OK so 300 miles into our 1.7k mile roadtrip I got together with a a pheasant and decided to modify the rh/pass side headlight on the RL.
If you prefer pheasants to cars look away now......



This mod was actually a bad idea, nighttime vision was drastically reduced.
So the next day I went with this:


This worked surprisingly well but the low beam is a little off directionwise (too low for those wondering) and we have no high beam. It was destroyed.


So the question is this...
It is a 2007 RL without the AFS.
Are any other years compatible? Are there any that are definitely of no use?

Basically I'm looking for a headlight unit to replace this one. The low beam unit still works although the casing is broken.

And how long approx does it take to swap one over?
I fly home in a week so could do with getting it done before I leave.

Anyone know a good source for such things? Or even have one they don't need?

Cheers folks.

 

All other years should be compatible. The parts list is the exact same between a 2007 tech and 2007 base. The cheapest option will be a used assembly from a local salvage yard. The problem here is finding a wrecked RL without front passenger damage. The fastest option is to buy whole new assembly.

33101-SJA-A11 HEADLIGHT UNIT, R.

This is all assuming the mounting pieces are intact and not damaged. To replace the assembly, you have to remove the bumper which is pretty easy. The whole removal should take less than an hour.

 

Damn, I was so excited about this mod.

 

I really appreciate the tone of this entire thread (so far).

 

Thanks for the help so far chaps.

Between that and doing some research it seems that all units from 2005-2008 will work.
As you say 007spy, finding one is proving to be tricky to say the least.
I think all the locating points are still intact (from what I can see without removing the bumper) although I can't be 100% sure yet.
Might pull it off just to check.

Yeah so was I. I thought I'd found a unique styling feature but I guess I just prefer to see where I'm going at night. I'll see if I can merge the two ideas and make it work.

 

Damn Craig....

 

I am wondering about the talk of getting a used one. Isn't this covered by insurance?

 

wow - I'm surprised a pheasant could do that much damage. must have hit at exactly the right spot

 

Bit of a sore point with me right now.
It's the gf's car and I had assumed it would all be covered. seems what I thought was pricey/good cover doesn't cover for collision damage such as this. Not a happy bunny.


Yep, it was a very accurate strike, the bird got decapitated and the rest went into the headlight. Must have been a sniper.
Quite a big bird though and we weren't going slowly(let's just say that the 135mph limit I've heard of doesn't apply to this car).

 

It looks like it bent the fender a little bit too. If you were going fast.... There was a lot of energy in that large bird.

My mom once hit a huge bird with her new Mercedes. Left a big round indentation in the top of the windshield with feathers stuck in it. As a teenager then, I thought it was really funny the story my mom told of a huge bird flying right at her and she feared it was going to fly into the interior and peck her eyes out. I feel bad now at 40 years old. She was badly shaken and had nightmares that night about the bird but I was picking myself off the floor at her story. I am laughing right now remembering picking feathers out of the broken glass.

 

Insurance claims can be a touchy ordeal. You did not hit the bird. You and the bird did not collide. The bird hit your car in a manner that was unavoidable by the driver. Sometimes, that's how you have to state it. Still, unless you have comprehensive coverage and a deductible less than $1k, there is no point in filing a claim.

 

Yes it did, right above the light. Hoping to make it less noticeable now it's not covered.
We think it was approx 4lb of bird, at the 75mph speed limit at my best approximation ;-) And I think the bird was flying at roughly the same speed towards us

Yep, I know the UK insurers are bad and I guess the US ones are the same, get-out clauses are endless.

Although there was genuinely nothing at all we could do, it flew up from the ditch(?) at the side of the interstate. The first we knew was the loud impact noise, then the feathers sticking up.

Deductible I think is in the 500usd area but with no collision I doubt even the most inventive wording will get a claim passed.

So the best I've found so far is a 800usd new unit. No salvage yards seem to have any.

 

Wow, kamikaze bird, wondering if it yelled "Banzai" before the hit
Could be worse

 

Since we're on the subject... *WARNING: DEER GORE*
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/how-dangerous-hitting-deer-can-warning-deer-gore-838184/

 

Oh well, due to time constraints we had to bite the bullet an get one asap.

the local Honda and Acura dealers were quite friendly... but couldn't offer less than the retail of 1120 ish.
So got one for 800 delivered.
Fitted it last night, today will remove the duct tape glue and assess the results.

but typically a friend is going to a yard today where they have two RLs with good headlights.
Might grab them as spares.

 

You plan on doing this again?

 

Absolutely.