mattbhm

My sister has a 2001 Maxima. The headlights are awful, they are completely fogged up and are sweating internally. It has stock(or aftermarket before her) halogens and they barely throw any light with these foggy headlights.

New headlights? Try to clean/repair?

She wants LED/HIDs but understands you can't just throw LEDs into reflector housings. I am all for HIDs/LEDs(if done correctly) but is that really needed if she just had nice clean headlights? Lighting the road is a big deal for her.

Thank you!

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)

mattbhm

While I am sure she'd love them, she's on a pretty low budget. That's why she originally wanted to just throw some high output bulbs in them. It's just gotten to the point that it's almost unsafe with what she has so she has to do something.

Thanks for the offer though!

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

Look for piaa bulbs,used them for a while before switch to hids

Mike88SE

I'd go w/ HID over LED obviously but seems like the first thing to do is either clear the old housings or buy some new ones.

Mike88SE

Geez those are pricey. Why not just go w/ HID if you're going to spend that much on bulbs. My only experience w/ HIDs is my Acura which came w/ HID stock so maybe retrofit is a problem?
BTW what's your method of clearing up foggy housings?

maxiiiboy

Matt, if I were you, I would just just buy her a new headlamp assembly.
Here: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...assembly,10762
It's only a $32/each, and when you consider the cost of refinishing it's even less.
Check out their light bulbs and LED's, too: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...amp+bulb,11701

Mike88SE

Rock Auto is great. I wonder if the anniversary headlights fits. My car came w/ one new headlight and one that needs replacing so I'll just get the standard later. I live in the city and I can practically drive w/o lights at night. And I just dropped a lot of coin on maintenance parts.
USER1, I didn't see you mention ballasts and wiring. Did I miss something like you already had a HID retrofit? When I had my Acura a bulb went red/pink and I bought new DR2s. When I went to replace the bulbs I discovered the PO had installed aftermarket ballasts and wiring and the DR2s wouldn't work. I got some Morimoto 5000Ks from https://www.theretrofitsource.com and they were great. I miss having HIDs. I miss the Acura.
For the price of those bulbs you could get an entire kit. https://www.theretrofitsource.com/90...ect_restrict=1

Mike88SE

Oh okay... I was thinking you had a 2000.

mattbhm

Thanks for all of the input!!

Our neighbor runs a body shop and has the tools to repair these.

With that said, because it's just the housings, would it be bad to just buy brand new from Rockauto? I know it's best to keep most thing OEM, but does this matter? He's extremely busy and for only $32 ea, the aftermarket are plenty cheap.

If she did go new(or OEM for that matter), would Halogens be the best bet on a budget?

Thank you!

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)

Aftermarket is fine. They won't stay clear nearly as long as OEM but I doubt she'll be keeping the car for a long time.

You can probably do HIDs if they are bi-xenon and have a nice glare shield over them. Not the cheapest way to do it but give the halogens a try first.

mattbhm

Yeah, she honestly plans on keeping it for probably another year or so. She's looking at getting a 6th or 7th gen once her job is more secure.

Forgive my ignorance on the subject, but something like these? https://www.xenonhids.com/dual-beam-....html?i=Y64L3A

I will tell her to try Halogens first, but just looking at options.

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)

More along the lines of something like this: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/90...oto-elite.html

I can probably get you a better price on it. Let me know via PM.

Mike88SE

Definitely Rock Auto and halogens for a budget. Sensors, sparkplugs, coilpacks etc you always want good Japanese parts. Other than that rockauto.com parts i.e. aftermarket parts are fine. They will light up the road more than adequately

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)

Ebay probably has the headlight housings cheaper for the pair TBH.

EDIT: Yup, I was right: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-2000-2...rt0m:rk:9:pf:0

krismax

iTrader: (15)

do any of these after market housings come with the spot to bolt ballasts underneath? can the 01's i have .will the ballasts fit underneath?

Chris8428

My Max could also use some new headlights. In looking at the ones from RockAuto the description indicates the set does not include retaining clips. Do our cars need retaining clips to be purchased with the headlights? Also, did I miss if the bulbs were included?

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)