First of all, Welcome to CPF!
The Q3 is relatively easy to open and easy to mod.
To open, you will need to use one or both of two methods: Either heat it to soften the bezel threadlock (usually by putting the head in a plastic bag and boiling it) then use insulating gloves to open it while still hot, or use strap wrenches. I used strap wrenches as it took less time, but you have to take some time to get them set up tightly so they will grip the head and bezel properly. It's not easy the first time, but just keep cinching the straps tight and you will get there. Putting rubber cement on the head greatly helps grip, then you can peel it of afterwards.
Once remove the bezel you will see a Luxeon star in the head and the back of the nice aluminum reflector in the bezel. You may have to unscrew a plastic retaining ring to get the light engine out. Once out, you will see it is easy to desolder two wires and replace the star with a new one.
Where to get stars? Look on the Dealers page, Group Buys, and Custom/Modified B/S/T. There are several members selling emitters and stars. Stars will be far easier to replace. High flux bin Luxeon3's will be a small improvement as Q3's are usually S-bin. U-bin will work nice.
<added> What bin do you have? Look at the back of the star, there will be a code starting with five letters. The first four are the bin code. In the Q3, the first letter will most likely be an S. That is the flux code for brightness. The later in the Alphabet, the brighter it will be for a given wattage.
Larger improvement will come from Cree XR-E or Seoul Semiconductor P4. If you find a star of what you want, then it will be relatively easy to replace and re-assemble.
Cree XR-E will most likely require you to grind a few tenths of a mm off the back of the reflector to fit and focus. Try without grinding first, then try grinding off a tiny amount at a time until you get what you want. Take too much off and you may have loss of contact problems and have to start shimming up to get battery contact again. You will need to unscrew the reflector from the bezel with snap ring pliers or thin tipped needle nose pliers inserted into the two holes you see on the back of the reflector, OR just grab the cylinder on the back of the reflector with regular pliers.
Seoul P4 is easier since it is more like a Luxeon light pattern, but you may find that removing 0.75mm from the back of the reflector still helps. Again, try grinding less first until you get what you like. Again, take too much off and you may have loss of contact problems and have to start shimming up to get proper battery contact.
Edison Optio Also makes a star something like the the Lux star that should work and put out as much light as the Cree XR-E and Seoul P4. Same install and mod steps as the Seoul.
There are lots of old threads about modding the Q3. Try looking using the Google search box at the top of every page. Many people have posted pictures, tips, and results.
Good luck!
LOL and willing to risk another post here to tell you how much that made me laugh.
