I've read the HID threads, but need some 'personal' advice. I don't find the halogens to give enough light - I quite preferred the HIDs, but in Canada they don't come until you spend $4k on a Premium package that was otherwise useless to me.

Anyways, if I buy a complete headlight unit (housing + ballast + bulbs) from eBay, say something like http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/07-08...spagenameZWDVW, is it an easy swap to do? Do I need anything else besides a pair of these assemblies?

Or maybe the more 'low tech' solution is to just put some brighter/whiter halogen bulbs in my existing lights? I just have the stock stuff in there now.

TIA for replies...

 

CND_Drew,

I am not an expert of the ES. However, according to Lexus.ca, the HID units are the ones that can swivel...AFS? perhaps. There might be steering + other sensors that might be required to have a proper swap (not only the lights turn on, but no "errors messages"/warning lights on dash as well!)

Goodluck with your swap!

All the best,

Felix

 

If better vision at night is your goal, and the AFS system is too much money, I would seek the advice of one of our Club Lexus HID vendors and consider an HID conversion kit for your ES350. I bought my kit from CL member: XenonDepot (real name is Steve) in the Lighting forum. I've had the HID kit installed for a year now and I am very pleased with it and the great customer service I received from Steve. His online store is located in Ontario, by the way.

 

It's not really an issue of cost. I actually don't like the AFS swivel, so if I got the OEM lights off eBay that would have the AFS swivel, it'd be cool with it not working. But as mentioned, I'm not sure if this would cause issues if the car expects it to work. Confusing.

 

I just did Xenon Depot headlights and fogs, and I am absolutely pleased with the result! The cutoff is sharp, and the beam is spread pretty evenly. The fogs make a huge difference. I'll post some before and after pics this week.

 

Pictures please!. My kit from xenondepot will arrive next week. By the way, did you have to reset your windows after you re-connect the battery?

 

Sorry to dig this one from the dead ... but I'm in the same predicament as the OP with regards to a 2009 ES350. Halogens are a farce with respect to night time visibility ... any pictures of the xenon retrofit from xenondepot?

Furthermore, any comments on the difficulty of installation as a DIY? I would consider myself not technically inclined with respect to electrical.
Thanks in advance.

 

I'll find the pics of my Xenon Depot headlights and fogs. My friend installed them for me, it seemed pretty straightforward.

 

got mine from ddm tuning...

http://www.ddmtuning.com/products/DD...it-101-85.html


very awesome service, very easy to install..

 

my first post here...........so be nice if this has been discussed before

we got our ES 350 last April, when funds were tight. Thank God, things have improved for us. I now want to do two things to her car (which we use as a couple most weekend nights)

1. Halogen to HID conversion. I see the kits for about $200. I have a certified independant mechanic who can install them for me. Does doing this jeopardize my factory warranty on the car in any way, if I dont have a Lexus dealership do it? What is the cost for an official Lexus HID conversion?

2. chrome wheel exchange -- is there anything I should be concerned about with these various companies that do it for about $600 + 200 r/t shipping?

btw, this is our first Lexus, and we look forward to the day we can step up to the LS - we just gotta get two more thru college first

 

As for warranty the dealership has to prove that what you did ruined the system. If you replace the lights yourself they can't void your brake warranty. But if you hook something up wrong and hose the electronics of the car then your hosed.

 

For those of you who swap halogen to HID, does your light project appropriately? I did the swap but the HID project much lower than the halogen, and the dealer would not adjust it for me. =/