07 Expy replacement headlight options (under $500 for both)?

[Funstuie]

Hey all

This is a confusing and seemingly expensive subject. The headlights in my 07 Expedition leave me wanting more. The current output is not great and they are faded and crazed (is that the right word?). I did a restore on them and they are better than before but the light is pretty sucky:

So looking to replace. I have read about retrofitting them and I contacted SickHids and the cost is crazy.

Does anyone have any experience with aftermarket headlights? Any good experience?

Something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CCFL-Halo-2...98888fe&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=6&sd=191168474605

What other options to I have to replace?

 

[Chriscpr84]

Well if you end up getting a new set I would be happy to buy those from you. Mine are horrible looking.

 

[Funstuie]

The photos make them look a lot better than they are

 

[Habbibie]

How about you instal an HID kit to your existing headlights and see how much that helps your output before you go spending big $$$ on a new set of headlight assemblies. I had the same complaint as you did with my factory set up, after switching to hid it was like night & day difference.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I put 35W HID low beams in my old 05 and they had the best light of any headlights that I've had. They were way better than the projectors that I have in the 17 right now.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

While you certainly can just slap some HID bulbs in the reflector housings, you'll get far more usable light by properly retrofitting projectors. You'll also avoid blinding other drivers, which is inevitable when putting HID bulbs in reflectors (the only people that will tell you otherwise are those that already installed them and don't really give a s**t about other drivers). I am blinded almost daily by these idiots now that HID bulbs have become so popular.

Doing a proper retrofit isn't terribly expensive if you do it yourself. You can pick up a Mini H1 projector retrofit kit at TRS for $270 ($282 with the Retro Rubber). If you can wait until the first week of July, they'll be running their annual July 4th sale, which will get you 20% off $200+ or 25% off $300+ plus they'll probably toss in the Retro Rubber for free again like they did during the Black Friday sale. That makes it $216 for this kit. There are plenty of other projector options but I mention this kit, specifically, because the Mini H1s will fit in the 3rd gen housing without cutting the reflectors, which makes the job fairly easy.

 

[Adieu]

Anzo aftermarket headlight assemblies (~$270 / pair & are basic PROJECTORS) + basic noname 35w HIDs $30ish (4000-5000K better, but 6000K ok if theyre cheaper or easier to get - other colors often more expensive or not in stock)

Since theyre pretty high up, best get new fogs (~$40) and LED bulbs for those - same color temp or one step lower = yelllower)

 

[Adieu]

How about you instal an HID kit to your existing headlights and see how much that helps your output before you go spending big $$$ on a new set of headlight assemblies. I had the same complaint as you did with my factory set up, after switching to hid it was like night & day difference.

HIDs and reflector (oldskool headlights with mirror segments and no cutoff) do NOT mix.

Gotta have projectors... btw with basic cheap projectors, folk wisdom seems to be to only use 35W HIDs

 

[Funstuie]

While you certainly can just slap some HID bulbs in the reflector housings, you'll get far more usable light by properly retrofitting projectors. You'll also avoid blinding other drivers, which is inevitable when putting HID bulbs in reflectors (the only people that will tell you otherwise are those that already installed them and don't really give a s**t about other drivers). I am blinded almost daily by these idiots now that HID bulbs have become so popular.

Doing a proper retrofit isn't terribly expensive if you do it yourself. You can pick up a Mini H1 projector retrofit kit at TRS for $270 ($282 with the Retro Rubber). If you can wait until the first week of July, they'll be running their annual July 4th sale, which will get you 20% off $200+ or 25% off $300+ plus they'll probably toss in the Retro Rubber for free again like they did during the Black Friday sale. That makes it $216 for this kit. There are plenty of other projector options but I mention this kit, specifically, because the Mini H1s will fit in the 3rd gen housing without cutting the reflectors, which makes the job fairly easy.

Do you know of any video instructions for doing this option?

 

[Adieu]

Do you know of any video instructions for doing this option?

Theyre mad pricey and too much work

Anzo full assemblies with mediocre projector already inside cost about the same and pop right in



$270ish / pair projector headlight assemblies
$30 or so nobrand 35w 6000k HIDs

If i did it again Id get 4500-5000K instead tho

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

While you certainly can just slap some HID bulbs in the reflector housings, you'll get far more usable light by properly retrofitting projectors. You'll also avoid blinding other drivers, which is inevitable when putting HID bulbs in reflectors (the only people that will tell you otherwise are those that already installed them and don't really give a s**t about other drivers). I am blinded almost daily by these idiots now that HID bulbs have become so popular.

In the three and a half years I drove my 05 with the HIDs installed in stock headlights, I had probably less than 10 people flash their lights at me. An HID is no different than a standard halogen in terms of beam pattern, just brighter. It is all about proper aiming of your headlights. If you have them up too high you will blind other drivers, it doesn't matter what the source of the light is it is how you aim them.

 

[dmm5157]

My headlights were the first thing I switched out when I got my Expy 2 years ago. I went with Anzo and have been very happy with them. They aren't as good as higher end HID headlights , but they are very good and look great.

http://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/3rd-gen-anzo-headlight-review.26054/

 

[tom_vegas]

My vote is for Anzos. I like them.

 

[gixer2000]

Projector retrofit is the ONLY way to go! $300 well spent and easy work. Not the greatest pic but the best I have available at the moment. Stayed with a stock look and just added the projectors. Anzo lenses are cheap, build quality is awful and can't touch a retrofit when comparing performance

 

[Habbibie]

Retrofits are too much work and if you don't have back up headlights then u get the point. Get an HID kit, install it into your existing headlight and call it a day, that is truly the easiest and cheapest way to eliminate your complaint

 

[gixer2000]

Retrofits are too much work and if you don't have back up headlights then u get the point. Get an HID kit, install it into your existing headlight and call it a day, that is truly the easiest and cheapest way to eliminate your complaint

Morimoto MH1 screw right into the factory bulb hole so your talking 2-3hrs max for installing the projectors and that's for a first timer.

Drop in hids are illegal and don't provide an better lighting in the area you need it. Sure they are brighter but if it's not all useable light then what's the point?

 

[Habbibie]

Gixer I have HIDs in my factory headlights and the focus of the beam is the same as it was with halogens except it provides more light down range and at a much wider spectrum. I've had them for one year already (55w 6000k for low beams and fog lights) I adjusted the beams the day I installed them and have never since then been flagged, flashed, talked to or had any problem what so ever retaining them.

Sorry Gixer, I'm highly inclided in the wiring and mechanical aspects of this world but attempting to retrofit my lights even with all the proper tools on hand is out of the question solely because of time, free time is hard to come by and when it does I want it spent with my kids not giving my car a surgery that something as simple as just dropping in an hid kit could solve in a mere fraction of the time.

 

[gixer2000]

Gixer I have HIDs in my factory headlights and the focus of the beam is the same as it was with halogens except it provides more light down range and at a much wider spectrum. I've had them for one year already (55w 6000k for low beams and fog lights) I adjusted the beams the day I installed them and have never since then been flagged, flashed, talked to or had any problem what so ever retaining them.

Sorry Gixer, I'm highly inclided in the wiring and mechanical aspects of this world but attempting to retrofit my lights even with all the proper tools on hand is out of the question solely because of time, free time is hard to come by and when it does I want it spent with my kids not giving my car a surgery that something as simple as just dropping in an hid kit could solve in a mere fraction of the time.

Lets see your output then. 25' from a wall and I'll show you the issues. Obviously your able to make your own opinion on how the light output is but if you really don't know anything about how a headlight should perform maybe you shouldn't be giving advise. Not trying to be disrespectful but it's getting ridiculous trying to educate how lighting should be and all the led/pnp hid ballers show up. Bottom line is you don't get performance in the area you should be with pnp hid and it's fact.
Again if you would like to show me your output at 25' and if it's good I'll own up and tell you it's good but I'll guarantee it's not. So step up and let's see it!

 

[Habbibie]

Here Gixer if it makes you any happier buddy
First 3 pics are 25 steps away from garage door (I wear size 11.5)
1. Low beams (55w hid)
2. Low beams and fogs (55w hid both)
3. Fogs alone (55w hid)
4. Original halogens
Not sure the distance was for 4 but close enough to where I parked for those first 3.

 

[Clemson82]

Gixer I have HIDs in my factory headlights and the focus of the beam is the same as it was with halogens except it provides more light down range and at a much wider spectrum. I've had them for one year already (55w 6000k for low beams and fog lights) I adjusted the beams the day I installed them and have never since then been flagged, flashed, talked to or had any problem what so ever retaining them.

Sorry Gixer, I'm highly inclided in the wiring and mechanical aspects of this world but attempting to retrofit my lights even with all the proper tools on hand is out of the question solely because of time, free time is hard to come by and when it does I want it spent with my kids not giving my car a surgery that something as simple as just dropping in an hid kit could solve in a mere fraction of the time.

What HID kit did you go with? I've been reading about headlight options for a while now, and I'm just as confused as when I stared.