So much for that one...didnt think about it that way. Back to the torture, uh I mean drawing, board.

 

It is unfortunate there are no solid metal sections of the assembly which could just be spot-welded onto the frame of the car. That would be one solution...of course it could cause some problems down the line.

 

Well, it would appear this guy got taken for a ride on these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1836363108

I hope the guy protests with ebay...he's going to get two pieces of empty plastic for $355.

 

WOW, I would say that buyer got shafted.

 

Yup...did you see the 6/18 post by the seller saying that he's not sure, but he thinks that the headlamps may be missing some parts and doesn't know if they come with the headlamps or not. That guy is either really completely ignorant to what these headlights should be (which I'm willing to believe...although I'm stretching) or he's a complete thief and should be banned from ebay.

 

Not counting the mounts being broken, the buyer could easily put a pair of aftermarket HIDs into the housings and have a nice set for ~$600-$700. Not bad considering, some people actually paid $1K+.

 

I have a hard time believing the ignorance considering he added this last bit of information at the last minute...

 

Yeah, I was just trying to give the guy the benefit of the doubt...like I said, I was stretching on that one.

 

well, anyone buying these should know about them, such as covers to the back of the lights are missing. That usually will be a red flag for me. Plus, the seller can't even spell xenon correctly. He spelled zeon? What the heck is zeon?

 

Zeon is a type of Pentium processor, marketed by Intel, capable of scaling to 4-way and 8-way platforms.

 

Actually, that's Xeon and it can actually scale beyond 8 CPU's depending on the chipset (such as the ServerWorks Grand Champion HE chipset)...

 

does anyone know if 3M's Scotchcal could be applied to the headlights?? i know it wouldnt prevent them from stealing the ballasts(by smashing the housings) but wouldnt it slow them down??

and

couldnt we get some piece of metal formed to go on top of the plastic tabs before bolting them down with TimW's kit?? it would make the housing immoble and the thief would have to saw through metal & plastic to get the housing....i dont know..maybe this sounds retarded

 

WOW, I just read your post and felt like I was at work

 

Ahhh....yes...long time no IT for me. That's what I get, I suppose.

 

hmmm... just a thought, but to prevent the theieves from getting the entire assembly, or just to **** them off and perhaps even to thwart them, could it be possible to glue down the entire assembly using some sort of adhesive?

 

I think many of us know that theft deterence is the best solution because that way you don't risk getting your car broken or other things broken. Say they can't get the lights because you glued them, they still broke your hood release, cut your hood pin sensor for the alarm etc. There's gotta be a better way, and when some one thinks of it, they're going to be the savior or make some bucks from the device or idea...

 

you could put a heavy duty spring around wires for the horn and the hood release.. they would need bolt cutters to get thru it.

 

The thieves that pop the hood are NOT using the hood release cable. There is NO way you can pull on the cable and cause the hood latch to release. Unless, your HEMAN and pull it out through the front of the car, then yes maybe it's possible.

How do I know this? Because, I figured out how to EASILY release the latch in 5-10 seconds, maybe even faster. You simply reach up through the bottom valence opening with a screw driver(medium flat head) behind the latch and push towards the passengers' side of the car(the screw driver act as a lever and goes towards the drivers' side). Basically, the release cable pulls on a lever that has a sort of "dog leg" shape to it, this is what the screw driver catches to bypass the hood release. If you know where this lever is, you can easily pop the hood.

Possible fixes:
----------------------
1)Trim the "dog leg" so that you can't get a screw driver between it and the latch/hood support.
2)Use some kind of metal to block access to the latch from the drivers' side.
3)Block access through the valence opening.

Now if your still want more protection we need someway to support the housing to the chasis to prevent/reduce prying them out through the front withOUT opening the hood. Possible ideas:
1)Epoxy metal cable around the housing and lock the cable to the frame?
2)Drill the mount for the white clip on the bottom of the housing and lock it somehow.

 

Maybe we shouldn't be posting all these details for everyone to see... This can only put bad ideas in more heads...

 

Good thought. That crossed my mind too.

 

yes and no.. there is no shortage of people who know how to do this and/or have the ***** to do it.

 

Trust me, the ONLY people who don't know how to do this are the ones being victimized, us. Any 2-bit thief will already know this.

It's better for US to be informed to prevent this from happening. If you know how they are breaching the hood, you can PREVENT the theft. One possibility is by parking with the hood VERY close to another car infront of you or better yet a pole, wall, etc... This way they can't get down low enough to reach through. From now on when I go to any big city, I'll ALWAYS park that way just incase someone tries something.


Tim,

Any ideas on putting a shield around the drivers' side of the latch?

 

Tim,

Any ideas on putting a shield around the drivers' side of the latch? [/B][/QUOTE]

Or what about installing a small guillotine behind the grill that would be tripped by movement back there? I think he would be in too much pain to steal the lights

 

Or what about installing a small guillotine behind the grill that would be tripped by movement back there? I think he would be in too much pain to steal the lights [/B][/QUOTE]

Razor wire!

 

Razor wire! [/B][/QUOTE]


and put a warning sticker on the bumper, stealing these babies may be your last. or HIDs on black market $400, Loosing your arm stealing them... priceless.

 

and put a warning sticker on the bumper, stealing these babies may be your last. or HIDs on black market $400, Loosing your arm stealing them... priceless. [/B][/QUOTE]



Now that's a bumper sticker slogan if I've ever heard it!!

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1840379426

uhm, removed from car, but no housing? Could the car have been in a collision and the housing is destroyed? Perhaps... but 2003 I30? I don't think so. I got an idea, etching Vehicle VIN numbers on the housin and ballast, and of course warning stickers saying so. And also etched warning about light has been stolen if not bought from original owner or such...

 

Im telling you they are people who dealers pay to steal back 2k2 hids so people have to come to them to fix it. Thats something not covered inyour warranty. That happened where I use to live. There was a glass making place that paid some kid to go throwing rocks and peoples windshield in the vicinity. The people would then go to that glass spot to get a replacement. They create the supply and the demand.!!!

 

Sorry to hear that. My brother told me that he saw a maxima this morning, a white one with no headlights. was that you? I live in NY too, i gotta be careful. I don't have HID's, but i was planning to buy a set, this may change my mind and keep the ones i have on now..

 

There used to be a time when guys would take your hubcaps off your car at a stoplight in NYC...now they are jacking your HID's

 

timw=lame

 

As for the razor wire, don't even consider it. Thief will come along, attempt to steal the headlamps get cut pretty good and then you'll have some liberal attorney (i.e.: Ron Kuby) defend the guy with some ludicrous law suit claiming that you created a hazard for a thief. And with these liberal courts, you'll lose in court.

 

So I guess I should stop trying to set my car up to fire a saw blade out of the grill?

 

we really need to make a sticker of some sort for the HID kits we got from Tim - b/c I feel secure having the HID kit on my lights, but the vandals don't know I have them until they pry open my hood and see it with their own eyes. Now if we had some sort of sticker that warns them of it - it would be more effective

 

go to your local sticker just & have them slap one on your windshield

j/k....a sticker wont work??? where you going to put it, on the hood glow in the dark thats the only place I can think of that they will see it

edit: spelling

 

i have no idea where i can get a sticker made in nyc - anyone have any idea?

 

I like the shield idea. I'm going to go to Home Depot to buy some wire meshes to play with. I'll post if I make something workable.

 

I was going to include a sticker with my kit, but nobody wanted it. so I dropped the idea...

 

That sH*T is so true i live in queens in a very nice neighborbood, it dont matter were you live if they want your HID they coming to get it. I went to Star Nissan to get my window mechinism fixed and their were at least (7) maxima with the light stolen. some of them were taken out with out bending the hood but most of them were really mess up with the corners of the hood bend.
sorry for your lost
damm ricer

 

The right side headlight (stock) was stolen from my 2001 Maxima a couple of weeks ago in Parkchester (Bronx, N.Y.). It appears that the culprit(s) were after the full set but were deterred for some reason or another - lucky me.

Replacement (genuine Nissan part), was $217 plus tax from my dealer. Naturally, there was some damage to the body/frame which was repaired rather efficiently by a driver by, who noticed the damage for $300 on the spot. The paint still needs to be done, but he can and will do that as well.

Be careful out there! I hear all over that Maxima headlights are hot items.