KBCobra

So, I rear ended an FJ Cruiser last week. My hood is bent, my bumper is broken, my grille is cracked, and my headlights are scratched up. I already accumulated all the parts except the headlights. So, I was looking on eBay and I keep seeing these "TWIN HALO BLACK HEADLIGHTS" for about $140. I like the fact that they are the 2002-2003 Style. Does anyone have this installed on their 2000-2001 Maxima? If so, Is it a perfect plug and play fit or did you have to do any retrofitting / cutting with the wiring etc. I'd like to see some pictures before I buy. Thanks! '

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

yup, see below. plug + play

KBCobra

Those are the same ones you bought, right? How does the "Halo" work or turn on? I'm new to this. Didn't plan on crashing my car so I never looked into different headlights.

tdabboud

iTrader: (6)

Yeah i bought those as well, except i got the chrome ones. They fit perfectly. All you have to do for the halos is tap them into the parking light. Or what i did was run the wires to the inside of the car and i put a switch, that way they don't have to be on every time you turn on your headlights (make them last longer).

KBCobra

Alright cool thanks Hopefully I get my taxes soon so I can get everything I need

AEMAXIMA01

iTrader: (3)

No offense to the other posters, but if you want good light output, you're better off going with a replacement set of 5.0 headlights, 5.5 HIDs, or retrofit projectors into either housing.

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

you do have to tap into whatever source for the halos, I used the parking lights but you could use any power source.

Light output is ok with HIDs but my ultimate plan is to swap in projectors. I liked the black look over 5.5 headlights though

KBCobra

That's true [the lighting part]. Since I'm used to lighting the whole road with my 5000K HID's, I would hate to get any less light output I just found an OEM set of 5.0's for $100, Save me $40

Feldman, Do you have any night pictures of how your headlights light up?

DrunkieTheBear

iTrader: (17)

Make sure if you are buying 5.0 headlights that they are OEM.

Cause these after market 5.0 headlights DO NOT have the same reflector and the output is actually really scattered and although not horrible it is noticeably different. That and they leave a bigger gap between the bumper and headlight on the bottom side.

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

no night pics of output, it is pretty good on mine. i can get some night pics but it wont be for a few days at the best. I have a few real busy days/nights ahead of me

KBCobra

I'm not afraid of a little light scattering as long as I have new headlights

In the meantime, I'll be reading around the forums and looking at different pictures. I hate seeing my Max in pain

btw drunkie, nice pedobear sticker
I have one in my drawer waiting to be slapped on my Maxima but I just can't seem to find the perfect spot to put it in haha

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

i love the way they look as compared to stock. here are some pics, none of the light pattern though

KBCobra

Looks very good

again, just to clarify, since the high and low beam are different bulbs unlike the stock 2000-2001 headlight assembly using one bulb for both high and low, you didn't have to tweak any wiring, right?

5 ltr. beater

interesting thread. i actually brought up these lights a few weeks back in a previous thread and alot of the response i got was rather negative.
not because they don't look cool (cause they look awesome), but because of their longevity and the quality of the product that some said deterioate over time way too fast.

00NisMaxSE

x2
So these headlights have 2 separate bulbs one for high and one for low? So if i bought a set and wanted hid's for the highs and lows i would need 2 kits? thanks in advance

tdabboud

iTrader: (6)

with these lights yes because they dont make 9006 bixenons. My opinion though would be to just get the hids for the low beams since they dont last as long when used on high beam.

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

I have had mine for almost 2 years and they are still like new, no pitting, fogging or anything like that

The headlights come with an adapter to go from stock so it is pretty much plug and play. I have HIDs in both the high and low beams. you cant really flash them but they are awesome when going up the canyon or when you are in the middle of nowhere.

DrunkieTheBear

iTrader: (17)

Put it on the back bumper, over the muffler, right where the lip is...IMO best place for it LOL

Z-Powered

I thought the eBay halos didn't fit HID bulbs...

KBCobra

Ah, alright I know how it works now. Before I get the headlights, I'm going to get a 5.5 front bumper (since I need a new bumper anyway and it will cost me the same as the 5th gen bumper). I wonder if it's exact fit over the 00-01 bumper.

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

they sure do, i didnt have to modify anything. They were plug and play as well. both highs and lows were 9006 if i remember correctly

Z-Powered

Where did you buy them from? And how's the beam pattern? I heard it sucks.

JonMcJunkin

From what I've read, no. I believe that you could make it work with (maybe) modifying somewhere somehow, but you'd have to buy a bumper AND a grill. The 5th gen has the grill attached to the bumper, whereas the 5.5 have separate bumpers and grills.

KBCobra

Well, I crashed mine so I need a new grille anyway so that is not gonna be a problem. I'm going to have to buy a new foglight housing too. If the 02-03 fits, I much prefer it over the 00-01 bumper

JonMcJunkin

Here's the thing though; say you go with the 02-03 bumper. But you purchase the OEM headlights from a 2000, whether true OEM or eBay ones, you're car is going to look awkward with the aggressive bumper lines and the not-too-aggressive headlights. But if you get the halo/projector eBay ones (regardless of the good and bad reviews) they'll look better with the bumper, but the OEM 5.5's are going to look the best/most natural. But you'll have to buy a bumper, find an OEM grill (for the best look, IMHO) and a new emblem (possibly two so the back one matches) and get everything installed.

So it's your call, and I like your train of thought, but if you do a full-fascia conversion, do it right, and don't cheap out, because you're car will end up looking goofy.

KBCobra

Yeah I was also going to get the eBay headlights. Thinking about the clear or smoked ones. Since the accident caused my headlights to be all scratched up I prefer a new set of lights even if they're not broken. Yeah, I love the 5.5 so I am aiming towards giving my 5th gen a face lift.

Rood

iTrader: (15)

The ebay halos are terrible. The light output is bad and the halos in general suck..

I switched to 02-03 blacked out/cleared headlight.. They are amazing

KBCobra

Which ones are you talking about? Can I get a pic of these?

DrunkieTheBear

iTrader: (17)

They are just the 5.5 gen OEMs

Z-Powered

Who do I believe?

KBCobra

Ah okay. I love my Maxima but not enough to spend over $500 on just the headlights themselves. I think I'm going to go for the clear halo "ebay special" lol The halo is of no use to me so I could really care less about it.

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

i agree light output isnt great but they do look good and with HIDs it is more than stock and the cuttoff is good so you arent blasting light at oncoming traffic.

To be honest if you dont get HIDs with them i bet they are pretty dim

Z-Powered

So would you say they are better or worse than hazy OEM HIDs? (In terms of output and beam pattern)

Rood

iTrader: (15)

Worse, unless you put HIDs in them. Mine werent hazy but going from stock 00s to ebay lights was a poor choice. I needed replacements, that was the only reason I bought them

Have you tried a autzone headlight cleaner? It should remove any yellowing or haziness

Z-Powered

^ I will be putting my HID bulbs in them if I buy the eBay halos. I got a collision shop to sand my headlights for free yesterday, and they look like new now, but the shop said they will get hazy again in a few months/years. So if the eBay halos aren't that bad, I might buy them, depending on what you guys think.

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

I have never seen/compared the OEM 5.5 lights at least not that i really payed attention to but as compared to other cars on the road they are brighter in general with HIDs

Rood

iTrader: (15)

I personally would see how long it does to take to hazy up again. If you like the idea of the halos, I would bake them open, paint them black like the AEs and put halos in them. When I had the halos I like them but got tired of them quickly. They werent bright enough.

DrunkieTheBear

iTrader: (17)

$500? I spent $200 back in the day doing my 5.0 to 5.5 conversion

Rood

iTrader: (15)

This.
$175 for lights + $35 for wiring + $50 for a nissan ballast/igniter

Feldman

iTrader: (1)

Where did you find OEM 5.5 lights for $175? I would pick up a set for that price.