When did the Lexus LX470 switch to plastic headlights?

[jasonrohrer]

From what I can tell, there was a grill change in model year 2003, and my guess is that the headlights became plastic with that change.


Looking at the OEM parts, these are listed as fitting 1998 to 2002:

2000 Lexus Headlight Lens (Right). Electrical, Lamps - 811306A082 - Genuine Lexus Part

Genuine 2000 Lexus Part # 811306A082 (81130-6A082, 811306A080, 811306A081) - Headlight Lens (Right). Electrical, Lamps

parts.lexus.com

Though who knows whether they're still offering glass ones through OEM... it doesn't say.


These newer ones are listed as fitting 2003 through 2007:

2003 Lexus Headlight Lens (Left). Electrical, Lamps - 8117060890 - Genuine Lexus Part

Genuine 2003 Lexus Part # 8117060890 (81170-60890) - Headlight Lens (Left). Electrical, Lamps

parts.lexus.com

As for why it matters, I've seen the glass lights on a 1999 and 2000 model, and wow, even if the rest of the truck is in rough shape, the lights look brand new and gorgeous.

 

[CloudCity]

I think this is correct and I don't know for sure but I would guess the change was part of pedestrian safety standards? I'm torn between glass and the plastic lenses, glass looks great longer but they can chip. It's almost impossible to break a modern headlight lens due to the material used, tho taillights use a totally different plastic so that's why they break much more easily.

 

[Otter]

Not a LX , but my 04 LC has glass headlights. Yes, they do chip. I replaced one with OEM for about $200, I think.

 

[BEG]

I replaced the OEM glass headlights on my 00 LX with OEM plastic housings. The glass ones were badly chipped and there was no guarantee that new ones wouldn't get chipped the day after I installed them. I've been happy with them.

 

[jasonrohrer]

I've read elsewhere that the LC and LX switched to plastic in different years, with the LX switching first, and the LC keeping glass longer.


Beg: the OEM plastic that you put in your 00 LX, was that the same plastic part meant to go in the 2003-2007? They are the same shape and size? So if one wanted glass in a later model, you could conceivably stick the old glass ones in a newer LX?

Otter: when you replaced a chipped one in your LC with OEM, were you able to get a glass replacement?


Regarding chipping.... windshields chip too, but we haven't replaced those with plastic just yet.

I looked at a bunch of 20-year-old LX's yesterday (3 or 4 at different dealers), and none of them had chipped headlights, but one had a chipped windshield. And gosh darn it, those glass headlights look beautiful.

My hunch is that it was a move primarily motivated by cost cutting, and not by durability.

 

[Kabanstva]

I've read elsewhere that the LC and LX switched to plastic in different years, with the LX switching first, and the LC keeping glass longer.


Beg: the OEM plastic that you put in your 00 LX, was that the same plastic part meant to go in the 2003-2007? They are the same shape and size? So if one wanted glass in a later model, you could conceivably stick the old glass ones in a newer LX?

Otter: when you replaced a chipped one in your LC with OEM, were you able to get a glass replacement?


Regarding chipping.... windshields chip too, but we haven't replaced those with plastic just yet.

I looked at a bunch of 20-year-old LX's yesterday (3 or 4 at different dealers), and none of them had chipped headlights, but one had a chipped windshield. And gosh darn it, those glass headlights look beautiful.

My hunch is that it was a move primarily motivated by cost cutting, and not by durability.

Has nothing to do with cost cutting. Glass headlights were outlawed in the US back in those days. That’s why every single new car has some sort of plastic headlights these days.

 

[Otter]

I've read elsewhere that the LC and LX switched to plastic in different years, with the LX switching first, and the LC keeping glass longer.


Beg: the OEM plastic that you put in your 00 LX, was that the same plastic part meant to go in the 2003-2007? They are the same shape and size? So if one wanted glass in a later model, you could conceivably stick the old glass ones in a newer LX?

Otter: when you replaced a chipped one in your LC with OEM, were you able to get a glass replacement?


Regarding chipping.... windshields chip too, but we haven't replaced those with plastic just yet.

I looked at a bunch of 20-year-old LX's yesterday (3 or 4 at different dealers), and none of them had chipped headlights, but one had a chipped windshield. And gosh darn it, those glass headlights look beautiful.

My hunch is that it was a move primarily motivated by cost cutting, and not by durability.

I was able to get a glass headlight. I got an OEM replacement.

 

[hoser]

Has nothing to do with cost cutting. Glass headlights were outlawed in the US back in those days. That’s why every single new car has some sort of plastic headlights these days.

This is not true. It was a cost and weight savings measure.

 

[Kabanstva]

This is not true. It was a cost and weight savings measure.

Literally everything I've read over the years on the subject tells me it was not for cost cutting. There was concern that glass is more dangerous in case of an accident and lenses can crack from road debris hitting a glass lens, whereas on a plastic lens you might just get a tiny chip in the lens. Most luxury car headlights these days cost upwards of $2,000 without programming, I don't think cost cutting is a concern. If anything, headlights only get more and more expensive as the years go by. Most old halogen lights with glass lenses are dirt cheap and almost worthless unless they're off some rare exotic car.

Glass is thicker than plastic too so it will limit light output.

The old case of polycarbonate lenses yellowing is no longer an issue with PPF being around for the last 2 decades, just go to any decent detail shop and they'll wrap your headlights under $100 and be done with it, don't waste your time polishing and waxing old oxidized lenses every 2 months.

 

[hoser]

I would have to dig for it but I previously posted Lexus dealer/sales material when they switched to plastic. They specifically said it was for weight savings and chip resistance. Cost savings is not really a selling point and thus not mentioned. However, you can take a look at the FMVSS dated 10.1.2019 and there are a slew of test requirements for plastic headlamps.... but those tests are waived for glass. Highlighted is only partial list.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title49-vol6/xml/CFR-2019-title49-vol6-sec571-108.xml

 

[jasonrohrer]

This stuff is fascinating! Thanks for all the details.

If anyone has a reference about them being outlawed, I'd love to read it.


The yellowing doesn't happen anymore, sure, but the frosting still does. People talk about this happening from sitting in the sun, but I think it's more likely accumulated road rash, because plastic (or the PPF on top of it) scratches so much more easily. Every little bit of dust that blows by at high speed sand blasts it. Evidence how the front of every 10-year-old car has frosted headlights, but the rear lights remain crystal clear. Both receive similar sun exposure, but the rear isn't sandblasted.

When you're shopping for a 20-year-old car, the difference is obvious. I saw a 2005 LX at the same dealer, and the headlights looked like crap.

Maybe they can be polished and fixed, and the wrapped.... and maybe they will look like-new after that, but how long will that last? The "wrap" won't be any harder to scratch than the plastic, meaning the same thing will happen again over time.


Meanwhile, the glass headlights look brand new after 20 years and 200K miles. Will probably look brand new after 20 more years.


Found this really interesting thing about changes to safety standards in the US that finally allowed custom-shaped headlights:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In fact, plastic headlights were outlawed in the US until 1983:

Headlamp - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[hoser]

Agreed... I had about 10 years on my plastic BMW headlamps before they started to get cloudy. I polished them and wrapped them about a year ago and they still look good. If I can get another 4 years before re-wrapping, I'll be happy. I think that is about the expected lifespan of wraps in general.

 

[BEG]

Beg: the OEM plastic that you put in your 00 LX, was that the same plastic part meant to go in the 2003-2007? They are the same shape and size? So if one wanted glass in a later model, you could conceivably stick the old glass ones in a newer LX?

I believe so. I was getting an HID upgrade from @Luke111 and had him retrofit a new set of plastic housings which bolted up in place of my OEM glass housings with no apparent differences. He also had the glass available. I don't believe there's any fitment issues between the LX470 models.

 

[saucebox]

I believe so. I was getting an HID upgrade from @Luke111 and had him retrofit a new set of plastic housings which bolted up in place of my OEM glass housings with no apparent differences. He also had the glass available. I don't believe there's any fitment issues between the LX470 models.

There aren't any fitment issues. I did the same with Luke's headlights, only in reverse. I have glass ones now on an '03.

 

[jasonrohrer]

Whoa! That's pretty sweet to hear about being able to stick glass back in the 03. Thanks!

 

[Couvi]

I have an ‘04 LC and love the glass headlights— makes the front of the truck look great.

 

[Jermunji]

I have pondered for awhile, would it not be beneficial to run PPF over a pair of glass lenses for increased pitting/chip resistance?

 

[Jermunji]

Also, are there different part #’s for glass vs polymer lenses or would it just matter if I specified a specific year when trying to buy them from the dealer?

 

[saucebox]

I have pondered for awhile, would it not be beneficial to run PPF over a pair of glass lenses for increased pitting/chip resistance?

Absolutely, yes. I swapped to glass with a Morimoto HID conversion and it lasted about a month on Utah's freeways before someone threw a rock that punched a hole in the passenger side high beam. Replaced the glass, then added PPF. Maybe the first was just bad luck, but it's been years since with no issue at all. I used Lamin-X.

Specifying the year should work at the dealer. If you're a bit of a DIY guy (and your housings are in good shape) you might be able to find glass repro lenses on ebay or something and just do the swap on your housings yourself.

 

[Raine14]

Here’s the issue with glass;

They could last 30 years or they could get chipped literally any time you drive it.

When I bought my ‘06 LX I took a polisher and some 3M rubbing compound and buffed them. It took all of 5 minutes to make both headlights crystal clear. Then I wrapped them in PPF. They look brand new. In 3-5 years I’ll preventively redo them. They’ll last forever with just a little TLC. You can’t say the same for glass.