Well, I've had my 2006.5 xB for a little under a month now and I've done a few things. The weather was crappy this weekend, but I decided to get some pics and see what you guys thought.

Mod list:

** Tein S-Techs
** Homemade spacers for front wheels (making rears sometime this week)
** Katana Stage Black 18" x 7.5" Rims
** Nankang Ultra Sport NS-II 215/35/18 Rubbers
** Cleared Headlights
** 4 Black Light Cathodes installed in interior.

Now for the pics.



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Night Pics






The box with my buddies Yamaha R1 (1,000 whp of pwnage)


Now for the cathodes. I installed 4 blacklight 12"s. In the stock lighting locations. I included the logo and xB to show the emphasis it gives, since camaras do not pickup the wavelength of the purple glow. Enjoy!

Cathode Yummy


Light outside=


Dark=


Passenger Light=


Dark=


And here is my sweet switch install. hah



Let me know what you guys think!

--Dennis

 

Nicely done!!!

 

Lookin Super hott! My BF put spacers on his wheels too and 2 months ago while he was driving one of his tires came off.. cracked his body kit in 4 places and couldn't find the wheel (I think someone picked it up) anyways two days ago on the opposite side the tire started woblin and sure enough he pulled over and 3 or the 4 lug nuts just fell off when he took the tire off. He had them for maybe a yr or two, just thought i would share that with you.. it could be dangerous depending how fast you are going when it decides to snap.

 

I wonder if people realize how spacers and offset wheels stress the wheel, lug nuts/bolts and bearings. I have always thought such mods were dangerous and served no function.

 

*SHRUG* Every set of aftermarket wheels I've had on past vehicles ALWAYS get a lug check once a month or so. I just like the secure feeling knowing my stuff is tight.

And how many horror cases do you really hear about people with spacers compared to how many own them? Get longer bolts, tighten em down and check em regularly.

I'm sure most members will agree.

--Dennis

 

Looks nice

 

Just tryin to help a brotha out!

 

I was going to suggest the same thing. if you are putting spacers over your current wheel studs you need to replace them with longer ones so that you get more than 2 or 3 turns on the thread. Checking the lugs once a month would be good too.

 

Looks Great!

 

Looks wicked. Is there an easy way to remove the amber plastic from the headlight housing? I like the stock headlamp setup and just want to get clear bulbs and take the amber out. Is it do-able?

thanks

 

Yup! I used the "oven method". Go to the tech section and find the DIY writeup for it. It's very detailed and it works good =).

--Dennis

 

I would have sex with it.

 

Nice box!!!

 

your rears look like they have a deg or two of neg camber - is that for real or a camera angle trick?

also, you know what i've never seen, but would look good, is blacking out the doorhandle keyholes... you could use electrical (vinyl) tape and cut a slot, but come to think of it, i've NEVER used my key in the door (always the clicker)

 

black the key holes, i've done it by cutting the back of an interior trim botton and sticking it in place with black silicone. VERY effective.

 

Wow. I had never thought of that. Great idea. I only use the clicker as well. Will add to my blacked out look when the tint gets finished and Bat's overlays go on. =D

cherrybox- My rears do have a slight camber. The camara angle in the one pic exagerrates it, but I do have some.

--Dennis

 

How about spacers,............... I used to work for a MercedesBenz dealer and these cars would come in with rediculous wheels and pretty thick spacers, when the cars would be on the rack and I would spin the tire to see how even it would spin I would be like ohh..... ____..... tires would wobble so bad. and I would tell the owners of the cars and they would be more concerned on looking cool than being safe. I would be like muerete puto.

 

In theory, you are right about the additional stress. BUT, no one has ever proven either way and there never will be a difinitive test. There are way too many variables involved such as road conditions, alignment specs, tire compounds, driving styles, etc.

I've driven modified cars for the past 17 years, all lowered, wheels wider and lower offset than stock, many with spacers or adapters including a widebody GTI with ET5 and ET10 offset wheels. I've had no more wheel bearing issues than people I know with "normal" cars.

I aggree with you that spacers can be dangerous, but as long as the spacers are done right they put absolutely no more stress on the lugs or studs. The lugs/studs are there to secure the wheels to the hubs, which support the weight of the vehicle. If the spacers are not hubcentric or don't allow the wheel to sit hubcentric, then you have a dangerous situation.

This can all be chaulked up to just my theory on the subject, but it's all based on first hand experience and personal knowledge on my own cars, as well as working at one of the larger VW tuners in the industry for 8 years.

Yeah, cheap spacers that are not hubcentric or are machined incorrectly can do that. There's definitely more to a good spacer than a hunk of metal with bolt holes in it.

 

Nice box, but I think the stock corners look better IMO.

 

Very nice!!