My 03 SE is in the shop having $3200 of repairs to replace the HID lights that were stolen. Nissan has also come up with an anti-theft kit. At first they wanted $600 the said that the 600 was "retail" and are installing for $249. Of this $119 is the kit itself and the balance labor.


I think that Nissan has to step up to the plate and assume some responsibility here for the following reasons:
1. It is their design that has made these things so easy/fast to steal.
2. They have priced the replacements so high (750 per headlight unit just for the part) that they are attractive to thieves.
3. I understand that spare parts have high profit built in, BUT for Nissan to make profit on thefts like this is unfair. It's not like they are burning out or replaced as a result of collisions. They have created a fast profit generating machine for themselves and they make more money on the deal than anyone!
4. Then to come out with a kit and charge 600 or 250 or ANYTHING is crazier - again it's a flaw in their design.


Possible solutions:
1. Lower the headlight price to 150 - the black market would disappear.
2. Mount the electrical ballast elsewhere in the car - that is the key part in the whole thing from what I understand. It is now in the headlight and comes out nicely as part of the package. If it were separate, it would make the theft operation much more time consuming and thereby risky. This should be done as a well publicized recall.
3. Install the anti-theft kit free to everyone.


Nissan must accept some burden for this situation. These steps would make the risk to a thief greater and the reward less. We as owners and potential owners must pressure Nissan and threaten them with loss of business to make it happen. This is my 2nd Max and I love the car, but the situation makes the car "unownable" unless you can lock it up or stand guard 24/7.

 

And the president should give everyone $1000.00 because economy is so bad right now.

 

Funny. Point is, the experience of ownership is greatly diminished (aparrently only in the northeast) by this ever present threat. Nissan is profiting greatly for a flawed design point.

 

And the Eagles aren't headed for the Super Bowl.

I hate to say this because you know how much I think they're even bigger thieves than the thieves themselves, but that's what insurance is for. With a $200 deductible sure, I'd pay out of pocket for up to maybe $1200 in damage to keep my record clean and prevent my rates from getting jacked. But 3 grand of damage and I'm not shy about putting in a claim. As far as more money to make it harder to steal, the Nissan dealer can try to take advantage of a bad situation with somebody else. Imagine that, actually profitting even more by selling more snake oil when somebody experiences a theft? Yeah, why don't they also rustproof and fabric guard the car while they're at it?

Back to the topic of insurance, not only do homeowner's rates get jacked every year on the average of 8%, they are doing such a bad job at managing risk that they are starting to cancel policies if the homeowner even inquires on making a claim. Really, shame on them and the people who work in the biz.

 

I'm with you.. I did put in a claim and the ins co was great and very prompt. BUT when I getthe car back, will the crooks be back? They obviously know who is going to have new headlights! How many claims can I make? I'm sure you see the point!

 

It's a shame but it probably depends on where you live, and I take it you're in Jersey. So I guess there's a good chance that if you park in the same place it could happen again. The thing is, even if you got some crazy kit for $249 to make it harder to steal, crooks are going to do alot of damage anyway trying to get the xenons. So there is some truth to what you say--if thieves knew the Maxima xenons were very tricky to steal, they may back-off (or take the whole car!).

I've never made a claim on my 98 ever but my rates keep going up, no violations either. I've paid them thousands for nothing (I understand liability is necessary but we get robbed on comp and collision). I wouldn't count on being able to make too many claims without an increase or being dropped--hopefully with this claim you wont see anything, but you could. Good luck.

 

Get an alarm!My car is coming out the shop tomorrow for stolen HID's. I am having an alarm installed on Tuesday or Wednesday by Don(Pearl96Max) and until than, I will park the car in a parking garage just so I can have some peace in my mind.

When the car comes back out to being parked on the street, it will have the alarm with proximity sensors and I will always park it kissing my 99 Altima's rear bumper so they don't have any space to work on it.The day they got stolen, my dad had taken the car out and parked it somewhere else, partly my fault, I should've told him why I always parked so close to my mom's car in the first place.

 

2 great thoughts! Thanks!

 

If you bolt them in tighter, there only gonig to do more damage taking them out the next time around.

I suggest you install a shock sensor wired to your factory alarm and put the sensor right on the HID housing. That way as soon as anybody tries to mess with them, it will trigger the alarm.

 

No problem, where in Jersey are you from?

 

Woodbridge area.

 

Where were your lights stolen?


If you want an alarm for your car, contact Don (Pearl96Max) send him a PM, he's right next to you in Edison. Many org members had their alarms installed there.

 

In front of my condo. No real "safe" parking available, although never had a reason to need any before. They have hit at least 4 of us since XMAS that I know of!

 

how much is a shock sensor