allthefreakypeople

Hi All,

I purchased a used 2001 Mustang three months ago that had awfully dirty, cloudy headlights. I purchased the

3M 39008 Headlight Lens Restoration System

3M 39008 Headlight Lens Restoration System

(amazon link) which made a significant difference. However, my headlights are still somewhat foggy and I'm not getting the clarity that I want. I'm someone who has a very hard time seeing at night and I want the brightest headlights possible. I purchased the Sylvania SilverStar Ultra bulbs which have helped but only so much..

I'm posting in this forum hoping that some of you all have had experience since you all have older 'stangs. I'm thinking that since these headlights are 10+ years old, they may be beyond restoration and I'm contemplating buying replacements. American Muscle has OEM headlights for $129.99 and I've found lower prices on eBay. My black 2001 V6 might look nice with smoked headlights too...

Anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance..

Dbranham

Buy new ones

97GT12

Even when the polishing works it lasts a shorter and shorter amount of time each round it is done. SN95 aftermarket headlamps are pretty common and not too expensive. IME the '98 cobra knock offs I used seem to work better than stock. Ford's headlamps in general in that era weren't too good so the risk of an aftermarket lamp performing worse isn't too high.

allthefreakypeople

That's what I thought. Should I be weary of cheap aftermarket eBay headlights like this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/99-04-Ford-M...ht_5834wt_1393

Should I get "chrome" headlights? Smoked? This may be a silly question, but do smoked headlights reduce visibility? Is it worth spending the extra bucks for HID headlights if I'm looking to achieve maximum visibility?

Blue Notch

Don't buy off ebay. I made that mistake and the quality was horrible! I have the dark smoked headlights from AM with the silverstar bulbs and they aren't all that great for visibility, but it's not absolutely horrible either. If you don't want to worry about it, just go with the stock OE ones from AM. Just make sure you seal them good with silicone or they'll get filled with condensation.

CJ Pony Parts has them on sale for $107 shipped!
http://www.cjponyparts.com/headlight...2004/p/HLA27L/

01GT

Factory assembly with H.I.Ds. 600k is amazing.

01GT

Sorry, 6000k

MustangReflection

Someone smashed one of my headlights a couple months ago and I ordered some headlights from ebay. I saved money but the quality wasn't perfect. Try americanmuscle.com, latemodelrestoration.com, and ebay as a last resort.

allthefreakypeople

Are H.I.D.s the brightest light possible? Where can I get them and are they difficult to install?

97GT12

The headlamps sold on Ebay come from a variety of sources. It's best to check the out the company that made the lamps the guy is selling. If they don't say ask. Then search around the net and see what people have to say about them. Even if they are for other cars you'll get a general idea of the quality.

I bought the ones I got via ebay are I think "eagle eye" brand. I saw some decent reviews online and decided to get them because the price wasn't a huge risk. They've worked fine for a about 6 years now. They are a little more cheaply made than the OEM units but it's all in the non-functional and unseen areas. Also they cheated on the DOT aiming nubs making them smaller which is actually better cause I don't hit my fingers on them cleaning the car now.

edumspeed

I got mine from ebay, but did my homework before buying them. No issues so far.


The 35 watt HID kits that abound ebay aren't that great, but are better than halogen. 55 watt kits are the good ones. 4900-5000k are the brightest.

allthefreakypeople

I found someone on Craigslist selling these: http://www.americanmuscle.com/9904-l...ors-black.html

For $150. I'll do my research but it appears that they are the genuine Raxiom brand. How good are these Dual CCFL Halo Projector lights compared to H.I.D. Kits?

Falco_03GT

I bought smoked headlights and added some 10000K HIDs and love it.

allthefreakypeople

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Did you buy OEM replacements or other aftermarket headlights? From American Muscle or another vendor? Do the smoked headlights cut down on visibility at night, even with the HIDs?

Does anyone have experience with the Dual Halo Projector headlights from AM? Can they be used with HID kits?

I think I've decided to get some OEM replacement headlights from AM and install HIDs. Does anyone know of a reputable HID vendor? I've heard to stay away from eBay though their pricing is mighty tempting...

Dbranham

eBay actually isn't as bad as its said to be. Just stay away from the 55w HIDs and buy 35w. Hidguy.com is reliable

allthefreakypeople

I don't have fog lights on my car. Do I need to get the bi-xenon (high & low) or the single beam kit? I'd like to buy from hidguy or another reputable seller with a warranty but the $130 vs. $55 on eBay is a pretty significant difference...

For the 35w kit...which brightness/color temp is best?

Dbranham

Personally I like the like 3700k or 4000k because it's a clear white color and I'd say the high and low

97GT12

The way HID's done correctly are VERY expensive. Cheap kits and retrofits are going to be bad news. HIDs have entirely different optical needs than halogen bulbs.

allthefreakypeople

How expensive? They seem pretty straightforward to me.