Ok quick question. My car has stock HIDS but the shells are nasty lookin, they need to be changed.

Can I buy non hid lights and use those shells for my hid system with my ballasts and bulb etc?

Or are the shells for the HID system different than non-HID shells forcing me to buy shells for HID lights?

Ive always wondered if the reason HID lights are so expensive is because they are including the ballasts which I dont need.

Hope this makes sense LOL

 

yes hid housings and non-hid housings are different. you need hid housings.

 

lexus does not sell just the lens which sucks. my headlights were really messed up, like beyond belief, i dont even want to explain what i did on a public forum. so I figured, try to save my headlights, if i mess up I need new lights anyway, if they come out good, i just saved myself 600 bucks.

we can refinish our headlights - they're plastic lenses!... wetsanding works a dream...

my were so nasty, i started at 400grit, worked up to 2000 - i wanted to go to 3000 but they didnt have the paper at pepboys, so 2000 was as high as i went. the got some 3m compound, machine buffed. then for the finishing touch, i went with meguiars plastX. oh did that do the trick, machine buffed.. i was left with some minor scratches from the sand paper, but that is bc 2 things i feel. 1, i have a cheap buffer with incorrect polishing pads. and 2, i wish i could have gone up to 3000 grit paper like i said. i know i could have gotten the headlights even better, i may go back this weekend a keep playing with them

u can use the plastX by hand and get good results, but for that added step, take out the buffer

i accept no responsibility if u don't use the wetsanding sand paper correctly and gouge your headlights, but it is practically fool proof. keep the headlight very well lubricated, and keep the sandpaper soaking in a bath with DISH WASHING SOAP.

u can ask dj tantra how badly i ruined my headlights and how they turned out after i was done with them.

 

surprised no one else has chimed in about restoring platic headlights

 

That's because most people usually mention it in the automotive detailing section

Wetsanding is the way to go!

 

yes, wetsanding and re clearing = the best!

you can also try meguiar's plast-x. it is a simple solution to try and see. it worked on mine but the oxidation came back a few months later. after wetsanding and reclearing it has yet to come back

 

yo tyke, no need to drop all that cash on new headlights. just browse the detailing section or search "headlight restoration". you'll be surprised wat you find.

GL!

 

Yes, Lexus does sell just the housing. I had condensation in my HID headlight equipped GS430. I replaced just the headlight housings, then reused all my HID parts from the old headlights. All that needs to be replaced is just the housings, not any of the HID parts.

 

Lexus sells the housing, but not the lens itself. Most likely because it's not a DIY for most people.