Which Are the Best Aftermarket Headlights?

vodapas · November 18, 2005

Sorry if this is already well covered territory. My search results didn't turn much up.

Anyhow, after checking out every pic of Chevy/GMC's with Escalade front conversions I have decided that I am not going to be following that path. (I don't like how the Esaclade bumper cover doesn't line up with the fender line, the Escalade front conversion is a lot more common than I had thought and honestly the Silverado front end has really grown on me.) Thus I digress.

So, I'm going to keep my Chevy a Chevy. But, the 99-02 front end needs a little a little work for the look I want. (Kind of a modern inerpretation of the 90's 454SS.) Sorry, more digression.

One of the things I will be doing is replacing the headlights and turn signals/sidemarkers. I'm pretty picky about what I want. I like the look of the Euro Clear or Diamond Clear look. I don't want the amber sidemarking reflectors (rules out most of the sidemarkers). I like the look of the stock headlight style, but I plan to add either a 4300 or 6000K HID conversion so I'll probably go with a low only projector design to keep the light output focused so as not to blind other drivers or at least reduce it as much as possible.

So, from what I have found online being so picky has limited my selection greatly. At this point I'm planning to go with APC's Euro Clear Projector Headlights and In-Pro Car Wear's Diamond Clear corner lenses (no amber reflector).

However, I've never bought aftermarket headlights before. So, I don't know whose designs are good and whose suck. Considering the cost of these things I don't want to buy something that ends up having problems with fogging, alignment problems, or fitment problems.

So, please share with me your recomendations, opionions, experiences, etc. I really appreciate any info. you can provide me with.

Thanks,

Lang

vodapas · November 18, 2005

Bump.

drumset5994 · November 18, 2005

I didnt recognize any of those...ive got Sylvania Silverstar bulbs in my highbeams...they're pretty good.

Sorry to whore...continue.

vodapas · November 19, 2005

I didnt recognize any of those...ive got Sylvania Silverstar bulbs in my highbeams...they're pretty good.

Sorry to whore...continue.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whoops, sorry I should have said aftermarket headlight assemblies. I agree the Silverstar bulbs are good. I may use them for my high baems. But, what I am polling is the actual aftermarket headlights themselves, not just the bulbs.

But thanks for your input!

Lang

vodapas · November 19, 2005

Bump.

Elwood 2000 · November 19, 2005

I don't have any, but I am very interested in what is said. I would like to eventually get HID lows when we get this vehicle thing settled.

vodapas · November 21, 2005

Bump

Ben · December 23, 2005

Any "E-Code" based.

Any with lead crystal for the lens instead of plastic (polycarbonate...aka...Lexan).

Any with a H1, H2, H3, H4 bulb type instead of the 9005 or this gen bulb. Look up the lumens per watt for them and notice how much more light a H1 or H2 produces vs anything else.

HID's are "okay" for boulevard or high speed on the freeway, but not so good off roading. Too much light of the wrong color range that washes out the detail I like/need while off roading. HIDs are fine for low slung vehicles, like cars, but I don't like them on trucks. Too high and blinding to others.

Kraw · December 23, 2005

I have silverstars in all my rides (except the Yukon). They seem to be good bulbs, but I saw some report on tv or something that showed how these "better" bulbs aren't actually really better, in controled testing

DA808N · December 30, 2005

None keep it stock

lrymal · December 30, 2005

None keep it stock

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yup, keep it stock, at least on the 05s. GM put some Philips in mine as OEM. These are the same bulbs that are sold as aftermarket---don't have the numbers or details.

Very bright and are the exact right temperature for hazy night driving. No Silverstars here. Compare their lumens with the charts and you'll see all you are paying for is the whitish / bluish temperature which is lousy in fog, and the lumens is not greater than your OEM bulbs.

Here4u2nv151 · January 1, 2006

I'm going to let you know right now not to waste your money on any aftermarket projectors. I myself am a tuner also so I have a pretty good backround on aftermarket headlights. Aftermarket projectors look nice but you are going to be really upset by the light output. The only real way to get your hid to look good is to do a projector retrofit. The problem with reflectoe based headlight is that they weren't made for hid. The beam goes everywhere and blinds the crap out of oncoming drivers. Especially since your a truck I don't think you wanna drive past a cop and blind him seeming that hid's are illegal in vehicles that don't come equipped with them. As of NOV 15th the only legal way to have it is to have hid is with and HID projector and the bulb can't be any higher than 4300k. Retrofitting just makes your beam pattern the same as those seen on bmw's and merecedes. I personally retrofitted projectors on my headlights with a 6000k hid kit and the difference is night and day. The problem I had with silverstars is that they blow very soon and they aren't really that good. The thing with retrofitted projectors is that they cost anywhere from 300 and up. If anyone wants any info on this you can just pm me. I have pics and everything. But back to your topic. TYC and APC makes the best aftermarket headlight. They are both DOT approved and you cant get in trouble for them. It all depends on what you are looking for. If you want to just save a couple bucks then either buy TYC diamond clear housing and PIAA or Nokya bulbs. Spend a couple duckets then get TYC projector headlight and 4300k-6000k h1 hid kit. If you want the upmost best then retrofit and 4300k-6000k hid. Don't go any higher in K than that becuase all your doing is have a good color but no light output. I hope this helped you out some. If you have any questions just ask me and I would be glad to help you out.

vodapas · January 2, 2006

I'm going to let you know right now not to waste your money on any aftermarket projectors. I myself am a tuner also so I have a pretty good backround on aftermarket headlights. Aftermarket projectors look nice but you are going to be really upset by the light output. The only real way to get your hid to look good is to do a projector retrofit. The problem with reflectoe based headlight is that they weren't made for hid. The beam goes everywhere and blinds the crap out of oncoming drivers. Especially since your a truck I don't think you wanna drive past a cop and blind him seeming that hid's are illegal in vehicles that don't come equipped with them. As of NOV 15th the only legal way to have it is to have hid is with and HID projector and the bulb can't be any higher than 4300k. Retrofitting just makes your beam pattern the same as those seen on bmw's and merecedes. I personally retrofitted projectors on my headlights with a 6000k hid kit and the difference is night and day. The problem I had with silverstars is that they blow very soon and they aren't really that good. The thing with retrofitted projectors is that they cost anywhere from 300 and up. If anyone wants any info on this you can just pm me. I have pics and everything. But back to your topic. TYC and APC makes the best aftermarket headlight. They are both DOT approved and you cant get in trouble for them. It all depends on what you are looking for. If you want to just save a couple bucks then either buy TYC diamond clear housing and PIAA or Nokya bulbs. Spend a couple duckets then get TYC projector headlight and 4300k-6000k h1 hid kit. If you want the upmost best then retrofit and 4300k-6000k hid. Don't go any higher in K than that becuase all your doing is have a good color but no light output. I hope this helped you out some. If you have any questions just ask me and I would be glad to help you out.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you. Very good information. I definitely am going to stay in the lower Kelvin range of HID kits. So far I have had a 6000K and a 10,000K kit. (Both on my Protege.) Since most cops assumed it was a WRX or a Lexus IS300 I never got any grief about the HIDs. But yes, there is a big difference in the level of a lowered sport compact and a full size truck's lights.

I was hoping the projector design APC offered would actually help focus or at least limit the light dispersion but from what you have said that does not seem to be the case.

I will definitely look into a custom projector retrofit. I have loved the appearance and greater light output of my HID kits. (Well, not really my 10,000K kit but I just bought it because it was a cheap used kit and I need to switch from an H4 to an H7 due to a headlight swap.) But, I do not want to blind oncoming drivers.

It's really too bad the GMC headlights just can't be swapped into the Chevy. That would make for a nice legal and easy conversion.

Anyhow, I'll be sure to fire you some questions when I get ready to start the work on the front of the truck. At this point I still need to sell my Protege and my body guy has flaked on me.

vodapas · January 3, 2006

Well, I feel pretty dumb now. While I was googling last night I refound something I've known has existed for a long time but completely forgot about. I'll be going with the Sylvani Xenarc X2020 setup. That pretty well takes care of both the replacement headlight assemblies and the HID kit I was going to get all while keeping it street legal.

I've also got a line on a well priced 4300K HID kit for the high beams. I figure glare won't really matter considering their high beams which will be switched off before they can blind oncoming drivers.

I'll also be getting the relays to keep my low beams on when the highs are on. This should help preserve the life of the lows and also give me the ability to really light up any dark roads. Hopefully no deer will be able to sneak out on me now. (Well, when I move back to the mainland that is. No deer running around out here. lol.)

Thanks for everyone's inputs!