Headlights

Anyone know some good replacement lights. I would like the side marker, the headlight unit, and bottom turn signal lights.

 

Do you want something that looks cool, or just a new replacement? Why do you want to replace them? Ones in the pic look perfectly fine.

Generally, you're going to find several aftermarket brands, like Spyder, but while they look cool, tend to leak and the light beam cut off isn't that great. Definitely don't get the one piece units. There is a reason they are in 2 pieces from the factory...

For a good OEM replacement that functions just as well, if not better than stock is a set of CAPA certified TYC repalcements from Rockauto. ~$40 a side for the headlight housings. The side marker lights I don't believe are CAPA certified, but that's not a big deal. Those are like $15 a side iirc.

Last I looked though, I couldn't find color matched side markers. Those are probably cheap enough to just get them from the factory.

 

The only reason to get the one-piece ones are if you have fiberglass fenders that don't have mounting for the side markers. Then you'd want to rip out the reflector and convert to projectors because they suck as they come.

 

Check ebay. when you get headlights, make sure they are TYC or DEPO branded. Any others will not have good a light beam. Corner lights and turn signals won't matter as much.

 

Depo makes aftermarket side marker lights just like OEM and work well, for like $15. I got one when I had to replace mine after smashing it and my fender. Its the only aftermarket component I bought after that fiasco that I can recommend lol. The aftermarket fender and side mirrors are POS

 

Going with tyc was gonna get a one piece ones because of the led’s it had at the bottom. Mine are a little cloudy from the inside. Thanks for the replies tho

 

Thanks for the info! I ordered two new TYC headlights from Rock Auto for less than $35 each (shipped)! Mine were hazing from the inside out and were DEFINITELY due for replacement!

 

Sounds like those aren't the CAPA certified ones. I can't speak for the quality of the non-CAPA ones, but the CAPA ones I got were easily worth the extra few bucks and indistinguishable from the OEM. Be interested to see what yours end up like.

The new housings are definitely the way to go with fogged lenses. Those refurbish kits are crap, even the expensive "professional" ones. The damage from the UV penetrates all the way through the plastic lens, so no amount of polishing and waxing the lens will help.

Here's what my light beam pattern was like after polishing my lenses (twice over ~4 months) with the McGuiar's 3 stage kit:

The lenses themselves LOOKED like new, but the light pattern SUCKED.

And with the new TYC housings:

 

Did you order yours from rock auto?

 

yep

 

What bulbs are you using?

 

Mine came with bulbs, but I tossed those $5 halogens for some sweet ass $15 Sylvania halogens, lol.

Mine have that light blue tint on the tips to give a slightly "cooler" color to them, but technically that actually reduces the overall light output. I'd describe them as "perfectly adequate". PLenty of light for night driving on roads. For off road driving, IMO it's pointless to try and get the headlights super bright. Look at where the Pros put their race lights (the roof).

If you search around for the "proper headlight upgrade" you'll find the wiring upgrade I did to mine (described in my build thread, linked in my sig), and you get yourself some super bright Osram halogen bulbs. I hear those specific ones are hard to come by these days.

Honestly though, if you "need" more light than what these housings are capable of, you need to get some LED pods or a lightbar on the roof.

 

I don’t need more light just tired of the stock yellow lights.

 

The CAPA is just in industry standard for quality control, and is essentially the same process the factory uses. If there are other manufacturers that are CAPA, that's probably fine, too.

IIRC, there wasn't a CAPA certified side marker assembly for my 2004, so I just got the "various mfg" ones and they're fine. I was hoping that the new side marker housings would solve the loose fit of my originals, but they were the same loose fit, so that plan didn't work out, lol...

Some people poo all over the CAPA and say that it's just a sticker meant to sell you the same junk just for more money. But honestly, it's only a few more bucks, and the CAPA I did get was indistinguishable from OEM. So that's a win in my book.

I didn't get the turn signals you are linking to because I ended up relocating them to the side marker lights:

 

Great information. Thanks

 

The CAPA TYC (what I got) ones were $2-4 more each.. I also used the TW discount and got cheap shipping.

 

oh man, prices came down then. Mine were like <$45

 

I would have been fine paying $50+, but these were a DEAL. Plus the free bulbs! I have Sylvania "cool blue" in my current headlights now, so those bulbs will be for back up purposes.

 

My total was about 100$ exactly. L+R head lamp assemblies, L+R side markers, and L+R signal lamps.

 

Like this guy says. I bought some clear ones that look cool but I can’t see a friggen thing at night. I will be going OEM before the snow flies