93Cobra

Wife came home yesterday, and I noticed her driver side HID is out. Damn near had a heart attack when they gave me the price for a new one. $332.00 bux!

Car only has 75k on it, and $332.00 to replace the friggen headlight. Any aftermarket options available?

I have to say, I was pretty shocked at the price. My cousin works at a NAPA, and they can't even get them.

Anyone found a lower price alternative? I'm already checking salvage yards.

Thanks!

mrekid

Is there a problem with the lens? Is it cracked or broken in any way? If not you can replace the bulb for $20-$50 depending on the quality from the auto parts store. Also this is a very simple process, just open up the hood and look at the back side of the lens. you will see wires going to the back of the headlight. just remove and replace with a new bulb. I bought Silverstars and am very impressed with the visibility.

alsalih

The HID bulb is in fact over $300, however you can buy online from the below link for $276 (the call out is wrong on this diagram, it's not the high beam). That’s actually very surprising to see one go out on the Lexus because they’re design life is 10,000 hrs. mrekid, the one you noted is correct for vehicles without the HID bulb and unfortunately the two are not interchangeable.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...=8&catalogid=2

93Cobra

I did one better. After digging through this forum for the better part of two hours, I found a thread that told the bulb type

D2R - thread also recommended looking on ebay for that bulb.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=260047040818

Did a buy it now, got a set of two for just under 80 bucks including shipping and insurance. Manufacturer is Phillips, and Phillips is the OEM manufacturer of the factory bulb. Brand new, still boxed. :joy:

Lexus can take their overpriced parts dept and shove it.

alsalih

Wow good find, let us know how it works! I'll keep that in mind in case I ever need one.

tcheung87

Yeah, Lexus sells OEM way overpriced. Next time try http://www.xenondepot.com to replace your D2R bulbs they sell original Philips products, they are a CL sponsor and great company to do business with.

amiricon

Can't you find cheap alternatives for like $10? Whats the difference between the ones you're talking about and this one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=200040865507

I don't know much about this stuff so don't kill me.

rl9905

That $10 bulb in that link is not an HID bulb. That's a Halogen Bulb for 9004. You need a D2R HID Bulb like the one which "96Cobra" had posted above.

amiricon

But what's the difference really? Don't they look the same?

tcheung87

2001-2003 RX300's came with optional factory discharge headlamps, or HID. They require the use of a D2R bulb drawing power from a ballast, a D2R compatible reflector, and an auto-leveling system. The D2R bulb is able to create far more light and whiter light than any halogen bulb. Therefore he cannot buy halogen bulbs for his RX300 headlamps. You can probably find more information in the Lighting section.

-tc

tcheung87

Try this resource:

http://xenondepot.com/htec.php

-tc

93Cobra

Installed and working like a charm! Exact replacement, as far as I can tell.

Hardest part is removing the cap off the sealed headlight enclosure. It twist about and inch (it's a 5" diameter cover) and then pulls off. Has a big rubber grommet/gasket to make the enclosure watertight. It is VERY tight and difficult to turn. I actually lubed it up with a little vaseline to get it back on.

On the passenger side, you have to remove the wiper fluid neck, but that takes about a minute to do at most.

If I had it to do over with, I'd prob just have gotten a single bulb, as I can't really tell the difference between the old bulb and the new bulb. I installed both new ones, none the less...

PSURobert

Just did the passenger side over the weekend at 148,000 miles. The dust cover was a bear to remove given the limited work space. It helps to "nudge" it with a 1 X 2 or a hammer handle, but carefully, because I knocked an "ear" off by tapping it. Once you get the cover off, turn the electric connector a quarter turn and remove, but don't try turning or pulling the bulb to get it out. Instead, gently unhook the wire holder to remove the bulb. The bulb is grooved, so there's only one way to install it.

appsdba

Just FYI, I've had good experience with buying parts from Amazon (www.amazon.com) for my RX300. Just for future reference.

tomted1

Are you talking about opening the hood and going in from behind the light to remove the bulb? Does the xenon HID bulb require a kit for the increased amperage of the xenon bulbs? Also, has anyone tried to dry out or clean the inside of the lens when they get cloudy? Thanks.