Buy New or Refurbish Existing Headlights

Does anyone have experience with aftermarket headlights? Seems they can be bought much much cheaper than from the dealer. Are they worth it, or are they going to last six months and be junk?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MLDM76M/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1AVDY35AICNP6&psc=1

Also, what are the best bulbs to replace the stock ones? There are a lot of options out there. These seem to be "middle of the road" priced.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079GVWBBX/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=APRIX5L4606K8&psc=1

Or, should I just refinish the stock ones and leave it at that.

 

Normally, I am all about OEM. In this case, the $400 cost for OEM is not justified.

About 4 years ago, I scored two Chinese headlamps with bulbs for $50 new online. Worked fine, except the lamps cut off wasn’t great but hey $50! They put out ok light and passed inspection.

Recently, my side markers started fogging so I started looking and this company Akkon (Tiawan) that had the side markers/headlamp combo for $115. Purchased them and they work great so far, but one side marker leaked and they sent an entire new complete set again. So far so good. The Akkon reflectors seem better quality than the China ones and mimic the OEM.

I put some new Sylvania (9003) Ultra bulbs in them and they pair up nicely. The fogs lens are original OEM and have SuperNova 9006 LED bulbs (recent and highly recommend as they are much brighter than halogens). They really fill the gap forward, and side to side nicely, that the headlamps aren’t designed to do.

 

I say give a go at restoring them before you go new. I’ve had success polishing the headlights. Haven’t met one that I couldn’t make look almost new.

 

I’ve seen some good jobs done this way. Even did a polish job myself that lasted a year. Tried it again and looked like butt. Thats when I bought new.

 

It does take some elbow grease. Especially if you don’t have a buffer or rotary.
And a bunch of different grits of wet dry sandpaper. 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500 and 2000. I also have various cut of polishes from Maguires. From medium cut to fine cut. Typically I will try polish first. If I have to wet sand, I start by cleaning the headlight really well. It actually helps to just take the headlight off the truck.

Sanding. I usually will start with 2000 to see if it is taking out the deeper scratches. If not I will gradually get heavier and heavier with the sanding grit until I see that it is taking out the scratches. Then reverse steps of sandpaper all the way back to 2000. I go up in finer grit sandpaper. I go the opposite direction while sanding so that you can tell when you’ve got the previous sanding marks out. One step at side to side the next step up and down. You want to see that you got your previous sanding marks are disappearing and only the new ones you’re making. I hope that makes sense. Then I hit it with my polishes. Final step I will use my Powerball on the end of my drill. Then coat them with your favorite wax or sealant.

I recently did this on a new/used set of Pro headlights. They are almost perfect. I can still see some light scratches in the right light but they are crystal clear. I could’ve gotten more anal with it but they will just get bad again. But if you stay on top of them 2000 grit is all you need.

 

What @15whtrd said sounds reasonable.

OP I'm curious, do you live around Los angeles?

 

Yes, I do, in Irvine.

 

when did irvine become LA?

 

Well, he said "around" LA. I guess everyone has their own interpretation of that. Since I am in LA all the time, it feels like I live there sometimes!

 

no worries. used to live in dana point. worked out at the top of bake parkway. with the traffic, it might as well be LA.

 

I have a set of aftermarket ones sitting in storage, brand new, never installed. If you can wait for a few weeks maybe I can meet you somewhere, I pass by Irvine all the time. Maybe $20?

 

Yes, definitely interested. I understand that they are different for the extra cab vs. regular cab. Are yours for an extra cab?

 

Yeah extra cab, or access cab. I know the double cabs are different, not sure about single cab but they should be the same.

 

https://youtu.be/UEJbKLZ7RmM

 

The 3M kit also worked really well on my lights. Far better than competing kits. I got it for $11 on eBay. I used it for both headlights and fogs.

 

This is what I did to my fog assys. Shoulda made a vid and I’d be famous like ChrisFix. He has great hands by the way...

 

Advance auto.sells the headlight assembly at a reasonable price. Grab a 20percent coupon and order some up

Then go to superbrightled.com and get some new bulbs. You will fall in love with your truck again

 

Maybe you could get him a hand job

 

Darkness, any chance you will be by OC this week?

 

@Darkness

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0024NSLMA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are ones I bought.

 

Restorations tend to last about a year max. I'd just get new aftermarket units

 

Those fade eventually too. You might get two years out of that. If you polish them and then just stay on top of its really not a big deal. But I am pretty proficient in plastic polishing LOL

 

Unfortunately no, I don't know if I will pass through for a few weeks.