CAPA headlights worth extra money for retrofit?

I'm getting ready to order some aftermarket headlights to retrofit. It sounds like the TYC and Depos are most popular but I was wondering if it’s worth it to pay the extra for the CAPA versions?

I understand CAPA is supposed to be better quality but is this mainly the reflectors or does it include the housings and adjusters too? Is it worth the extra money if retrofitting them or should I just save the cash?

What’s everyone else using?

 

I did a set of depo's and they were TOUGH to split, and very hard to clean the channels out compared to OEM. I can't speak on the other brands, that was just my one single experience. Any reason youre not just picking up some used OEM units?

 

Hard to find used OEM in good shape for a good price. In most cases used OEM in mediocre shape cost quite a bit more than new aftermarket. I'd rather have new housings if I'm shelling out the cash and putting in the effort to do a retrofit. I'd reuse mine but my OEM lenses have cracking/crazing on the inside that can't be fixed by sanding.

I also noticed that pretty much every company selling pre-built retrofits use aftermarket housings so I get the impression it might not matter that much.

 

Retrofit your oem units, pick up a cheap set of aftermarket units, and transfer the lens. The oem housings are a lot sturdier. I retrofit a set of aftermarkets before and the pivot joint that houses the bowl snapped off. Never again will I used aftermarket units for a retrofit project. My latest set is done on brand new TRD pro units.

 

Have you swapped lenses before? I posted a thread awhile back asking about doing exactly what you described but no one responded. I would totally do this and it would be my preferred method if it’s possible.

I’d just hate to buy headlights and rip two pairs apart to find out the depo or TYC lenses don’t fit onto the OEM body

 

I have actually. They fit fine for me. I heated up the housing with a heat gun all the way around and ran a new bead of butyl rubber. After it was warmed up, press the two together. There was another member here that did the samething to preserve his retrofits w fresh brand new pair of lenses.

 

Dope! This is what I’d really like to do. Do you remember what brand aftermarket light you used? I was probably still thinking to go depo or TYC.

This way I can swap lenses and run the aftermarket lights while I take my time to do the retrofit.

 

If memory serves me correctly, I believe they were TYC.

 

I have a new game plan then. Totally gonna get some TYCs, swap the lenses to my smoked OEM housings, and retrofit those.