Ignore the post above and see this updated one, it timed out before I could update it.....
I couldn't wait until this weekend to install the AR NOVA's and it's supposed to rain here this weekend. Work was light, then exploded late afternoon. Today it was 64 degrees and beautiful in Virginia, so I went ahead and installed the AR NOVA's, took me about 30 minutes to dig though my disorganized garage and tools to find a
10mm socket and
3/8 inch driver for my drill. Also needed a
T25 Torx Driver and I needed a
small pick to pry out the fasteners on the belly pan to release the front bumper from the car. I didnt jack the car up, just set it on high suspension and used a 10mm socket with a shorty driver to reach under the car verses jacking it up. Took me about 60 minutes to install and clean the radiators.
There were no instructions in the box, but it's pretty easy.
I used this video as a reference to remove the bumper -
I used this video as a reference to remove the headlight housings -
While I had the front bumper cover removed I vacuumed out the radiators, the ones with the louvers that open and close in front of each wheel, they were jammed packed with detritus; leaves, sand, a cigarette butt, freaking face diaper (I'm not kidding). There was an about 8 to 12 ounces of crap in there on each side. (120K+ miles) never been cleaned. Explains why the fans run so hard when I supercharge in the summer.
After you re-install the bumper cover, you can adjust the headlights by removing the frunk covers left and right and you will see the adjuster next to the wiring on the back of the light. You can reach it from the top through a predrilled hole. You will need a
T40 Torx driver or use an 8mm socket....
It finally got dark here and I did a test drive with my son, the lights are beautiful on the car, but candidly I don't really care about the automation, my son thought it was cool. Compared to the OEM LED Tesla lights these rock, the AR NOVA's throw a huge amount of light close to the car and it has really sharp cutoffs, I just got back from adjusting these, and they light output is amazing. No one flashed me on the final test drive, so that is a good sign they are adjusted right. On low beam I think these will incinerate bugs before they reach the car compared to the candles on the OEM lights. High beam is also amazing, but around here most of my driving is with low beams, on high beam I can see street signs reflecting back about 500 meters or so down the road.
Video on how to adjust the cutoff correctly:
I will also compare these to my Morimoto HID's with Lexus lenses on my FJ, which seem to throw a more uniform light pattern, without the intensity close to the front of the car. I paid about $500 in parts to do the FJ, with a lot of my labor to modify the headlamp assembly. I may take my old OEM lights apart and retro the same kit into them for another test.
If these hold up longer than the OEM lights, then I would give them five stars... let's wait a year and see. Very happy not to come back with tired eyes tonight!