Just thinking outside the box, maybe way outside, but.... Has anybody ever done this before?...

I tried searching, but nothing really came up. The reason for my pondering is my 04 has both headlights damaged, and since they're about $500 a pair, as opposed to under $200 for a pair of next generation headlights and the fact that i was going to have some body work done to the front of the car anyways, i started to wonder if it's something that was done before. The outlines are different, so some sheetmetal work might be neccesary, but mounting tabs seem somewhat similar. So it got me thinking whether a mod like that has ever been attempted before or whether it's destined to be a failure.

 

the cost of fabricating those to fit will cost what you'd pay to have oem, in the end...

Why not search the classifieds? Or check out mazmart, finishlineperformance, onlinemazdaparts, etc...?

 

Thanks man, but i've been all over local classifieds and any kind of local supplier, wrecking yard/ recycler. Search goes one

Thank you much though for extra sources!

 

would be cool to see this conversion, imo find some sII fenders and attempt it

 

The biggest difference in the shape of he headlights is on the bottom, so you would have to replace the whole fromt bumper cover with a S II piece as well.

Anyone know why the SII headlights are so much cheaper than the S I?

Hae you checked to see if the Basic S I (sport) headlights are more affordable?

No HID & no auto leveling on those may make them a better price-range, & if you have the "guts" of your old lights, you may be able to transplant those components if they are still good

BTW, I think the SI front end is MUCH more attractive than the SII, so IMO, you would be doing the car's look a disservice by swaping to an SII front

 

actually, if you look at the pics, the top and right side are completely different. You'd have to get S2 fenders, or add and remove metal from the S1 fenders to get them to line up with the new corner shape and compound curve on the top.

Because the corner reaches further down the side, you'd have to fill in the corner light on an s1 bumper and do some major cutting of the bumper cover and the fender there as well.

All in all you'd need s2 lights, fenders and bumper cover to do the job without having to do tons of expensive body work to the s1 stuff.

 

+1. Exactly.

Guys, this has been done before and it requires the use of factory parts that just bolt on. You could pay someone to do it custom but that would be retarded.

Does anyone use the search function at all?

 

where exactly are you finding a pair of oem S2 headlights for 200 bucks???? the headlights generally go for 700 a pop each.

 

This has been discussed a lot and the cost to convert is expensive.

 

I'll be posting a 2009 bumper for sale soon! <nudge nudge> <wink wink>

 

Besides - the S1 lights look much sportier.


Welcome to the forum.

 

Yes I did. The only reason i posted is because i couldn't find anything after searching. But looking at the differences over and over does make me realize that it's a lot deeper than minor cutting, grinding and fitting. Thanks.

Local craigslist actually, $200 OBO for a pair of 09 lights! I still have the guy's contact info

I agree. And thank you.

 

^There is plenty of info on the swap here. Not saying you did not search but the info is here. Prices, parts and even some of the technical issues you could run into.

 

Mazdatrix did this conversion on their blue 8. For the lights you will need the SII front bumper and fenders for it to fit properly. On the bright side once you do it you can look forward to getting this bumper lol http://japanparts.com/images/ImageFr...ase=1&no=38229

 

^^^ Hmmm, that is a pretty good incentive Thank you all for info

 

Yeah and by the time you pay for the conversion and the RE bumper you could have bought another Series I Rx-8

 

dude is obviously not listening

 

True but then you wouldn't be able to roll up to another 8 and tell him your front end is as much as his/her car.

 

how about you just buy those S2 headlights for the 200 for the pair ... try to sell them at 500 bucks each which is about 200 less than the dealer price... turn a significant profit, and put the money to something more useful.

just sayin

 

anything is possible as long you got money, time and effort to do it

ps: some 7 have done it on their front end conversion light, you can find it in my siggy

 

Now that is some creative thinking.