new ebay headlights..

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 08:02 AM

So i was looking around for the black jdm looking headlights on ebay..

does anyone have any experience in them? im wondering will they light up just as well as the OEM... and are they direct bolt on?

mine are kinda faded and i know i could probably just polish them but i'm kinda doing this whole darker theme...

*321VQ35MAX* · 11-04-2009, 08:08 AM

I was kind of wondering the same. If I would lose my xenon headlights.

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 08:14 AM

so let's analize this. Our headlights are xenon ? or hid? or is that the same thing?

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 08:38 AM

you mean these?

No stay far far far far far away from ebay headlights, In my experience there is no better reflectors then OEM reflectors and nothing can beat that.

xenon is a ricer term, HID is the correct term

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 08:41 AM

something like that..

i mean i'm sure they wont do as well as the oem ones. but i like how the housing inside is black...

and the lense is clear hahaha

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 08:43 AM

can someone recommend a really good headlight cleaning product? to make the lense clear again?

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 08:46 AM

first off, you can oven bake your headlights and paint the inside black.

second, if you google search about buffing your headlights you will find a bunch of how-tos about wet sanding them with different grits then using plast-x or poliching compound to get them clear again.

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 08:47 AM

yea i used plastic-x, and i've used rubbing compound.. works great on cars.. but didnt do that much for my headlights.

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 08:48 AM

i guess i could try wet sanding..

and i've never tried to oven bake any headlights and for something to go wrong with these is gonna be a pretty expensive mistake.

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 08:53 AM

I got my 5.5 gen headlights for $100 OEM...just takes time to find them

just don't broil them 200* to 210* is fine.

I just cracked open my pontiac headlights last week, I've done it about 20 times now for this car alone.

*321VQ35MAX* · 11-04-2009, 08:57 AM

I just like the blacked out look.... But am afraid to bake my headlights..

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 08:57 AM

really! sweet!

ok.. so i assume i just take the bulbs out.. just put in the oven at 200 degrees.. for how long?

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 321VQ35MAX

I just like the blacked out look.... But am afraid to bake my headlights..

go visit kyle...he'll do it for you.

either that send them to me and I'll put angel eyes and LEDs in them @ cost of course

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 321VQ35MAX

I just like the blacked out look.... But am afraid to bake my headlights..

I do as well.. and that was my main purpose..

and i was gonna get LED light bulbs to help brighten up the road.. so i figured that would be the fix..

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidN1te

really! sweet!

ok.. so i assume i just take the bulbs out.. just put in the oven at 200 degrees.. for how long?

http://www.shiftice.com/clear_HIDs.html

I suggest checking it every 5 mins tho.

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrunkieTheBear

go visit kyle...he'll do it for you.

either that send them to me and I'll put angel eyes and LEDs in them @ cost of course

wait how much will all this cost? are you gonna be painting them black as well?

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrunkieTheBear

http://www.shiftice.com/clear_HIDs.html

I suggest checking it every 5 mins tho.

doesnt work for me.. just keeps going to the same page over and over

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidN1te

wait how much will all this cost? are you gonna be painting them black as well?

I don't really offer it as a service. But have done it for local org members, cause downtime sucks. But angel eyes are money, but the LED strips are about $30-$40. then shipping cost which won't be cheap for the size box needed with shipping prices the way they are these days. Looking at around $150 for me to paint them black, polish them, and LED strips. (I don't do angel eyes)

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidN1te

doesnt work for me.. just keeps going to the same page over and over

google "shift ice"
click first page that comes up
go to how to's tab
select the how-to about "clearing turn signal in Headlights"

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrunkieTheBear

I don't really offer it as a service. But have done it for local org members, cause downtime sucks. But angel eyes are money, but the LED strips are about $30-$40. then shipping cost which won't be cheap for the size box needed with shipping prices the way they are these days. Looking at around $150 for me to paint them black, polish them, and LED strips. (I don't do angel eyes)

that is definately not a bad deal!

do you have pics of your work? and how would the led strips sit?

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 09:11 AM

OEM headlight (take note of orange reflector, peeling on the left corner):

Led strip cleared sidemarker:

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 09:12 AM

I don't really do this as a service...MetalMax might or someone else on the org Local to you might help.

too much liability involved and its just easier for local

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrunkieTheBear

OEM headlight (take note of orange reflector, peeling on the left corner):

Led strip cleared sidemarker:

damn! my work wont let me see the pics.. i'm jumping to my iphone to see lol..hold ..

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrunkieTheBear

I don't really do this as a service...MetalMax might or someone else on the org Local to you might help.

too much liability involved and its just easier for local

oh boo! you dont wanna do it for 150?! i'd gladly pay that.

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 09:16 AM

where do you live?

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrunkieTheBear

where do you live?

i live in the washington DC area.

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidN1te

i live in the washington DC area.

there should plenty of guys down there willing to help you out with cracking them open and painting them and polishing them.

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:28 AM

yea. ill check them out

Rochester · 11-04-2009, 09:37 AM

Too bad you didn't see this FS thread a few days ago:

FS: 5.5 gen OEM custom painted headlights **Brand New**

They sure are pretty.

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:40 AM

good.

lord..

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 09:43 AM

How bad are you headlights...Pics of hazing?

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:46 AM

i mean i've tried the blue stuff to clear them.. they arent yellow or anything.. just not clear...

i dont have pics though..

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:47 AM

http://www.headlights-restore.com/

worth it? i keep seeing this ad! lol

*DrunkieTheBear* · 11-04-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidN1te

http://www.headlights-restore.com/

worth it? i keep seeing this ad! lol

google search it for reviews...look at negative reviews...decide and weigh your options

mist max2000 · 11-04-2009, 09:54 AM

honestly,.. here is my advice to you,..

any of those lights on ebay are TRASH

cracking them open is a piece of cake,..i've done it twice(once for clear orange and once for angel eyes-MISTAKE-) and was scared as hell the first time but its so easy,..prob the hardest part is taking the headlight physically off the car,.. they dont like to come out lol...
follow housecors website .. he has awsome directions and pics,..you said its the same page over and over.. are you not scrolling down cause the header on his site is always the same

more advice..dont buy any angel eyes,.. yes they look amazing,.. but you will have problems with them within a year ...one going out,.. pink eye.. un-equal brightness/hotspots.. to name a few..

here is a rough memory recall of when i did mine,..

take all the bulbs and electrical parts(ballast) off the light..

there are 3 or 4 small screws on the back of the black plastic.. take these out first,..

take a bath towel and soak it down so its damp and place it on a cookie sheet..

put the light on the towel and bake for 15min@200*

remove it with oven mits and place it on your lap on top of another towel,..

use a screwdriver and plyers to work around the light prying the tabs up and seperating the 2 pieces (glue smells like pine needles)

then once you went all the way around..the light should 'peel' apart.. just be carefull of the glue because it will be stringy like motzarella cheese so dont let it get anywhere,..

then once apart have at it,..there should be alot of pics around here of ppls lights apart,..

and for putting them back together,.. same thing,.. press them back together as best you can,.. back in the oven.. once warm.. pull it out and use channel locks to squeeze the seems back together all the way around.. and put back in the bulbs and screws..

..hope that helps in your decision..

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:54 AM

then its pretty much like the plasticx thing lol

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mist max2000

honestly,.. here is my advice to you,..

any of those lights on ebay are TRASH

cracking them open is a piece of cake,..i've done it twice and was scared as hell the first time but its so easy,..prob the hardest part is taking the headlight physically off the car,.. they dont like to come out lol...
follow housecors website .. he has awsome directions and pics,..you said its the same page over and over.. are you not scrolling down cause the header on his site is always the same

more advice..dont buy any angel eyes,.. yes they look amazing,.. but you will have problems with them within a year ...one going out,.. pink eye.. un-equal brightness/hotspots.. to name a few..

here is a rough memory recall of when i did mine,..

take all the bulbs and electrical parts(ballast) off the light..

there are 3 or 4 small screws on the back of the black plastic.. take these out first,..

take a bath towel and soak it down so its damp and place it on a cookie sheet..

put the light on the towel and bake for 15min@200*

remove it with oven mits and place it on your lap on top of another towel,..

use a screwdriver and plyers to work around the light prying the tabs up and seperating the 2 pieces (glue smells like pine needles)

then once you went all the way around..the light should 'peel' apart.. just be carefull of the glue because it will be stringy like motzarella cheese so dont let it get anywhere,..

then once apart have at it,..there should be alot of pics around here of ppls lights apart,..

and for putting them back together,.. same thing,.. press them back together as best you can,.. back in the oven.. once warm.. pull it out and use channel locks to squeeze the seems back together all the way around.. and put back in the bulbs and screws..

..hope that helps in your decision..

Yea i may try this.

mist max2000 · 11-04-2009, 09:58 AM

you can also use Brasso as a polish on your lights,..since it has some abrasion to it,.. i have done it and it works 10x better then meguires plastic-x or whatever that crap is..

use brasso like wax,...then use somekinda wax as a sealant,.. worth a shot before wetsanding,..

*MidN1te* · 11-04-2009, 10:03 AM

Brasso is something i'm DEF familiar with ... being in the Army 10+ years... we use it alot lol

mrood1986 · 11-04-2009, 10:11 AM

I bought a set of cheap ebay angle eye headlights for my 00..
My originals were ruined. They arent that bad, Ive had them for a couple of months
Lighting is decent but the angel eyes are dim. I dont recommend them but I had a budget and needed headlights asap.. Im just waiting for them to burn out and Ill replace them with 5.5 gens