Mods, feel free to move this if I didn't post it in the right section.

Just as the title says, I almost had my HIDs stolen, right in front of my house!

I decided to park my car on the street and not on the driveway (stupid), but I figure what the heck since it's a really safe neighborhood.

I wake up this morning and before I get into my car I see that my bumper looks like it has come apart on the driver's side. "Strange" I say to myself. I check it out and it looks like someone has used a screwdriver to pry my bumper out so they could try and steal the HID lamp. I run quickly to the other side of the car to see if it has the same damage, but luckily it's just one side. Then I go and turn on the car lights to see if they took my lamps, and luckily they weren't able to.

Thanks to Honda for a well-designed headlight assembly! Too bad that I probably have to now pay to get my bumper fixed. It looks like they really messed up the inside trying to pry the thing out. The assembly doesn't seem to be fitting flush, so that will have to be taken care of as well.

I honestly felt like kicking the snot out of the f-ers this morning. I still kinda do. But I'm glad that they didn't take them and I'm actually not that mad anymore. Definitely taught me an important lesson: Park your car in the garage or in your driveway!

 

or just camp outside with a shotgun for the next week :P

 

Damn, i will those punks in the ass.....whoever touch my TSX!!!! sorry to hear that man.

 

If I ever saw someone trying to steal something or damage my car I think I'd honestly stab them.

 

Stabbing them is too violent. I wouldn't want to kill someone for damanging property. I think breaking fingers, one by one, makes the point a little better. Besides, if you twist them up enough, even the doctors will have a hard time putting them back together. Sorta hard to steal or do anything after that.

 

bastards!!! sorry to hear that man...but just be on the look out...it's possible that they might come back to finish the job..you never know...

 

That sucks man, but I'm actually glad to hear that they were unsuccessful in stealing it unlike many Audi owners out there. Hopefully this will deter people (maybe even people on this board trying to figure out where people live) from trying again. I'm glad I have a garage to park my car in.

 

That would piss me off to know end. You should try to set up a camera to catch these F*ckers!

 

how much are the HID lamps to replace?

 

any type of alarm system?

 

Close to $200 for a pair.

 

thats just for the lamps I bet the whole light unit is over a grand to replace

 

I thought that they run in the $1000 range for the whole unit as well.

 

man that sucks. good thing they couldnt steal those lamps. next time, run them over.

 

That sucks man. Hope the damage isn't too bad.

If it going to cost a lot to repair you should consider getting an aftermarket bumper....like Mugen or Kensytle.

 

Yeah, ballasts/igniters/bulbs run around $400 pretty much everywhere. If you're talking the projector assembly and optics too, that's beaucoup bucks. Even halogen projectors are really expensive.

 

Sorry to hear about your TSX. You can never be too careful. Even the driveway is not safe. I garage mine at night. Gotta keep my baby safe
The cam idea sounds good....... Hope the repairs aren't too exspensive.

 

Next time we kick it together at ur place, I'm driving my 92 Subaru Hell, take the car so I can get some cash from the insurance!

I'm sorry to hear that though, take a few pictures when you can bud.

Remember, "Park it like it's hot, and never melt when you're out, always come inside where it's warm...."

-KC

 

Thanks for all the awesome replies guys. Nevertheless I'm mad as heck. I kinda like moda_way's suggestion of the breaking fingers. It reminds me of the episode in 24 where Jack did that to get some information out of those guys.

I seriously wanted to go "American History X" on those guys. I have a suspicion it could be my punk neighbor kids who just want to get some free HIDs. I park it way up in my drive way now, with 2 other cars blocking me, right underneath the motion-sensor light.

I kinda like the camera idea, and reminds me of the one JTso had set up on his garage.

The bumper damage isn't too bad, but it's still a pain to have to deal with it, and it could be one of those things that would end up being more expensive than it looks.

 

Is there a good thread about alarm systems? My last car had an aftermarket system called MANNIX installed in it. It was insanely sweet with motion, static,microwave detection, door ajar detection, ignition switch monitoring, hood, trunk monitoring. Had a 120db siren and worked the horn and lights also. remote started, unlocked/locked doors, released trunks, two auxilliary outputs, immobilizer-bypass, manual/auto capable, and worked from a mile range to tell me someone was messing with my car. I got the thing on ebay for $120!!!!

I want to get this same one installed on my new TL but do not want to void the warranty. What is the best way to do this?

 

that whole jaw on curve scene? That was unreal...

sauceman, who gave a Del Sol kid a beating with a golf driver when he caught him trying to steal his rims on the Accord.

 

where in socal are you located?

 

sorry to hear, that really sucks. but you're right, it could've been a lot worse. i hope they catch the little bastards. to honda design.


that's crazy, i was just thinking how much it'd hurt being curbed earlier today.


that's rapidly becoming my favorite solution to everything. i mean, in 24 at any rate.

 

You are right...they are $1200 per pair (brand new). Can we say "Tony Soprano?"

Sorry to hear about your car. People just don't have any respect for other people's property.

 

I'm generally a peaceful guy. But it's one of those back a cat into a corner situations, and he'll claw his way out.

euroStyle, I'm not too far from you. Whittier, in the North-East part of Whittier.

Thanks for your replies and support. I'll just keep my baseball bat with my gloves for now and just learn to park my car in the driveway.

 

make sure the bat is metal, cuz wood ones break too easily...

 

Didn't have my HID's almost stolen but I return to my car after a trip into the mall and find that some @sshole scratched up both headlight covers!! Looks like they keyed up both lights. I was PISSED to see that my TSX got violated like that. At least they didn't key up anything else. I hate HATERS like that! Now I have to try to find a deal on the HID housing. Damn...

 

does it affect the light projection?

 

That's crazy dude......I never knew people even try to steal HIDs man...... what the hell??

If i see a guy doing it..... iw ill grab my bat and beat the shit out of him..... never mess with a TSXer!1

 

I would do the exact same thing

 

HID theft is something that a lot of us worry about, no matter which area your in, safe or not. Its a desirable item that can be sold for a hefty price....I recently had my month/year tabs stolen on my license plate right in front of my house.

 

Doesn't seem to affect the light projection thankfully. Just sucks that I have to replace them and it doesn't seem like anyone sells just the covers/shell. I'll probably have to replace the whole headlight unit.

 

you lights dont have condensation inside do they?

 

Big $ on the black market. Very easy to steal and easier to move because everyone wants them. Someone stealing my HIDs is a big worry of mine. At least these assholes didn't know that popping the hood is an easier way to get to the lights. Their lack of knowledge saved you some damage and your lights. That is why I think that you might be right about you punk neighbor doing this. Any car theif knows how to get these out of the car in about 60 seconds. It could have been worse for you.

 

why steal from a tsx when there's a nissan around somewhere that'll just pop them out for you

 

mm... this is valuable information, i'mma make sure i pass it on to the proper beneficiary

-KC

 

No condensation. I called Los Gatos Acura today and they said each light unit is $399!!! Two HID light units plus installation will be $1100!! But the guy said to bring my car in and if the scratches aren't that deep, they will try to buff them out for me. I'll let you guys know if it works or if I have to shell out $1100... Protect your HIDs everyone.

 

you can buy 2 used covers on ebay for $150-200, or get the JDM ones for $600.

 

shit dude.. sorry to hear that.... that's a pretty rare thing for whittier i would think. Haha and yea I agree with you on the jack image... btw 2 more hours left i think hehe. Tell us how your repair goes.

 

I'm more careful with my car nowadays, but NightShredder is right, HIDs are lucrative. If they really wanted them they would have gotten them. I figure that when you've got nice things (i.e. TSX) some people are gonna be jealous and want to either a) steal or b) damage your possession. Of course, there are people who admire it, but then there are the *ssholes.

This event got to me when it happened, but now I'm over it. No sense in holding a grudge against an unknown person, and even making false accusations against someone who may or may not be responsible.