The driver’s side low beam went out on my G35 a few days ago.

I’ve been busy and it’s 100 degrees here, so decided to treat myself by letting a garage replace the headlight. When I checked back in with them, they said they were still trying to locate a part and the final bill would be nearly $1000!

Once I got back up off of the floor and located my jaw, I asked them what that was about. They told me that it wasn’t just the bulb, the headlight needs a new ballast as well and that’s why the high bill.

That’s just not in the cards for me at the moment. Or ever, probably. This is a 2003 G35 with 200,000 miles on it.

I was thinking of switching the lights over to LEDs, as I’ve seen kits advertised for around $200 for both lights. In researching I found contradictory opinions (of course) ranging from ‘LED headlights are cheap and great!’ to ‘It’s the worst idea ever and will definitely set your car on fire.’

I’m soliciting any advice from more experienced hands. Switch to LEDs? Buy a new ballast online? Resign myself to a $1000 garage bill? Set the car on fire and move on?

I’m comfortable doing relatively simple tasks. I can change the oil, replace headlights, install stereos, replace a headliner, do a brake job and the like, but I’m not comfortable with (or equipped for) major mechanical chores.

Thanks!



Mark

 

LED's biggest drawback is the throw, just not a huge amount of distance compared to HIDs but they are brighter than halogens with about the same distance. But I haven't tried any since 2015 when I put them in my Accord. Ended up doing a retrofit several months later. Maybe the new bulbs are better.

You can probably find a G35 at a wrecking yard with the headlights and ballasts intact. Might take some searching though. I found a really good pair I'm going to retrofit on eBay for about $450. Came with bulbs and ballasts. Headlights with faded housings were less when I was looking.

 

Dumb question but are you sure they're D2Rs? I think HIDs were an option in 2003. Anyway, a brand new OEM ballast might be $500 and a lamp $50, but search "26055-VC000" (pretty sure that's what you need) on ebay and you'll see many used ballasts available for low prices.

 

U can get a new HID kit for about $50 including bulbs and ballasts. Get the hell away from those mechanics!!

Go here: https://ddmtuning.com/DDM-HID-Kit-Sl...ast-35W-or-55W

Select 35 watts.
Bulb type select D2R
Bulb color is your choice: 5000K is pure white. 6000K is a slightly bluish white. Google “HID color chart” if u wanna compare.

 

Thanks for all the input. So everyone's advice is that I should stick with the stock headlights (not LED etc.) and just replace the ballast myself. Correct?

Can I presume that replacing the ballast isn't a major mechanical PITA?

 

[double-post deleted]

 

Question so nice you asked it twice? Never mind, it happens to all of us.

Yes, it's a PITA to access our headlights. Why do you think the shop wanted to charge you a grand? But YOU can do it.
Your FSMs are here:
https://www.nicoclub.com/infiniti-service-manuals
Click G35, scroll down, G35 again, sedan or coupe, 2003. The "Lighting System" link will then open the LT.pdf in a window (below which you can click to download). That book it tells you everything you need to know about your OEM headlamps but refers you to other manuals from the collection for "removal" instructions, so you may want to grab a couple more.

 

Thanks!

 

Broski , your mechanic is hosing you

Stick with OEM , they'll last longer

Buy from scrapyards, or buy used.

Even if you found the part, anyone can put it in for a few bucks, not thousands.

Don't be afraid to be offensive to a mechanic that tried to scam you.

 

Grabbed all of this but I'm currently completely baffled as to how I can get it into my car. Plugs don't match. Wires don't match. I'm puzzling over their installation instructions, but they refer the "OEM locking ring," which ... is a total mystery to me. I don't know if I ordered the wrong thing, missed ordering some key parts (e.g. "OEM Locking Rings") or just underestimated the amount of re-wiring, etc., that this is going to require.

 

For anyone still following along, I found a headlight unit at a local salvage yard for $130 and that's the direction I went. It even had two working bulbs, so I'm way ahead of the game.

 

That doesnt look like a regular DDM bulb. But good to hear u got it all workin again!