Mission Impossible: OEM HID

Tru-Blu

Tru-Blu

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It seems like trying to find a set of Gen 2 OEM HID's is pretty near impossible - at least without spending around $1800. I'm kickin' myself for not jumping at the set that went for $225.00 each less than a year ago. Of course, I didn't want or need them back then.

It's like this -

<Parts guy> (pick any scenario/location/search method of your choice) "Hi, what are you looking for?"
<Me> "I have a couple things I'm looking for. The first one is really rare."
<Parts guy> "We don't have too many rare parts, but you never know.."
<Me> "Ok, I'm looking for a cylinder head for a 1968 Shelby AC Cobra."
<Parts guy> "With the 427?"
<Me> "I think that's the only engine they put in it for '68."
<Parts guy> "Man, that IS rare. We're not gonna have that, but I'll check anyway." <shuffles off to the back/places on hold/leaves chat session>

- time passes -

<Parts guy> "I don't believe it - we've actually got it."
<Me> "That's great!"
<Parts guy> "What else were you looking for?"
<Me> "Set of OEM HID headlight assemblies for a 2003 - 2006 Lincoln LS."

- silence -
- faint snickering heard in the background -

<Parts guy> "You want what?!" <now laughing uncontrollably>
<Me> "Just a set of.." <Parts guy has left to go get more people - the entire place/organization/on-line reps are now doubling over in laughter>
<Parts guy> "Dude, you don't have a prayer. You might as well go out and buy another LS" <resumes uncontrollable laughter>
<Parts guy to others nearby> "Can you believe this guy thought he could get HID headlight assemblies for a Gen 2 LS?"
<Me> <Hangs head and shuffles away>
 
Tru-Blu said:
I'm kickin' myself for not jumping at the set that went for $225.00 each less than a year ago. Of course, I didn't want or need them back then.
Click to expand...

I think that was me :D

I just bought one individually, then snatched a pair off fleabay.

You could search car-part.com for the lights, unless you want brand new. There's also a driver side headlamp on sale in the parts section.
 
I'm checking EBay almost daily, and have now added checkin all of Craigslist.com cities/states.

I'm watching the 2 HID assemblies on EBay now - the right is at 450, and a left is starting at 900. While I really want a set for my angels, I do have my limits. I'm not going to drop over $1500 for a set.

So, this wasn't a fair post. I should say it seems like Mission Impossible to get a set for less than $700.

I'm going to start calling salvage yards, but I'm not too optimistic.
 
Probably the biggest reason is that I don't know if the angel eyes would still work with a retrofit
 
Yeah they are damn hard to find.

I didnt even know mine had them untill i went to take delivery of the vehicle.
 
I found my set my messaging members who tried selling them before and the thread didn't have SOLD in it. I found 2 members that still had them, HID's, both members were from canada. One was 500 the other 450, both plus shipping. I ended up getting mine for 550 shipped. I think the other guy still has them. His name was tank39, something along those lines, something with tank in his name. The other guy was the member who I also bought half of the LSE tails from recently. He the ls after the lease so he stopped coming on here but he still had some goodies to sell that he kept in his garage. Nobody picked up the one side of the LSE tails, new, so I messaged him asking if he still had them, he did.

Go back on the for sale thread, you'd be surprised how much stuff gets posted there and not in the regular ls section so most people miss the items.
 
JoshMcMadMac said:
The issue with that is all of the glare, and what ends up being very little gained for usable light.
Click to expand...

Exactly which is why they are so sought after.

Also the oem hids are of high quality...the bulbs are Philips and alone they run about $150 a piece.
 
JoshMcMadMac said:
The issue with that is all of the glare, and what ends up being very little gained for usable light.
Click to expand...

Did it in our '00 with no problems. The light is VERY usable and very much better than halogen. Just don't go "higher" than 6000K (I went with, IIRC, 4300K). Those stupid kits higher than that are the ones that are blue and project less "usable" light.
 
LS4me said:
Did it in our '00 with no problems. The light is VERY usable and very much better than halogen. Just don't go "higher" than 6000K (I went with, IIRC, 4300K). Those stupid kits higher than that are the ones that are blue and project less "usable" light.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, judging light quality and "improvement" is very difficult for all of us to discern. Here is a great read on the subject:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
 
JoshMcMadMac said:
The issue with that is all of the glare, and what ends up being very little gained for usable light.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree, along with everybody else using HID kits.



Unfortunately, judging light quality and "improvement" is very difficult for all of us to discern.
Click to expand...

That right there sounds like a good enough reason not to make the glare and useable light argument every time the subject of HID kits comes up.

Factory is the best quality, no denying that, but we all see how hard they are to come by. It's kind of elitist for those lucky enough to have them to be making people feel like there is no benefit to getting an HID kit. It's a vast improvement over standard lights and plenty usable. I also have 8k so there goes some of that argument too.
 
trifelife said:
I respectfully disagree, along with everybody else using HID kits.

That right there sounds like a good enough reason not to make the glare and useable light argument every time the subject of HID kits comes up.

Factory is the best quality, no denying that, but we all see how hard they are to come by. It's kind of elitist for those lucky enough to have them to be making people feel like there is no benefit to getting an HID kit. It's a vast improvement over standard lights and plenty usable. I also have 8k so there goes some of that argument too.
Click to expand...

Did you read the link I posted? I do not have HIDs, so you the "elitist" comment does not apply to me. I would do a projector retrofit if I were going to get a HID kit, as otherwise creates more problems than it does solutions.
 
If i didnt have oem hids i would just get a ddm tuning kit.

may be some glare but still better than halogen.
 
haloge< hid kit< Stock HIDs< HID projectors

Dont know where prjectors with halogen bulbs fall into that, either greater or less than stock HIDs though
 
JoshMcMadMac said:
Did you read the link I posted? I do not have HIDs, so you the "elitist" comment does not apply to me. I would do a projector retrofit if I were going to get a HID kit, as otherwise creates more problems than it does solutions.
Click to expand...

I read it every time it gets posted. I apologize for the elitist remark.
 
They are rare.

they were only an option from 2003 to 2006.

And also he was going by which is better in terms of visibility.
 
Holy crap I had no idea that they list at $1825.63 each! Just the headlights will total most of our cars if equipped with HIDs.
 
No they wont....a 2003 still retails for 9 grand.

You havent been on here a lot lately have you? It comes up in every other thread about how much they cost and a modified set with angel eyes sold on ebay for $800 i think it was.
 
Yea having an OEM HID damaged in a wreck is automatically $1600 easily. Usually you damage the hood in an accident involving a light also, and the hood is $1400 (and impossible to find new).

And yes this same thing comes up in every OEM HID thread... It is only a matter of time until everyone knows just how expensive of a car the LS is. The thing stickered for $49K, truly loaded, didn't it?

Just because our cars are cheap now, does not mean it is cheap to replace parts. Hence why so many LSes get totaled in minor wrecks now. Sad ;[
 
Yeah im ok for now but once my retail drops i really hope it doesnt get damaged.
 
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