nutlog13

So the headlights on my wife's '99 TL are okay, but they don't light up the road very well. It's just kind of hard to see at night without the high beams on.

This is my first and only Acura, and I didn't realize I couldn't just get a $37 pair of Ultra Bright Sylvanias and call it a day. Looks like these HID bulbs from even a reasonably priced parts dealer would be over $200 for the pair -- -- and from what I can see the DIY's, a sort of absurd amount of work (taking off the bumper, even clearing involves rigging my oven to heat them!) just to change my damn headlights.

Anyway, besides wondering why this was such a weird, proprietary, expensive, P-I-T-A setup (maybe I just don't "get" luxury cars?) I was wondering what my best bet was for these things. I can't afford to pay $200 to $800 for new headlights, from an OEM parts store or the dealer. I've noticed products like that "As Seen On TV" headlight cleaner (probably garbage) and this Rain-X one:


Does this seem like an expensive bulb issue, a weekend tear-it-apart-and-clear it project, or a $13 Rain-X plastic restoration? Any other options, or is this just "how it is" for this luxury car? Thanks.

jsloden

Go to an autoparts and buy turtle wax RUBBING COMPOUND. Try polishing them with this first. If your headlights aren't to far gone this will make them look good as new. I did this on mine. If they're not clear enough then you may have to go back to the autoparts and buy the 3m headlight restortion kit. You will have the headlights off to do this properly because you have to lightly sand them. The kit is only $30 though. If the headlights aren't burned out then theres no reason to replace them. Taking the bumper off isn't really that hard. There are places that you can get the headlights for $50 or less on the internet. Hope this helps

totaledTL

Is it the bulbs, reflectors, lens, or ? Has moisture gotten into the housings & deteriorated the reflectors & bulbs?

If it's because the plastic lens have yellowed, try some metal or plastic polish to restore them. Did you price bulbs from any of the vendors on here? I think they are considerably cheaper. I think Depo sells replacemnt H/L assys.; not sure if their price is comparable to OEM.

closetprisoner

My HID bulb was like yellowish before I changed it, although it didn't blow yet, believe it was the original set. Replaced with new bulb, what a different.

soria

I would do both; clean the headlamp lens, and get new bulbs.

I use Meguiar's PlastX followed by a light coating with car wax.

Then get some new bulbs. Those are most likely the original bulbs in your '99 TL. They need to be replaced. You can get a new OEM pair for ~$80. I've never paid more than that.

Look on eBay; and someone just posted a link to amazon here on the board a few days ago where the bulbs were about $30 each.

soria

Here's the amazon link:


I got mine a bit cheaper from eBay.

EDIT: I forgot DDM Tuning. They sell decent bulbs for only $15 a pair!
Many forum members here have them with no problems.

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/HI...lacements-Pair

Select D2R and for color get 4500K or 5000K. 4500K is mostly white in color, whereas 5000K has a slight hint of blue.

randomthought

If you need bulbs, you can get a cheap set from the vendor hidextra for 25 bucks or so. Even a set of phillip osram bulbs can be found for under 100 on ebay.

If the lights are hazed over, you can probably just use some rubbing compound and buff the haze off. If the haze is really bad, some 1k, 1.5k, and 2k grit sandpaper and some polish should clean them right up. No bumper removal needed.

soria

^^hidextra is good too.

$35 for a pair of bulbs.

http://www.hidextra.com/d2r-5000k-hid-bulb-1010

jsloden

Sorry, headlight bulbs can be found for $50. The headlight housings are a bit more pricey.

jspagna1

I use Nu Finsh on my 03 Maxima headlights and it worked great. See claim below:


Scratch Doctor works great on headlight lenses to restore them to their original condition. You will need to apply some pressure and perhaps more than one application, but you will be happy to see the improvements Scratch Doctor can make on your old headlights.

nutlog13

Holy $#@&, this is what I was seeing at an otherwise reasonably priced OEM store:

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/index....%2799-%2701%29

$103 for a bulb; $206/pair. That's outrageous -- I thought I needed some sort of specialty bulb and this was one step better than the dealer (even the manual says low beams should be done by a dealer).

So wow, thanks for the links guys. $30 to $50 for a pair, I can do that. May be worth looking up a DIY and trying it myself (if it's easy enough for a rookie) for that price. Even if I have to pay someone to install them, getting them for 15% of what I thought it be is definitely good. So thanks.

yeedatoy

post a picture of the lights please.

yeedatoy

And you don't have to remove your headlights to restore them with one of those kits, just mask off around them with painters tape so you don't scratch the car.

randomthought

Install of the bulbs if fairly straightforward. Its just a cover using a torx bolt holding it on. Get the right torx bit, take off cover, twist off plug, undo the metal clip, and its off. Looks complicated, but not really.

01tl4tl

chances are its needs bulbs based on age

is there any moisture inside the housing lens --like in the morning or after car wash?
then you need housings- ~200 a set on ebay

otherwise use a drill with a round buffer ball and rubbing compound
every parts store has the kits with all you need $10-20
the lens will look worse for a while--thats a good sign- then they get clear like new

Definetly mask off well around the area with blue painters tape (leaves no residue)
or you will scratch the hood paint badly !! (dont ask)

finish them off with a few coats of synthetic car wax--ok for plastic, and higher melt point than carnuba

Next, If it has the moisture prob:
you will need a new ballast and capacitor system
they get fried from the water and wear and tear
diy project
www.hidextra.com a trusted azine sponsor/vendor has awesome package `kit` for 59$ with 2 bulbs 2 ballast 2 ignitor/caps,,all you need

popping off the cars nose is simple,,screw hidden in front of tire goes vertical
and `torx #20 security bit` for the rear cover of housing (or dremel screw into a flatblade)
coupons online and on the website

01tl4tl

sidenote: battery cable condition and those small metal straps from engine to frame- those are ground wires too ($20 kit at acura of new ground wires)
Can get dirty underneath, bad ground reduces voltage to any given part, and the system overall
these computer controlled cars are very sensative to it

fog80

is there a quality difference between the philips bulb on amazon for $43 and the other vendors listed in this thread that are selling for like $30-40 a pair?

soria

The philips will probably have tighter quality control and you're guaranteed it will work properly and have a long service life.

If youre on a budget the other bulbs arent bad. HIDextra has a 1 year warranty. I've had their 3000K HID kit in my foglights for over a year with no problems with either the bulbs or the electronics.

thewrangler99

http://www.ebay.com/itm/35W-H1-H3-H4...t_16174wt_1070
i bought my bulbs from this seller with lifetime warranty!

yeedatoy

This thread is now officially stupid. Post some pics or all you'll get is guesses. moisture could have gotten into the lights and there could be buildup on the inside of the housings, the bulbs could be nearing the end of their time in which case they should be a purple color, the outside of the lenses could need wet sanded or the aim of your lights could be thrown off some how. You've given us no information, at this point you should buy new headlights, ballasts and bulbs. Good luck.

Glockgen4

I have DDM tuning HID lo and fogs in my Tundra. Had them for a while now with no problems and I love them. I get a lot of compliments on them. Anyways, can I just order DDM bulbs and they will plug into the ballast wiring in the TL no problem? I didnt know if HID's are interchangeable or not. Thanks