Hi All, new member here. My wife has a 2008 ES350 with the most basic premium package, therefore no HIDs. However we feel that the halogen light output leaves more to be desired.

Has there been anyone here that has experience swapping out the halogen headlights to the OEM HIDs? Is it plug'n'play or will I need to custom make parts to make it work? I prefer not to get an aftermarket HID kit or do any retrofit.

I've searched around and see plenty of info for the IS but nothing for the ES. Thanks.

 

Welcome to Club Lexus.

It is my understanding that a halogen to HID swap cannot be done without great expense. The circuitry is different and the HID headlights which are self leveling are completely different and very expensive. I have had HID lights in the past and liked them but I think you will find the cost prohibitive and beyond what you want to take on. I've had my ES for almost two years now and have adapted to the halogen lights over time - almost all of my driving is in the city anyway.

Dave Mac

 

Hi Dave,

Yes this swap can definitely hit the stratsphere in terms of pricing. I did a bit of research and have been watching ebay for some time.

1-HID headlight housing in good condition with no ballast or bulb - Approx $150-$200

1-Ballast-seems used ballasts from the IS or GS will work approx -Approx $60-$80

1-bulb- new phillips OEM bulb for approx $70

So roughly $700 for both, not cheap by any stretch of the imagination but we didn't want to get a NAV package to get the HID lights.

And yes, I was curious about the self-leveling feature, i know its a small motor in the housing but wasn't unsure if there was a sepereate wire that needed to power them. Of course to make things more complicated there a few of the AFS light which swivel, and my guess there has to be a seperate wire that does directly to the cpu to control this. I plan on staying away from those.

 

I think the cost might even be much higher if you were to attempt for an OEM type setup. I have a body parts price list that shows each lamp assembly at $1,032.25 and that does not include the HID bulbs which are $332.78 ea. And this is all before the wiring harness etc.

Someone may check in here with some suggestions for just changing out your factory low beam halogen bulbs for a different spec. halogen bulb. My recollection was that the HID's only work on the low beam anyway and the high beams both use the same bulbs which are about $20 ea.

I believe the reason HID are always self leveling is that they are so bright that varying passenger or trunk loads can raise them to the point that they are a real problem for oncomming drivers.

I forgot where you are but I know in some regions you can get the HID's without buying the navigation etc.

Dave Mac

 

I believe the wire harness would be the same, i know in my old IS300 the main wire harness was universal and had plug-ins for all available options, as far as i know this is a very common.

 

Check on ebay for HID kits. I used one on a Corolla and it worked fine. Your Lexus should have H7 lights. You may need to adjust the headlights down because they are bright. Instructions are in your owner's manual. You should be able to find some for under $100.00 complete set.

 

i Have 8000k oracle hid kits on the fogs and the headlights they look and work great a lil pricey though.

 

For those of you who swap low beam from halogen to aftermarket HID, does your HID light project correctly? I did the swap but notice my HID project much lower than halogen with a sharp cut off. Anyone else have the same problem?