And don’t worry about the wife. Just tell her you heard that hundreds of your fellow X’ers are installing accessories to keep their own $40,000 X’s in a pristine $40,000 condition ;)
___Wazowski, great to hear about the hitch. As for the possibility of damaging that hitch in shipment, I would say it is more likely you will hear on the evening news that that hitch caused damage to someone that had attempted to run over it with a vehicle of some kind. That thing is monster tough!
___GreatScot, have you purchased any of the TW Door Edge Guard yet? I purchased Crmsnidol’s left over and still have enough to do 2 more X’s! It started out at 50’, and arrived at my home w/ > 37’. After my X was complete, there is still ~ 25’ left. Let me know and I can ship it out post haste … It actually paid for itself last night downtown in one of Chicago’s infamous parking garages on Theater Row by saving a dent/scratch when I gently opened up the driver side door into a 2’ high cement divider pole :3: No scratch, and more importantly, no dent :) It hit right on the edge. Let me know about the edge guard …
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| greatscot |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi All:
___GreatScot, have you purchased any of the TW Door Edge Guard yet? I purchased Crmsnidol’s left over and still have enough to do 2 more X’s! It started out at 50’, and arrived at my home w/ > 37’. After my X was complete, there is still ~ 25’ left. Let me know and I can ship it out post haste … It actually paid for itself last night downtown in one of Chicago’s infamous parking garages on Theater Row by saving a dent/scratch when I gently opened up the driver side door into a 2’ high cement divider pole :3: No scratch, and more importantly, no dent :) It hit right on the edge. Let me know about the edge guard …
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
Hi excel,
I just walked in from a "spur of the moment" road trip to Salt Lake City to see my brand new granddaughter.
The answer is no, I haven't purchased any door guard yet. PM me with what you need for your "crmsnidol left-overs" and shipping. We can work something out. BTW, this trip was incredible. Going up to SLC, I drove over Donner Pass at 2.am. in a major snow storm and the X was awesome. Coming back today, I hit rain after Reno, light snow over Donner Pass, and a major lightening/hail storm on 99 that brought lesser vehicles to a halt. I became the "leader of the pack" as others lined up behind me to find their way. What a car, I am so pleased with its performance. I've got a Tuesday appointment for my 7,500 mile check up.
Thanks again |
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