2000 LX Headlight Upgrade
HI Everyone..
I have a 2000 Accord LX Sedan 4cyl that I absolutely love. I traded in a Caddilac Catera for it and couldn't be happier... but thats another post! :yay:
Anyhow.. I want to upgrade my headlights and from reading and watching your posts I know to stay away from the projector headlights on e-bay. Someone was mentioning Japanese stock headlights to me but didn't know where to get them? Has anyone here heard of them or have an opinion?
Or do I just stick to the OEM replacements on e-bay? Are there any instructions online on how to replace them?
The other question I have is about lamps. I want to have the HID looks without the HID expense. I like that super white/blue light but I do not know what bulbs to buy to get the results I want. Does anyone have a recommendation there?
Thanks a ton for your help!!
Geo
I have a 2000 Accord LX Sedan 4cyl that I absolutely love. I traded in a Caddilac Catera for it and couldn't be happier... but thats another post! :yay:
Anyhow.. I want to upgrade my headlights and from reading and watching your posts I know to stay away from the projector headlights on e-bay. Someone was mentioning Japanese stock headlights to me but didn't know where to get them? Has anyone here heard of them or have an opinion?
Or do I just stick to the OEM replacements on e-bay? Are there any instructions online on how to replace them?
The other question I have is about lamps. I want to have the HID looks without the HID expense. I like that super white/blue light but I do not know what bulbs to buy to get the results I want. Does anyone have a recommendation there?
Thanks a ton for your help!!
Geo
The only headlights worth your time are custom HID retrofits(basically, a headlight projector from an MB, BMW, Audi or Acura), which cost in the neighborhood of $500-600 to have done. The stock headlights produce ungodly amounts of glare with HIDs and blind oncoming drivers.
Aftermarket projector headlights are really ugly (IMO) and decrease light output.
Any aftermarket light bulb will either be a little brighter than stock and burn out about 5 times faster or have much dimmer output.
Unfortunetly, it's really OEM or HID Projector with this car unless you don't mind blowing Silverstars every 5 months.
Aftermarket projector headlights are really ugly (IMO) and decrease light output.
Any aftermarket light bulb will either be a little brighter than stock and burn out about 5 times faster or have much dimmer output.
Unfortunetly, it's really OEM or HID Projector with this car unless you don't mind blowing Silverstars every 5 months.
HIR bulbs are a good improvement, search ebay for "HIR" or go to www.rallylights.com and look under bulbs.
Another way to get a slight increase in light output is to do a 9005 "conversion", 9005 bulbs are your high beams and run at a slightly higher wattage than your 9006 low beams. There is a slight modification to the base and connector of the bulbs that needs to be done, but its very simple and im sure the instructions can be found on this forum somewhere.
As for aftermarket bulbs, what he said ^^
And why are you mentioning OEM replacement headlights? Are your headlights damaged or something?
Another way to get a slight increase in light output is to do a 9005 "conversion", 9005 bulbs are your high beams and run at a slightly higher wattage than your 9006 low beams. There is a slight modification to the base and connector of the bulbs that needs to be done, but its very simple and im sure the instructions can be found on this forum somewhere.
As for aftermarket bulbs, what he said ^^
And why are you mentioning OEM replacement headlights? Are your headlights damaged or something?
Thanks for the replys guys... I appreciate the input.
There are really 3 reasons that I want to upgrade.
#1 - My passenger side headlight is yellow and fogged. It isnt crystal clear and that just bugs me.
#2 - I have always liked the bright white/blue headlight look... just too cheap to go HID.
#3 - Since I have a plain black LX 4 door... My lovely wife thinks it looks too "plain". So she wants to jazz it up a little. Start with new headlights, then Altezza tails, then rims/tires, and maybe an OEM spoiler... and some very very subtle side skirts if applicable. We just want to dress it up a bit.
Keep the comments coming... Any ideas are helpful!
Geo
There are really 3 reasons that I want to upgrade.
#1 - My passenger side headlight is yellow and fogged. It isnt crystal clear and that just bugs me.
#2 - I have always liked the bright white/blue headlight look... just too cheap to go HID.
#3 - Since I have a plain black LX 4 door... My lovely wife thinks it looks too "plain". So she wants to jazz it up a little. Start with new headlights, then Altezza tails, then rims/tires, and maybe an OEM spoiler... and some very very subtle side skirts if applicable. We just want to dress it up a bit.
Keep the comments coming... Any ideas are helpful!
Geo
1. is it yellow from the outside?... polishing it can reduce the yellowness
2. you can either get sylvania silverstars(blow out quickly) or blue tinted bulbs(reduced light output)
3. check out red/clear tails instead of altezzas
2. you can either get sylvania silverstars(blow out quickly) or blue tinted bulbs(reduced light output)
3. check out red/clear tails instead of altezzas
I think it is yellow from the outside...It almost looks like someone tried to wax it...but why only one?
At any rate... I dont mind replacing the housings and going with stock bulbs if I have to... or popping silverstars in once just to see what they look like and then using stock lamps.
BUT - I am almost a complete idiot when it comes to taking apart cars. If I have step by step instructions it isn't a problem....
Does anyone have step by step instructions on how to remove the headlight assemblies for both sides? I have read on here somewhere that I have to take off the bumper? Would a chilton manual cover that? I havent seen one of them since I had a '78 Fiesta!
Thanks a bunch for your help~
Jani - Something wrong with Altezza's? Have a link to Red/clear tails?
Thanks!
Geo
At any rate... I dont mind replacing the housings and going with stock bulbs if I have to... or popping silverstars in once just to see what they look like and then using stock lamps.
BUT - I am almost a complete idiot when it comes to taking apart cars. If I have step by step instructions it isn't a problem....
Does anyone have step by step instructions on how to remove the headlight assemblies for both sides? I have read on here somewhere that I have to take off the bumper? Would a chilton manual cover that? I havent seen one of them since I had a '78 Fiesta!
Thanks a bunch for your help~
Jani - Something wrong with Altezza's? Have a link to Red/clear tails?
Thanks!
Geo
if you go to discount auto parts buy a bottle of Meguiar's PlastiX, it's a black bottle with a red X on it. buy yourself a terry towel or a polishing sponge. apply as much of that PlastiX as you need and start rubbing at the lamp housing in a circular motion. i gurantee you almost 98% of HAN users will agree with me this product should remove any blemishes or scratches from your headlamps.
the bumper is held on by several clips and a few screws...
the 1st page in the pdf has a diagram
http://www.handaaccessories.com/acco...frontunder.pdf
regarding altezzas... i just think theyre played out
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/9...997262ltac.jpg
the 1st page in the pdf has a diagram
http://www.handaaccessories.com/acco...frontunder.pdf
regarding altezzas... i just think theyre played out

http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/9...997262ltac.jpg
Originally Posted by 98CoupeV6
The only headlights worth your time are custom HID retrofits(basically, a headlight projector from an MB, BMW, Audi or Acura), which cost in the neighborhood of $500-600 to have done. The stock headlights produce ungodly amounts of glare with HIDs and blind oncoming drivers.
Aftermarket projector headlights are really ugly (IMO) and decrease light output.
Any aftermarket light bulb will either be a little brighter than stock and burn out about 5 times faster or have much dimmer output.
Unfortunetly, it's really OEM or HID Projector with this car unless you don't mind blowing Silverstars every 5 months.
Aftermarket projector headlights are really ugly (IMO) and decrease light output.
Any aftermarket light bulb will either be a little brighter than stock and burn out about 5 times faster or have much dimmer output.
Unfortunetly, it's really OEM or HID Projector with this car unless you don't mind blowing Silverstars every 5 months.
I'm running a replacement pair of cheap OEM like clear housings from Nopi--the light output is down a tad from OEM. They don't leak or fog, thank heavens, but I find that the OEM Honda Accord housing can fog from the inside over time. I know my last pair did. So rather then re-clean and seal my OEM housings again I got some cheapies from Nopi, they seem OK, I think the brand was Sonar, don't quote me on that.
Another neat thing I've seen is headlight film from Lamin-X, I think I may try their LeMans look yellow film with the HID kit.


