5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

Headlight Protection

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-26-2005, 08:56 PM
  #1  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CRBWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: 32 miles north of Nissan AZ Proving Grounds
Posts: 239
Headlight Protection

Upon finding out that replacement headlight housings go for around $700 (dealer), I started looking into ways to protect them. I found this site http://www.xpel.com with a custom cut headlight/foglight kit for $70. It is bascially the same stuff as the 3M clear bra, but thicker for use on headlights. Anyone using this (or simlar) product? If so, does it look/function/install OK? It is pretty thick, around 40 mil.
CRBWS6 is offline  
Old 02-26-2005, 09:06 PM
  #2  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (15)
 
upstatemax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Clifton Park, NY
Posts: 4,035
thats not really going to "protect" your headlight from anything... just minor digs really... just use the 3m plastic polish to take care of any hazing or stuff like that, did mine a couple of months ago and they looked great after!
upstatemax is offline  
Old 02-26-2005, 09:41 PM
  #3  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CRBWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: 32 miles north of Nissan AZ Proving Grounds
Posts: 239
Originally Posted by upstatemax
thats not really going to "protect" your headlight from anything... just minor digs really... just use the 3m plastic polish to take care of any hazing or stuff like that, did mine a couple of months ago and they looked great after!
Yea, I did that both inside and out when i cleared the turn signals & installed DDEs. It really made the lens look like new.

My understanding is the headlight film will protect against rock chips and cracks, which would otherwise ruin the expensive headlights.
CRBWS6 is offline  
Old 02-27-2005, 12:46 PM
  #4  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
 
SpottyJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 73
I have the WeatherTech haedlight proctection kit.

My lenses had thousands of tiny nics from rocks, etc. I think this film helps protect. Well worth it in my book.
SpottyJ is offline  
Old 02-27-2005, 01:39 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Skizza20's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 191
I don't think the housing is that expensive. The ballast is the expensive part of the HID lights, the housings should only be a couple of hundred dollars for both housings, tops. Still worth protecting, so good luck with that product.
Skizza20 is offline  
Old 02-27-2005, 02:12 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Zero Deuce SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,836
The housing is not that cheap. It's less than $90 difference between the whole assembly and the housing.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...=4&catalogid=2
Zero Deuce SE is offline  
Old 02-27-2005, 02:27 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Skizza20's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 191
Originally Posted by Zero Deuce SE
The housing is not that cheap. It's less than $90 difference between the whole assembly and the housing.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...=4&catalogid=2
Man, I didn't think that would be so pricey. Definitely protect those bad boys then
Skizza20 is offline  
Old 02-27-2005, 07:27 PM
  #8  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CRBWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: 32 miles north of Nissan AZ Proving Grounds
Posts: 239
Anyone else have specific exerience with these products with respect to looks (are they noticable), ease of install, and function? Let us know which product u are using as well as the cost.....thanks! The ones at xpel.com are $70 and include fog light covers too.

And that price of $546 at trademotion.com looks pretty good. When my housing was damaged, i was very lucky to find one on Ebay for $41 shipped These Gen 5.5 housings are def worth protecting!
CRBWS6 is offline  
Old 02-27-2005, 07:48 PM
  #9  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
LA02MAX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 5,432
Originally Posted by CRBWS6
Anyone else have specific exerience with these products with respect to looks (are they noticable), ease of install, and function? Let us know which product u are using as well as the cost.....thanks! The ones at xpel.com are $70 and include fog light covers too.

And that price of $546 at trademotion.com looks pretty good. When my housing was damaged, i was very lucky to find one on Ebay for $41 shipped These Gen 5.5 housings are def worth protecting!
you do mean the FOGLIGHT housing for $41 shipped, correct?? cuz if you found the HEADLIGHT housing for that cheap, that seller was out of his mind!!!
LA02MAX is offline  
Old 02-27-2005, 09:04 PM
  #10  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CRBWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: 32 miles north of Nissan AZ Proving Grounds
Posts: 239
yes, it was the HEADLIGHT for $41. the back of the housing had some damage, but the lens was fine. like i said, i gotz very lucky! actually, my wife found it for me.....
CRBWS6 is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 08:13 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (16)
 
2kprlmax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NY
Posts: 1,899
you can always get a set of these, they also come clear and smoked

http://www.accessconnect.com/gts4.htm

http://store.yahoo.com/streetbeatcus...tsgt0240x.html

the second link has the pics of the cf one but thety are cheaper on the first link
2kprlmax is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 08:40 AM
  #12  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
LA02MAX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 5,432
Originally Posted by CRBWS6
yes, it was the HEADLIGHT for $41. the back of the housing had some damage, but the lens was fine. like i said, i gotz very lucky! actually, my wife found it for me.....
ok, so the only part on it you used was the actual clear cover, correct?? well i guess thats not so bad if it didnt come with the ballast or bulb or anything, but thats still dirt cheap even for the housing...good find!
LA02MAX is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 09:00 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
bigsherv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 609
Do you get plastic polish at an auto store?

What else can you use it on for a car?


Originally Posted by upstatemax
thats not really going to "protect" your headlight from anything... just minor digs really... just use the 3m plastic polish to take care of any hazing or stuff like that, did mine a couple of months ago and they looked great after!
bigsherv is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 09:10 AM
  #14  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
LA02MAX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 5,432
Originally Posted by bigsherv
Do you get plastic polish at an auto store?

What else can you use it on for a car?
ive looked at auto zone, o'rielly auto parts, and many other places around town, and cannot find that stuff anywhere..your best bet is to order it over the internet...thats what i did
LA02MAX is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 09:25 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
bigsherv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 609
damn, i hate paying shipping!
bigsherv is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 09:36 AM
  #16  
Member
 
bluecbr600rr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 59
If your looking for plastic polish try a motorcycle dealership. I have never used any but I have seen various types of polish made for plastics in the parts department. I would get the stuff they use for the windscreen.
bluecbr600rr is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 11:02 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Skier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 370
I have the Expel material installed. You can't even see it if it's properly installed. Will it protect it from large objects? Don't know and don't care. Expel will replace the housing if the material fails to protect. Caution though on the fog light pieces of Expel. Once it was in place and I ran the fogs in the cold temps with PIAA Super plasma bulbs they both cracked due to what I believe was excessive heat. Iv'e also gone through two sets of the bulbs in less than a year (and no I did not touch the bulb on installation)... They are crap bulbs in my opinion.
Skier is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 11:57 AM
  #18  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CRBWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: 32 miles north of Nissan AZ Proving Grounds
Posts: 239
Originally Posted by maxilvr06
ok, so the only part on it you used was the actual clear cover, correct?? well i guess thats not so bad if it didnt come with the ballast or bulb or anything, but thats still dirt cheap even for the housing...good find!
correct. the ballast and xenon bulb were not included.
CRBWS6 is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 12:02 PM
  #19  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
CRBWS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: 32 miles north of Nissan AZ Proving Grounds
Posts: 239
Originally Posted by maxilvr06
ive looked at auto zone, o'rielly auto parts, and many other places around town, and cannot find that stuff anywhere..your best bet is to order it over the internet...thats what i did
the actual product i use is by meguiar's and i beleive it is called "clear plastic polish". i believe i got it at checker which is a west coast equivalent to autozone. it comes in a smaller (6-8 oz) meduim blue bottle....
CRBWS6 is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 01:54 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Max20SE00's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,164
At 700 I would be doing everything I could to protect them
Max20SE00 is offline  
Old 02-28-2005, 02:48 PM
  #21  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (3)
 
LA02MAX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 5,432
Originally Posted by CRBWS6
the actual product i use is by meguiar's and i beleive it is called "clear plastic polish". i believe i got it at checker which is a west coast equivalent to autozone. it comes in a smaller (6-8 oz) meduim blue bottle....
yeah i know what you're talking about...i believe its actually called meguiars plastic-x..but i could be wrong....thats just the only meguiars plastic cleaner i've ever heard of....
LA02MAX is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
doctorpullit
8th Generation Maxima (2016-)
21
10-28-2019 10:58 PM
trsandrew
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
17
04-08-2016 06:45 PM
trsandrew
Group Deals / Sponsors Forum
2
10-25-2015 02:47 PM
Noela
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
5
09-26-2015 08:22 AM



Quick Reply: Headlight Protection



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:01 AM.