2013 lc needs new headlights

[DuckLN]

My FIL has a 2013 LC and has asked me what kind of headlights he should replace his with. He wants to replace oem with the same look and doesnt want to refinish or fancy up the lights. Is there an aftermarket option he should consider? How much is this gonna cost him?

 

[Cruisin911]

Get OEM. Nothing else. Brand new will be expensive. Last time I looked it was around 600/each

 

[DuckLN]

Was hoping that an aftermarket option in the range of affordable may have hit the innerwebs. Guess i’ll keep lookin.

 

[bloc]

Aftermarket lens quality is far worse than OEM, so even if you find something that can reproduce all the internals (not easy, given the motorized height-adjustment etc) they'll just fog in a year or two also.

Keep in mind these vehicles are pretty rare, so there is virtually no market for aftermarket things like lights compared to say an accord or whatever.

If his function well tell him to find a good auto detailer, preferably one that works with lots of expensive cars. Commonly working with ceramic coatings is a good sign. They can usually get fogged lights looking almost factory perfect, and it's nowhere near as expensive as even the crap aftermarket lights, let alone $6-800 each for the OEM headlight buckets. I'm just a grease monkey and got my yellowing lights looking 9/10 with a dual action sander and a variety of papers and pads. Someone with experience could do far better.

If you rehab your lenses the critical part will be keeping a UV-protectant coating on them afterward so they don't just fog again, because the process of rehabbing removes any that was still on yours. I like Meguair's ultimate wax. Put it on every 3-4 months, takes ten minutes and requires no special tools.

If he's intent on replacing them parts.autonationtoyotasouthaustin.com lists new OEM for about $570 each, which is a really good price on that part. They are local to me so I buy a lot of stuff.. and luckily their prices are usually excellent.

 

[DuckLN]

Well I was hoping for something affordable in the aftermarket world of headlights. If that product is non-existent then I'll begin to figure out the next step.

 

[Cruisin911]

If they're just yellowed or slightly cracked, and otherwise ok I'd try to put new lenses on them. While it is possible, Its pretty difficult to do correctly and you'll likely be chasing leaking issues. New lenses can be found on flebay.

 

[HGB]

Well I was hoping for something affordable in the aftermarket world of headlights. If that product is non-existent then I'll begin to figure out the next step.

only real aftermarket option would be eBay/Alibaba but you’re not guaranteed perfect fitment, and almost virtually guaranteed AFS will not work.

Not sure why he opposed to having them sanded down and PPF’d. Can’t always have your cake and eat it too. Pay to play. Pick any of these old adages when going back to tell him his options.

 

[bloc]

New lenses can be found on flebay.

Are they any good though?

 

[Cruisin911]

Are they any good though?

Put it this way. Ive been suffering through my aftermarket headlight purchase for 3 years now. There is no way I'd put new lenses and waste my time on these headlights. Garbage. If I was in the OPs position I would try to refinish them first and either automotive clear them or PPF them. If that failed, I'd buy OEM ones and PPF them immediately.

That was a really long answer for NO.

 

[DuckLN]

What is AFS and PPF?

 

[HGB]

What is AFS and PPF?

AFS is the automatic headlight swivel feature that turns the lights as you turn the wheel.

PPF is paint protection film that will prevent UV damage from recurring once you have them sanded down and cleaned up.