I'm in new york and I've heard of a lot of nissan's head lights being stolen and sold to body shops and online because they are so expensive. I was wondering if anyone with a z ever get their head lights stolen? I think its more difficult to remove them from the Z because you have to open the hood to get to them, while with the maxima and altima they can get taken out without opening the hood. this is one reason why I am looking into getting a better alarm

 

No its not that easy to steal a headlight from a maxima or altima, you still need acess to the bolts behind the bumper. and there is a bolt under the hood as well same goes for the Z. Hell if they want something they WILL take it regardless if you have a alarm or not.

 

On the 5th gen Maximas (02-03) w/HID lights, it was very easy to steal the lights. They didn't even have to open the hood. People would pry the headlights out (presumably w/a crowbar or something), breaking the flimsy plastic tabs and brackets and sometimes causing a lot of body damage in the process. It was apparently really bad in NY and NJ.

I'd seen a bunch of stolen Maxima headlights on sale on Ebay. They were definitely stolen since they didn't have the box and the plastic tabs were conveniently broken... (sure it makes perfect sense for legit owners to break the brackets instead of using a 10 mm socket to unbolt them ).

See http://www.nissanhelp.com/Ownership/.../NTB05-035.htm, http://www.nissanhelp.com/News/Archi...s%20Thefts.htm and http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/nissan_nj.html.

They replaced the brackets w/stronger ones and put on data dots for tracking purposes in 3 states (NY, NJ and one more). I'm not sure if they extended it to others. I'm trying to find out now.

To the OP, visit maxima.org for more info. I don't frequent here anymore, but it was rehashed to death for a long time. Before the brackets were available, I'd see a couple people week in NY and NJ say their headlights were stolen, sometimes some people had their lights stolen 3+ times, at the tune of $1400/pair + body repairs.

 

wow...

 

On this note, if you do search for stuff like http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...dlights+nissan you'll see plenty of hits.

 

well if breaking the tabs making it ok then there would be alot of other cars with stolen headlights, i would of simply used a special allen key type or similar anti-theft bolts on the whole headlight assembly. But like i said ealier if someone wants it they wil take it regardless of whatever security steps u may take.

 

One of the moderators/regulars on maxima.org did sell special security bolts and had a couple different bits going around. That still didn't stop the thieves since the brackets were too flismy. The thieves would still ****** them right out. See the above URLs for the new stronger metal bracket assembly references.

The 04+ Maxima (6th gen) is a totally different design since it's Altima based from then on. Presumably, they became harder to steal (and I know for 04 HIDs became optional, whereas they were standard on all 02-03 models). The previous 5th gen Maximas (00-01) which didn't come w/HID lights apparently had the same bracket design. Nissan didn't anticipiate this theft problem. The stories below underscore the problem the Max faced.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...ft-rates_x.htm
http://www.iihs.org/news_releases/2004/pr101904.htm

Back then, I heard the Acura TLs of that day also were getting their headlights stolen.

 

Im suprsied Lexus didnt get hit up since i know most higher end lexus from 97+ have HID as standard equipment and i know those gotta go for big bucks.

 

dont go to poor neighborhoods...
stay around the rich suburban areas i bet nothing would happen.

 

Well I'm hoping someone would steal my headlights and taillights this way I could claim for the 06 model one.

 

You don't know New York. The whole cesspool is easy pickings for thieves, regardless of where you live.

By the way this issue was a very big deal for Acura owners, my uncle lives out there and his TL went through 3 sets of Xenons before he decided to park it in a garage (for like 500 bucks a month )

Bottom line is if you live in New York, get out while you still can.

 

It's not really a problem so far in IN.

 

My moms 03 maxima headlights were stolen in the mall. The bolts are easy to access..the plastic grill comes off, they disconnect the horn, then they pry the hood open w/ a screw driver and off it goes.
Costs 1400 for repairs. Nissan put some kind of "datadot" in there to track your stolen headlights and changed the way its bolted on.

 

During the past couple years there have been a bunch of cars that have fallen victim to headlight thefts, especially around the NYC, NJ areas. Acura's were a big target as well as Audi S4's. S4's were (and still are) being stolen regularly, often just for their headlights and to go joyriding (4 were stolen this past Waterfest - which is a big Audi/VW meet in Jersey). I personally know 5 people who had their audis stolen in NJ and 3 were recovered missing only the headlights, airbags, and ecu.

 

have a "friend" steal them for you

 

Ya except for the fact that Rich suburban neighborhoods is where a theif would find these types of cars with these types of headlights. Its not like they find high end cars with HID in the ghetto and steal em. Theifs are everywhere not just poor neigborhoods.

 

lol
how come crime rate in my neighborhood is like zero. and crime rate in the ghetto is like 100%?
:P
If headlights get stole here, the story will be on the headline news and national guards might be redeployed from iraq to pennsylvania lol

sorry for being so sterotypical but it is kind of true =)

 

No way, removing the headlights off a 350Z is so hard, they might as well steal the whole car.

 

^^^Whats the difference between the 05 and the 06? Do you have pics?

 

criminals r not as sophisticated so...
if their mind is set on stealing those lamps then THEY GOT TO STEAL THEM LAMPS. who cares about stealing the whole car if they can steal them good ole lamps.
:P

anyway... stay safe dont go out (gas price is fooking ridiculous, goin out might get yer lamps stolen, goin out might get yer car keyed by jealous kids, goin out might crash and burn thus die en route to the hospital)