Ok, my passenger side headlight is out, from what i know its a 4100k D2R (04 coupe), and well the dealership in my area sucks, and plus its about 35 miles from my house. They will replace them for free but wont be anytime soon (i go to school so its hard to make it work out). So what i want to see is how much will it cost to replace the headlights myself with a set of 6000Ks (seems like Phillips have the best praise). This is just an idea, but since im going to take off the headlights ti replace them both, why not switch out the clearance strip too right? (isnt that the only other light to change other than the foglight, which i dont think i need to change, unless someone convinces me otherwise). And what are the codes on the clcearance strip, just the wedge bulbs like the ones in the bumper side markers? So confused, I have never done with before, but i read up a DIY on how to take off the headlights, so i figure I can get this done within an hour, I hope .

Bottom line...how much will it cost to get 6000k D2Rs for my 04 coupe, than on the side how much, and which, bulbs for the clearance strip? This is like a foreign language for me, so experts please help me out, thanks SO SO MUCH. Also if i said something wrong or you think i should go a different path, please say so, recommendations are greatly appreciated

 

Alot of the info you are looking for can be found with a search.

Lets start with the bulbs. Philips 6000k Ultinons usually go for around 200 shipped on ebay. Just to give you a heads up, you will lose about 20-25% of light ouput compared to the stock bulb. You will gain however, a purer white color.

For the clearance strip, it is a 194/168 wedge bulb. Many chose to use LEDS but they seem to go out after a while since it gets real hot in that area. It is a major PITA to swap those lights without taking out the headlights, so be aware that they may burn out. You can also use a normal bulb, but just like the LED, it will not "fill out" the entire strip. It will only light up the top portion.
Another option people do are CCFL in the clearance strips, but that is more of an advanced job as you will nead to take the headlights apart, etc.

Honestly, I would just get some 06+ projectors, aim them correctly, and call it a day.

 

bulbs are around 200 bucks, than add clearance strip lights and what not will get me near 220$, but the 06+ projectors are around 400$? arent the stock 06 headlights using 4500k? if so, they will look better than my 04s with 6000k. searching for exact pricing on 06+ headlights, thanks...

 

DOH!! two posts made while i was typing mine!! i'll still reply....

OOOOk.. let's see here. I just finished installing some 6000k bulbs on my G cuz one of my bulbs went out as well. Mine were not covered under warranty, so I had to buy them. I bought some 6000K off ebay, and had them installed in an hour. the method i used was to take off the wheel and remove the inner lining of the undercarriage so that you could reach the bulb. it worked out great and the install was easy. i should have gotten some fog light replacements while i was at it cuz it was easily accesible but oh well.. leaves another project for later... but yea.. i don't know about the whole clearance strip thing, but 6000K phillips will work awesome. you'll love the difference. you're going to lose about 20-25% of your original brightness but to be honest, i don't see the 25% difference.. to each his own though on the color temperature choice... i thought 6000k was an excellent middle-ground of color and brightness...

oh and i got regular 6000K bulbs for about 40 bucks shippped (worked fine)... phillips ultinons 6000K are going to rund you in the ballpark of 150-200.

good luck on your install!!

 

what kind of 6000k bulbs dif you get? 40 bucks shipped sounds real nice lol, do you happen to have any pcs?

 

The reason you want to stick with quality bulbs is that cheap brands tend to burn out quicker. Also, there isn't much regulation so even though they are supposed to be 6000k, they may be rated much higher, resulting in an even greater loss of lumens.

As far as not seeing the loss of light output with 6000K's, try to drive in the rain and see if you can tell a difference. Don't ge me wrong, I love the color of 6000K's, but it rains out here a bit and I can imagine how much it would suck to drive with 6000K and up in the rain.

 

sfgr has some valid points but, it doesn't rain all that much over here and i did take into consideration the life of the bulbs... by that time i should have the 06 headlights.. i'll take some night pics... BRB!!

 

here you go... only gots a camera phone so i could only take pics against the house... but i took one w/ the fogs and one without.. you should be able to tell the difference...

 

what year are those headlights, look like projectors. looks awesome for 40 bucks

 

still deciding on what i really want to go with, still got the FREE dealership headlights on the back of my mind...

 

Its not just in the rain, the difference is obvious in all conditions IMO.

 

Lude... you are correct... at times in the night i drive through sporatic low clouds and that's when i use the fogs... high beams make things worse. other than that i can't imagine too much else i would experience, seeing as i drive back home to texas every two months. i don't see much else (snow?)

and those are stock 03' headlights, just cleaned up the plastic with some polshing compound to restore the new headlight look.

also.. just got back from my first night drive with these bulbs... i notice a small difference in output, but nothing i would complain about.. I am, however, thinking about switching out the fogs..

 

there is alot of glare in your pics, did the bulbs you buy have the ceramic glare shield needed or were they completely uncoated?

 

negative... completely uncoated... which would really turn it into a D2S, but sold as D2C..

and crappy camera phone pics too.. cutoff is a little more defined in real life

 

The coating is there for a reason on the stock bulbs, running uncoated bulbs in reflector housings results in significant glare and quite inconsiderate of other drivers on the road that you are blinding. Please reconsider installing your stock bulbs or at least purchasing aftermarket d2r bulbs that don't blind other drivers on the road, people like you give use a bad name