My 2k2 got into a small wintery accident last week. I went and got an estimate and they wanted about $725 to replace one of the front 2 HID lights. This light works and all, but has a fairly minor scuff near where it meets the bumper cover. I don't see this small scuffed area of plastic being worth $725, and my insurance co wont raise my rates if they pay out $750 or less (Total with the lights and bumper cover is about $1500 then subtract my $500 deductable). So this brings me to my point, is there just a part (ie: the plastic housing) that can be replaced cheaper than hundreds of dollars that I can get or tell them to get? Thanks!

 

there may now be a lens available. Parts departments are notorious for trying to sell you the whole assembly. And 725 is full retail

call Dave Burnett @ Smithtown Nissan (800) 251-7278

not only are his prices among the best with service to match, but he has also been able to get me sub assembly parts

like:
a $2 bulb instead of a $400 AC control that the dealer wanted.
a $48 motor instead of a complete $180 AC blower unit and housing i didnt need
There have been other things.. if it's a currently available part, he'll know about it.

 

With the bumper repair it looks like you are out the $500 deductible with or without the headlight replacement. Why are you not wanting to get the headlight replaced ? If it's a comprehensive claim it won't affect your insurance rating. I'm going thru this right now. The front of my Maxima was sprayed with debri from an accident, probably glass particles, and the insurance co. is footing the bill for alot of pit repairs including replacing my headlights, fog lights and grill.

 

Yea I am out of the $500 no matter what.
But if the Ins Co pays out less than $750 ($1250 total, their $750 plus my $500) then they don't change my rates at all. I called Dave, and he was helpful but nothing cheaper than $500 was available.
So I headed out to the auto parts store got some 400 and 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper and some 3m plastic polish and in about 20 min the scuff was gone. Smooth as glass. Now I'll just get the bumper and fog light fixed for about $900-1000.

 

sorry bout that. I had heard the lens alone or housings without bulbs might be available. Dave keeps much more current on that stuff than any of our dealers locally. If he cant find it, I doubt Nissan makes it

 

You're right, Tim- Nissan doesn't offer the lens by itself. If I could only figure out why the lens/housing is so expensive when it doesn't come with the high $$$ bulb/ballast! Grr!

 

So they did release a housing minus bulbs? and that is still in $500 range? Maybe it's another pricing error, just not in our favor this time

 

$500 something for lens? OMFG. Insane.

 

Yeah, I can get the lens/housing "down" to about $400, I guess Nissan has decided that anything that has anything to do with a hid needs to be high dollar!

 

What EXACTLY do you guys think has been ordered here for my 2002 Maxima SE ? Do these orders represent complete replacement or a partial replacement of each light? For instance, I remember the bodyshop advisor mentioning something about the headlight order NOT including all components. Does it look like this order includes the bulbs ? Thanks. :

R FRT COMB LAMP LENS & HOUSING / part # 26025-5Y700 / $509.49
L FRT COMB LAMP LENS & HOUSING / part # 26075-5Y700 / $509.49

R FOG LAMP LENS & HOUSING / part # 26154-5Y700 / $154.08
L FOG LAMP LENS & HOUSING / part # 26159-5Y700 / $154.08

 

From what I remember the guy at the body shop telling me, both of those are just the housing. The HIDs are 724 with everything, and the fogs were ~175 with everything.

 

Maybe somebody can confirm EXACTLY what was ordered based on the part #s that I provided in my last post. Yesterday I looked at the new headlights and the bulbs appeared to be included. Is there perhaps a bulb shell in the housing and the actual light is inserted within or behind the shell or something like that ? This is confusing. I recall the bodyshop advisor making a comment that the replacement headlights that he ordered weren't a complete unit. Something related to ' electrical or electrical assembly ' wasn't included in the order. Clarification on this would be appreciated.

 

These part #s are definitely just the lens/housing, NOT the whole assemblies with bulbs & ballasts.

 

Holy Butt Squeezins Batman! Thats just gosh darned expensive!

 

When I look at the replacement headlight I see the same bulb configuration as the original headlight. If the bulbs aren't included what is it that I'm seeing when I look at the replacement housing. Are those just bulb shells or something like that ? In other words, my replacement headlights aren't empty housings. They include what appears to be a full set of lights. Thanks.

 

ALL claims affect your insurance rating. the smaller they are and they fewer, the better for your rates and your future insurability. even claims where it wasn't your fault. even comprehensive claims. even windshield chip claims. don't file unless you're sure it's worth it. there's a reason why insurance is the wealthiest industry on the planet...

 

The ballast is attached to the housings, not the fender :/ what goofs. That housing may have turn signal bulbs but ballast and burners wont be in there.

 

No...that is a reflector. I'm not sure what the exact term is, but the bulbs/burners go behind those, star/prism shaped reflectors.

You need to look in the back to see if the bulbs/burners are included.