The low beam HIDs on my 2002 TLS needed to be replaced... Not having the time to replace them myself, I had it done by a service technician who was supposed to know what he was dong.

When I got the car back, the low beams were literally aimed at the sky and threw almost no light on the road. The guy who did the work subsequently aimed the lights, with the result that the lows were somewhat OK but the high beams were pointed at the ground about 30 ft. in front of the car.

I had them looked at by someone else, who said that the bulb retaining clips on both sides were broken.

Given that Acura doesn't sell just the clips, the options seem to be:
1) Find headlights (preferably cracked and therefore cheap) at a salvage yard just for the retaining clips,
2) Buy OEM headlight replacements (approx $160 a side on-line),
3) Purchase non-OEM headlights at about half the price of the real thing.

Questions:
- Has anyone found a source for just the retaining clips?
- If I have to replace the headlights, any comments on, or experience with, aftermarket vs. OEM units?

Thanks in advance for any information or advice.

 

Any pictures of the said retaining clip? You more than likely won't be able to find one of those for sale individually, but taking them from a salvage yard is probably the best/cheapest solution!

If your headlights themselves are fine, I would find a salvage car to take them from, as it is literally a single metal clip and would seem a waste to buy all new headlights just for that

 

Your best bet is try to find a set of used bad shape headlights to take them from.

 

Since you're thinking of replacing the existing headlamp units, why not extend their usable life by permanently gluing a set of brand new bulbs onto the headlamp units.

This will buy you at least a year to two for now, until either of the bulbs burnt out again.

 

Just shove 2 pieces of some soft material kinda like foamy (Used to pack stuff in envelopes) and stuck it behind the ignitor to be pushed by the security cover...


I broke my retaining clip years ago and I fixed that way with no issues at all (Nope it doesn't vibrate with potholes).. basically if you can push the Ignitor/Bulb into the headlight hole it will line up correctly.. It just need to be pushed firmly in place with something with the Security Cover..




Fix Cost: FREE.