Picture this: you are pulling out of an early morning cars and coffee lot in a Mustang making well north of 700 horsepower, the sun is not up yet, and every phone in the parking lot is pointed at your front end. If the headlights look dated and throw a weak, yellowish beam down the road, the whole build loses a little of its edge. That is exactly the problem we set out to solve on Wade Kawasaki’s one of one Roush Mustang. We installed Morimoto XB LED headlights, XB LED tail lights and the new XB LED side markers, and this article walks through the car, the parts, and what we learned about choosing Ford Mustang LED headlights for your own build.
The One-Off Roush Wade Kawasaki Edition Mustang
Wade Kawasaki is the president and CEO of Legendary Companies, a group that oversees several tire and wheel brands built around collector and vintage cars. His Mustang is not a dressed-up GT. It is a one of one Roush Wade Kawasaki Edition, and Roush even serialized it with a build number specific to Wade. That kind of detail tells you how seriously everyone involved took this project.
The car came together in two stages. Roush built the whole car first, finishing its Stage 3 engine package with a couple of minor modifications, redoing the interior, and adding custom touches like the shifter knob and fender badges that Roush custom painted for this edition. Then the car shipped to SpeedKore. SpeedKore pulled the engine, transmission, interior and all the glass, then laid down a vintage Gulf style livery in light blue and orange. The paint quality looks factory original, and the classic racing colors give a modern Mustang a look you simply do not see in a parking lot.
Supercharged 5.0L Power and a Six-Speed Manual
Pop the hood and things get serious fast. The engine is the 5.0L 32 valve V8 topped with a TVS 2650 supercharger, and Wade’s car runs a special tune that pushes output well north of 700 horsepower. Roush and SpeedKore added custom carbon fiber treatments under the hood, and SpeedKore even painted the engine cover in the Gulf colors so the livery carries right into the engine bay. Power goes through a real six-speed manual, which Wade enjoys even as a daily driver.
What surprised us most is how civil it is. Roush engineers everything to work together, so the car stays docile and comfortable on the street. Switch it into track mode and it wakes up completely.
Track Gear That Still Works on the Street
Inside, SpeedKore fabricated a six point roll cage that is strong and track ready, yet still lets Wade use both the front and rear seats. The door bars are removable. Pull a pin, take the bars out, and toss them in the trunk for a normal drive. There is a sticky handbrake for drifting, which Wade genuinely enjoys, and a Roush active exhaust with both a manual selector (touring, sport and track modes) and an app. Through the app, Wade can set location rules, such as keeping it quiet within a mile of home and fully uncorked everywhere else.
The wheels are billet two-piece pieces built as a nod to the original Mustang GT wheels, finished with a solid billet knockoff center. They wrap Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, which pair nicely with the Roush suspension tuning.
Real-World Testing Notes: Morimoto XB Lighting on the Mustang
Ford did a good job with the 2018 and newer Mustang front end. The factory lighting looks fine. But on a car this distinctive, fine is not the goal, and we knew the XB LED headlights could do a lot better.
We went in expecting three things from the XB headlights on this car, and that is what we got: a blacked out look, an increase in usable light output, and a sleeker overall design. The darker housing ties in with the smoked theme we planned for the rear, and it lets the Gulf blue and orange paint carry the attention instead of chrome inside the lamp. Standing at the front corner with the hood open, the difference in character is obvious.
Wade’s reaction after the install summed it up well. He said he was looking forward to his next early morning trip to Caffeine and Octane, in the dark, precisely because everyone would be able to see the new lights. In practice, that is the real test for a show-and-drive car: it has to look right under parking lot lights and work right on a dark road home.
Installing the Lighting Upgrades
Wade wanted to get his hands dirty, so he helped with the work. The headlight swap means removing the factory headlight assembly from the front end, and we used a cordless drill along with basic hand tools to work through the fasteners. On any modern Mustang, take your time with clips and fasteners, keep track of hardware, and protect the paint around the work area. That matters even more on a custom livery like this one.
Then we moved to the rear and the new side markers to finish the package front to back.
How to Choose Mustang LED Lighting for Your Build
Start with the theme of the car. Wade’s Mustang has a strong identity, so every lighting choice had to support it rather than compete with it. That is why we picked the blacked out XB headlights for the front and a smoked lens for the rear.
The tail lights use a Ford GT style design. They are available in red, but smoke fits this car far better, and on a dark-trimmed build it keeps the rear looking cohesive. We also chose them so the car would pop and give more visibility when Wade leaves those nighttime cars and coffee events. If your S550 is heading in a similar direction, start with our Morimoto XB LED tail lights for the S550 Mustang and decide between red and smoke based on your paint and trim.
Ask yourself a few simple questions before ordering:
- Do you want the front end darker and sleeker, or closer to factory?
- Will a smoked rear lens match the rest of the car, or would red suit your color better?
- Are you finishing the job front to back, including side markers, so the details look consistent?
Bottom line: buy for the whole car, not one corner at a time.
Fitment and Compatibility
This is where buyers trip up most often. The Mustang changed its front end for 2018, and the headlights follow that split. The XB LED headlights we installed are the 2018 and newer design, listed as the Gen II set for the 18-23 Ford Mustang (part number LF2-414). Earlier 2015-2017 cars use a different Gen II set (LF2-410), and the older 2010-2012 Mustang has its own XB headlight (LF440). They are not interchangeable.
Driving a 2019 like the platform Wade’s car is built on? Our vehicle buyer guide lists the lighting upgrades for the 2019 Ford Mustang so you can confirm headlights, tails and smaller lamps by year before you order anything.
For the sides, we used the new XB LED side markers to round out the package. Owners of 2015 to 2020 cars who want the same detail can find the matching XB LED side markers on theretrofitsource.com, and it is worth checking your exact model year on that page since the listing covers a specific range.
Even so, double check the details on your own car. Special editions, previous owners and body work can all change what you are working with, so confirm what is actually on the vehicle before you start pulling parts.
Comparison: XB LED Assemblies vs Keeping the Factory Lights
The common alternative is simple: leave the factory lights alone. On a 2018 and newer Mustang, that is not a terrible choice, since Ford did a good job with that front end. But on a build that has a serialized Roush number, a SpeedKore livery and 700-plus horsepower, the stock lamps were the one area still reading as ordinary.
Here is how the two stack up for a car like this:
- Look: The XB headlights add a blacked out, sleeker look that suits a themed build. Factory lamps look clean but generic.
- Light on the road: We installed the XB headlights for an increase in usable light output, which matters on early morning drives in the dark.
- Rear styling: The XB tail lights bring a Ford GT style design and a smoked lens option that stock lights cannot match.
- Effort: Keeping stock costs nothing. Upgrading means removing assemblies, which takes time and care.
There is another path some owners take, which is building custom headlights around the factory housings. If you enjoy that kind of project, take a look at our S550 Mustang Warrior Bi-LED headlight build to see what that process involves. So the choice comes down to whether you want a complete bolt-in assembly, a hands-on custom retrofit, or nothing at all.
For Wade’s car, complete XB assemblies made the most sense. He wanted the look, the light, and a weekend he could actually enjoy driving afterward.
Mistakes to Avoid
We have seen plenty of Mustang lighting projects go sideways for avoidable reasons. Here are the ones we watch for.
Ordering for the wrong generation
The 2015-2017 and 2018-and-newer Mustangs use different headlights. Buying the wrong set is the single most common error, and it is entirely preventable by checking your year first.
Ignoring the theme of the car
A smoked lens looked perfect on this blacked out, Gulf-liveried build. On a different color or trim package, red might be the better call. Pick the finish that matches the car you actually have.
Upgrading only one end
New headlights with tired tails, or vice versa, can make a car look unfinished. We did headlights, tail lights and side markers together on Wade’s Mustang so everything read as one package.
Rushing the removal
Modern bumpers and lamp mounts use a lot of clips and fasteners. Rushing leads to broken tabs and scratched paint. Slow down, use the right tools, and protect the finish, especially on custom paint.
In practice, a careful install pays off every time you walk up to the car.
Final Thoughts on Wade’s Roush Mustang
This Mustang is the kind of car that rewards attention to detail, from the serialized build number to the Gulf-painted engine cover. Adding Morimoto XB LED headlights, XB LED tail lights and the new XB LED side markers gave it a blacked out front end, a Ford GT style smoked rear and better light for those early morning drives. Wade left with lights that match the livery and a car he can see the road with on his next dark trip to Caffeine and Octane. If you are planning your own build, browse the Mustang lighting on theretrofitsource.com and pick parts that fit both your year and your theme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Morimoto lighting was installed on Wade Kawasaki’s Roush Mustang?
The car received Morimoto XB LED headlights, Morimoto XB LED tail lights and the new Morimoto XB LED side markers.
What do the Morimoto XB headlights do for the 2018 and newer Mustang?
They give the front end a blacked out look, an increase in usable light output and a sleeker design that suits the car’s theme.
What style are the Morimoto tail lights on this Mustang?
They use a Ford GT style design with a smoked lens. They are also available in red, but smoke was chosen to fit the theme of this car.
Will the smoked tail lights help visibility at night?
They were chosen to pop and give more visibility when leaving evening cars and coffee events, while matching the blacked out look of the build.
What makes this Mustang a one-off?
It is a one of one Roush Wade Kawasaki Edition with a serialized build number, a supercharged 5.0L V8 making well north of 700 horsepower, a six-speed manual, and a vintage Gulf style livery by SpeedKore.
Meet the Experts Behind The Retrofit Source
Tyler Jordan – Technical Writer
Tyler works directly with the TRS product R&D team, bringing over a decade of automotive aftermarket lighting experience to every article. An avid enthusiast with hundreds of personal installations under his belt, his content is built on hands-on knowledge from the workbench, not spec sheets.
Caleb Morgan – Marketing Manager
Caleb brings over a decade of automotive lighting industry experience and works with TRS customers daily on the front lines. With hundreds of personal lighting installations and a direct feedback loop from real buyers, his content addresses the questions and problems that actually matter.
