Headlights...sigh

So about three months ago I replaced my faded headlights with a set from Rock Auto, They LOOKED great and fit nice. I really don't drive much at night and a few days later I did. I noted they lights were way off. No problem, I thought, I googled on here and found how to adjust. These lights,,,,SUCK. No matter what I do I can not get them to adjust and project nice. I am taking them out. I spent the night polishing the originals and have them looking great. Maybe it's me, but I am not happy with them. Oh well. I am through venting!

 

Just bought a set of OEM

 

stick with "TYC" or "REPLACEMENT" brands of aftermarket lights, I have never had a bad one from them. other no-name brands I have seen issues like you mentioned with out of focus lenses or fitment issues.

have you checked the bulbs are seated correctly and tried swapping the bulbs out from your originals? sometimes its the crappy china bulbs that don't shine right

 

Yeah I did check the bulbs. I feel the refraction is way off. oh well. They were not expensive and it's the corner lights I really needed. Thanks guys! Appreciate the feedback.

 

All headlights are not created equal. There are some pretty poor 'replacement' lights. I can tell you from experience the optics and aiming may not be equivalent to the OEM lights.

Search for CAPA certified lights. This certification means engineers have certified they are equivalent to the OEM part. They will cost more than cheap aftermarket units, but will be cheaper than OEM.

 

I hated my rock auto parts.. I ordered headlights a few years ago.. they were all wobble eyed.. ended up buying new OEM from the dealer..
One side wouldnt tighten up so it wiggled, the both inside area where the bulb goes looked like a 5 year old lined up the parts.. the light scatter was like HID but worse.
I have ordered at least 6 things from rockauto.com.. only 1 thing was not total shit.
I NEVER recommend them.

 

Weird, I have a set from Rock Auto that have done me fine so far. I did pay a little extra to get some of the quality control checked ones. I know you can choose different levels on rock auto depending on how much you want to spend. They look a lot better than my faded ones did. I jut got tired of them fogging over so fast. I plan on getting something better eventually but they work for now.

I've ordered a handful of things from them and they'll all been good.

 

everything I bought from rockautom.com has been good quality, but then I don't buy from the "economy" list for anything, I only buy from the "better quality" list of parts

 

I bought these and they look and work great http://www.ebay.com/itm/151055113002?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

the cheap china bulbs had one burnt out but I never use the china bulbs anyway, I bought Sylvania extra vision bulbs for them, and yes I know they are made in china too, lol, but the free bulbs you get that come with the headlights are always going to be the cheapest of the cheap crap and not work very well so I throw them away

 

Thanks guys for the replies. I used 3m heavy duty compound, the light compound then brasso metal polish on the originals, then finally mothers mag wheel polish and they look very good. I ran out of time today, but I will try and install them back in tomorrow. The Rock ones fit perfect and LOOK great. Believe me, I tried and tried to adjust them too. Odd. Oh well. there is a reason the OEM jobs cost so much I guess! I'll post a picture when I am done.

 

did you talk to rockauto? they are usually very good about taking things like that back and sending you a replacement for it

 

since i waited more than 30 days they said no.

And stop defending the company if you buy the "better" versions of items they sell.. thats a bullshit excuse and I have only bought the items with the heart icon as it was the most popular and typically the most expensive.

 

im not "defending them" im just trying to help "you"

obviously you know its your mistake for waiting 30 days and yet you blame them for it when its not their fault

 

I dont need help, I learned my lesson to not buy from them, the reason I had to wait 30 days was not because i didnt feel like it, I was waiting on other parts before I could even test fit the headlights.

They were only test fit so the company should have at least tried to work with me.. but they did not.

 

TYC or DEPO only. I don't know why people still buy crap from RockAuto

 

I don't think I've ever bought a bad part from Rock Auto. Prices are generally pretty good. They ship fast . . .

Thinking . . . maybe I got a bad clutch master cylinder from them, but maybe I got that across the street at Autozone. I can't remember. Overall, very satisfied customer.

 

So after a nice polishing I put my OEM lights back. I have not driven it at night so I will be curious to see the difference. In the end, all I really needed was the corner lights and now that I polished these babies, I just need to keep them waxed and they should hold up. While I was at it, I used Griots Garage Polish on the Impulse Red and it looked great! Thanks guys for the replies. Jr.

 

These are what mine look like if you want a comparision:

My lights are TYC and I got them from rock auto

 

You got lucky

 

You can specifically order TYC, that's why I was confused haha. Was only like $35 for each I think.