$400 to change a headlight bulb?
#1
$400 to change a headlight bulb?
Hi everyone, new here to the ORG. I have a 2010 sv sport with 30,000 mi. (not under warranty) my passenger side headlight is out so I go to the dealer and they said its $200 for the HID bulb and the bumper has to be dropped to replace the bulb, which is another $200. This seems ridiculous for a headlight bulb! And why would they design the car so you have to drop the bumper to replace it?! Anyway, do I have any other cheaper options? Any ideas? I don't want a ticket for driving around without a headlight. Thanks for any suggestions.
#2
Buy a set of aftermarket hid bulbs from a local auto shop or try theretrofitsource.com ... You need the d2s bulb.. Stock color is 4300k.
For the install all I had to do was bend back the fender lining and you can get in there to replace it... If you have big hands it may be a bit difficult but can be done. But if you have the time you can remove the bumper and headlight to replace it too..
Hope it helps
For the install all I had to do was bend back the fender lining and you can get in there to replace it... If you have big hands it may be a bit difficult but can be done. But if you have the time you can remove the bumper and headlight to replace it too..
Hope it helps
#3
That sounds crazy.
Have you looked at it to see if it is accessible??
I called my local dealership for a quote acting like I had the same car as you.
I'll report back with what they tell me.
I think you should be able to just buy a bulb yourself for around $30-70 and it should be a do it yourself kinda thing.
Have you looked at it to see if it is accessible??
I called my local dealership for a quote acting like I had the same car as you.
I'll report back with what they tell me.
I think you should be able to just buy a bulb yourself for around $30-70 and it should be a do it yourself kinda thing.
#4
Funnyman has great advice...you can get an amazing set of OEM (phillips) or BETTER (osram xenarc) HID bulbs from theretrofitsource.com for under $200 per set. check them out I love their products (massive focus on quality) and amazing customer service.....That aside theres a badass writeup with a TON of pics (search the forum) on here about removing your headlights, you can actually google it and itll come up its that good. If you're not game for the do-it-youself way the dealer should only charge $79 to install your bulbs if you bring them in...thats what I was quoted by Autonation Nissan in Tampa FL. Good luck!!
#7
Im running these in my 4th gen with a TL retro, I love the output..and the color looks very OEMish
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=148
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=148
#9
There actually a way to replace the bulb without dropping the bumper. Where the front wheels are, there is a panel with clips on them, not too much space to work, but you can actually replace the bulbs that way, without having to deal with dropping the bumper. I also suggest to get HIDs. Much better than the ones that comes with the car ! I changed mine to 6K and I love them ! Of course had to get a touch of KMONEY to get the unique style I want, but hopefully I helped out !
#10
From the bottom of the car, corner, there are 3 Philips screws and 2 plastic pop rivets if you remove them, you can pull the plastic panel down and reach up to swap out the bulb. Less than 10 minutes work. I did this when I swapped out to LED turn signal bulbs. Good luck
#11
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Manhattan Beach, Ca / Dallas, Tx
Posts: 3,751
Hi everyone, new here to the ORG. I have a 2010 sv sport with 30,000 mi. (not under warranty) my passenger side headlight is out so I go to the dealer and they said its $200 for the HID bulb and the bumper has to be dropped to replace the bulb, which is another $200. This seems ridiculous for a headlight bulb! And why would they design the car so you have to drop the bumper to replace it?! Anyway, do I have any other cheaper options? Any ideas? I don't want a ticket for driving around without a headlight. Thanks for any suggestions.
#12
Good point Monte as this on-off-on issue stresses the lights when I pass through security entering work on a weekly basis.....we're required to dim the headlights then pop them back on after passing through the check point.
#14
i have 5k bulbs from TheRetrofitSource and they're great. you dont have to drop the bumper, that's the long way. just cut your wheel to the side, pop off a few plastic fasteners in the wheel well and push the liner aside. on the back of the headlight there is a grey circular cap, you wanna spin this (i believe counter-clockwise) which will allow it to be removed. in there you pinch a metal pin and pull back to remove the HID bulb. when installing the new ones be careful not to touch the bulb, any oil/grease that gets on it can make cause it to blow.
#18
Mitsu Evolution, newer gens of WRX Impreza, and Cadillac CTS are designed that way. its just so you get raped for the labor charge of taking the car to the dealer and getting the bumper removed for the replacement of the light
#20
#23
Same process except they twist out without the grey cap covering access to the bulb. Still need to go in through the fender liner or drop the bumper.
#25
check the inner fender and under the hood as said, sometimes on vehicles that are designed to have the bumper removed, you can snake your hands in and change the bulb. might have to remove the air filter assembly or something to make room. or get your kids with tiny hands to get the bulb out lol
#26
Originally Posted by Dan12345
Thanks again everyone for being so helpful, looks like I'll order online and try the install myself! And yes, I'm two months over the 3 year warranty unfortunately.
Posted from Maxima.org App for Android
#27
Why in the world would they design a car like that ? Hopefully the bulbs ( non HID ) last a long time. If I have the dealer do it and drop the bumper do they drop just one side or does the whole bumper drop making me think I should just replace both bulbs when one bulb burns out.
This alone would have kept me from buying a Maxima, never thought to research headlight bulb replacement.
I found this ( was hoping to find a Youtube video but no luck) but I'm not postive it's for the 7th gen
http://www.ehow.com/how_5070938_repl...an-maxima.html
Is headlight replacement covered under the extended warranty ? If so it may be worth picking up
Last edited by 13Maximasv; 06-25-2013 at 03:46 PM.
#28
usually the whole bumper has to come off, and if youre in it that far i would just replace all the bulbs
lots of new cars are designed with headlight replacement being a pain. i know Chrysler at least usually puts a removable plastic piece in the inner fender to access the headlights, but otherwise it can be a pain. its not just Maximas
lots of new cars are designed with headlight replacement being a pain. i know Chrysler at least usually puts a removable plastic piece in the inner fender to access the headlights, but otherwise it can be a pain. its not just Maximas
#30
#31
I wonder if the way the lights are installed these has anything to to do with the lawsuit Nissan encountered on the 2002 and 2003 cars where people were getting the headlights ripped out for the HID.
Nissan installed some sort of bracket to help prevent theft as part of the settlement.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money...adlights_x.htm
Nissan installed some sort of bracket to help prevent theft as part of the settlement.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money...adlights_x.htm
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
03VQMAX
5th Generation Classifieds (2000-2003)
5
11-10-2015 03:39 PM
sdotcarter
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
2
09-02-2015 09:53 PM