Headlight upgrade?
#1
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Hi I have a 2006 gs430 and im looking to upgrade the low beams. My wife is having trouble seeing at night. Anyone had good results with anything?
#3
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#4
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I recommend you to get a headlight restoration kit (Meguiar's PlastX) to get rid of the cloudy. Then upgrade low beam to Osgram CBB, that is the brightest HID replacement you can get with nice temp color. It is nowhere near 7000K as it says in the label, max is about 6000K. Osgram is just playing trick with temp color so you don't have to worry about the theory "anything higher than 6000K reduces the brightness" which people usually mentions. Then upgrade fog to HID too, 5500K HID from Theretrofitsources would match that CBB close enough. Lastly, adjust the low beam and fog light (if necessary)
Whatever you do, please stay away from the aftermarket headlights from ebay. They are trash.
Whatever you do, please stay away from the aftermarket headlights from ebay. They are trash.
Last edited by achip5188; 11-15-20 at 08:19 PM.
#5
Lexus Test Driver
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Depending on how cloudy the lens are, if they are just a little cloudy you can get away with sanding them with a 3000 grit and polishing. I dont like headlight restore kits that tell you to sand your oem headlight coursers then 1500 grit, because many of those products are just temporary and just add a layer of glaze that eventually wears off after 3-5 months and your headlights will look worst.
If the headlights are super cloudy then I suggest you take the car to a body shop and have them sand down the headlights and spray clear coat over them. This will make them look like new, and will greatly improve the headlights vision. I did this to my car! But I did it on my own.
As Achip stated aftermarket headlights are not the best of quality compared to oem. Try the clearcoat
If the headlights are super cloudy then I suggest you take the car to a body shop and have them sand down the headlights and spray clear coat over them. This will make them look like new, and will greatly improve the headlights vision. I did this to my car! But I did it on my own.
As Achip stated aftermarket headlights are not the best of quality compared to oem. Try the clearcoat
#7
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Always give the sand and spray method a shot, before you buy anything aftermarket. I did the headlights on my parents' '02 Tundra a few months back, and it made a world of difference. Be sure to use SprayMax 2K clear, 3-5 coats, then allow 48 hours to fully dry (I did 24 hr and it was a bit soft for wet sanding, and that was during summer up in WA). Also, be sure NOT to do light sprays like you would with a colored spray can, it will be very bumpy... Don't ask how I know (oops). Start holding the spray nozzle down just before making your first pass, that way you get a thick, even coat across the whole light. If you get some uneven bumps, just wet sand them down during the final sanding and polishing. Good luck!
Last edited by TRD_Power; 11-17-20 at 06:38 AM.
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#9
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I recommend you to get a headlight restoration kit (Meguiar's PlastX) to get rid of the cloudy. Then upgrade low beam to Osgram CBB, that is the brightest HID replacement you can get with nice temp color. It is nowhere near 7000K as it says in the label, max is about 6000K. Osgram is just playing trick with temp color so you don't have to worry about the theory "anything higher than 6000K reduces the brightness" which people usually mentions. Then upgrade fog to HID too, 5500K HID from Theretrofitsources would match that CBB close enough. Lastly, adjust the low beam and fog light (if necessary)
Whatever you do, please stay away from the aftermarket headlights from ebay. They are trash.
Whatever you do, please stay away from the aftermarket headlights from ebay. They are trash.
Here's an independant testing (results are at 6:10).
Avoid at all costs aftermarket assemblies, many people on eBay or Amazon report they don't fit the bumper or their plexiglas yellows or cracks after a couple months. You'll also often lose auto leveling and AFS ability. But if moisture doesn't appear inside your headlights, they should not need replacement. A polish and a special headlight treatment by a detailer, and you're good to go.
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