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Horrible Headlights

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Old 05-12-2008, 06:23 AM
  #1  
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Horrible Headlights

I bought a 3rd gen off a member here that needed more work than we initially thought but for a little under 2k it's now running nicely and inspected. However, last night I drove it for the first time at night and the headlamps are just horrible. Pretty much 2 hotspots on the road and that's it. They look to be some aftermarket ebay black housing headlamps. Anybody have some ideas for better headlights? Should I just buy some OEM's? I like the look of the ones I have, I just can't drive with them. HID retrofit is pretty much out of the question because I don't have the time or skill and patience.

Thanks!
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Old 05-12-2008, 06:49 AM
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I would search to bone yards for OEMs or Try finding some projector sytle lights made exclusively for 3rd gen Maximas, perhaps ICW!
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Old 05-12-2008, 08:54 AM
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please supply a pic of the "aftermarket ebay" lights. There is only the Euro style lights that I have seen. Otherwise, they are probably E36 BMW lights.

If you have stock housings, you can do a 9007 bulb swap. It helps out quite a bit for a cheap, easy upgrage. There is a how to in the stickies.
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Old 05-12-2008, 11:03 AM
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pretty sure they are the euro style then from ebay. The light output is pretty much unbearable. It's like driving with fog lights on. How hard are the e36's to install?

This is what they look like

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Old 05-12-2008, 05:19 PM
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yeah those are the craptacular "euro" ones.
they are only suitable as a replacement lens for an E36 swap IMO.
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Old 05-12-2008, 05:26 PM
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There are some E36's being sold in the 1st-3rd gen classifieds right now with a Wade flush fit installed and UK corners. Output would be great, if you decide to just go OEM, definitely do the 9007 upgrade, it's simply switching two wires, buying the bulbs, and shaving a small ridge out of the headlight bulb housing.
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Old 05-12-2008, 05:31 PM
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If you want to stay with the stock headlight housing, go with the 9007 bulb swap..

--> http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=396734
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Old 05-13-2008, 01:25 AM
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retrofits aren't as hard as they look. you have a great starting point with those euro clear glass housings.
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Old 05-13-2008, 06:19 AM
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Originally Posted by maximal
retrofits aren't as hard as they look. you have a great starting point with those euro clear glass housings.
yeah the euros are the way to go for a stock-fitting retro. I'm stuffing some J30 projectors into euros sometime in the next year. but it's always a good idea to have some spare stock housings that you can afford to royally screw up just in case it doesn't go right. Then when you finally get it right, just try and replicate your success over to your nice Euros and you've got a nice set of flush-fitting headlights.
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Old 05-13-2008, 06:32 AM
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I may buy some stockers off ebay and then some projectors and play around with the euros and projectors. What are the best projectors for these housings? The J30s?
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Old 05-13-2008, 11:51 PM
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LOLOLOLOLOLOL
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Old 07-02-2009, 10:36 PM
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Im thinking about gettin a 8000k H.I.D. kit question is where would i mount the Ballasts? and would it be a good idea to put them inside the stock housing and still get a good light output? and is it possible to get inside of my lights cleaned or is there a way of cleaing them? I thought about CLR not sure if that works and dont wanna waste my time i would just do the 9007 upgrade but dont really want to.
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Old 07-03-2009, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Infam0usMax
Im thinking about gettin a 8000kH.I.D. kit
stop. it's illegal. and dangerous to other drivers.
question is where would i mount the Ballasts and would it be a goodidea to put them inside the stock housing and still get a good light output?
in another car, and not if you respect other drivers.
and is it possible to get inside of my lights cleaned or is there a way of cleaing them? I thought about CLR not sure if that works and dont wanna waste my time
you could try taking the headlights out, and sloshing some warm, soapy water around in there
i would just do the 9007 upgrade but dont really want to.
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