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I was thinking of replacing the original 2005 350Z Touring headlight assemblies because they just don't seem very bright at night. The lenses are fairly clear but not perfect. Can someone tell me what kind of light bulbs came in this car originally. Will new HID light assemblies make a huge improvement?
So after looking deeper into this I see the prices can range from $200 a pair to $1200, so is it a " you get what you pay for thing?" Or can someone share with me a good alternative replacement for under $300 that they have used for a Xenon HID complete assembly.
I paid about $375 for my Depo brand lights 6 years ago, they have been flawless, as good as OEM. I turned down $600 for my OEMs that work as they're no longer available anywhere. Save up for the Depos IMHO.
I bought my 04 Roadster Z last year and replaced the headlight assemblies right away with the Depo ones. I also chose the ones with the upgraded, newer headlight bulbs. Very happy with them and a huge improvement of light at night.
Everything has gone up, side note: get used to expensive with these cars. The bulbs alone will go for $100-300 a pair, this isn't a civic.
Even at the price in the links that's VERY reasonable given that a set is cheaper than ONE OEM light.
Mine were about double the price of those Depo lights.
If your '05 has HID, then OEM is a Phillips 4300K D2R HID bulb. If the color is starting to fade or turn to a different color, then the bulb is on its way out. You can also use a D2S bulb in the place of the stock D2R bulb.
As far as I know, there is no such thing as a "bi-xenon LED." Xenon refers to the gas inside of the HID (high intensity discharge) bulb. An LED (light emitting diode) does not use xenon gas or a filament. There is either a bi-xenon model which uses one projector and one HID bulb with an internal flapper mechanism which changes the output between your high beam and low beam, or a bi-LED which uses an LED and the same flapper to change the light output through the projector. The term bi-xenon LED sounds like a marketing gimmick.
If you're looking for an aftermarket replacement for $200-$300, then it's going to be the same low beam only HID reflector-type projector with a D2R bulb and use a halogen bulb for the high beam just like your current housing design.
The upgrade as others have mentioned is to get the '06+ housing (either DEPO or OEM) which is a bi-xenon design using a D2S HID bulb through one projector and an internal flapper to switch between high and low. The projector is better as it focuses all the light output through the projector lens and the projector bowl as opposed to using the reflector bowl on the 03-05 design.
TRS has Morimoto D2R and D2S bulbs that are fairly affordable and less than $100. As far as color temperature, stay between 4300K and 5500K for maximum useable light output.
If you don't want to upgrade housings, then you can still use your '05 OEM housings and swap in new 50w ballasts and 50w HID bulbs, but it wouldn't really be worth it in the long run. You can reuse your OEM 35w ballasts in the 06+ headlamps, but you will need to purchase new D2S HID bulbs.
If you're trying to save some $$$, first get some new D2S HID bulbs and put those in your stock housings. If that doesn't meet your expectations, then get the 06+ housings and reuse the new D2S bulbs you just purchased with the OEM ballasts.
If your '05 has HID, then OEM is a Phillips 4300K D2R HID bulb. If the color is starting to fade or turn to a different color, then the bulb is on its way out. You can also use a D2S bulb in the place of the stock D2R bulb.
As far as I know, there is no such thing as a "bi-xenon LED." Xenon refers to the gas inside of the HID (high intensity discharge) bulb. An LED (light emitting diode) does not use xenon gas or a filament. There is either a bi-xenon model which uses one projector and one HID bulb with an internal flapper mechanism which changes the output between your high beam and low beam, or a bi-LED which uses an LED and the same flapper to change the light output through the projector. The term bi-xenon LED sounds like a marketing gimmick.
If you're looking for an aftermarket replacement for $200-$300, then it's going to be the same low beam only HID reflector-type projector with a D2R bulb and use a halogen bulb for the high beam just like your current housing design.
The upgrade as others have mentioned is to get the '06+ housing (either DEPO or OEM) which is a bi-xenon design using a D2S HID bulb through one projector and an internal flapper to switch between high and low. The projector is better as it focuses all the light output through the projector lens and the projector bowl as opposed to using the reflector bowl on the 03-05 design.
TRS has Morimoto D2R and D2S bulbs that are fairly affordable and less than $100. As far as color temperature, stay between 4300K and 5500K for maximum useable light output.
If you don't want to upgrade housings, then you can still use your '05 OEM housings and swap in new 50w ballasts and 50w HID bulbs, but it wouldn't really be worth it in the long run. You can reuse your OEM 35w ballasts in the 06+ headlamps, but you will need to purchase new D2S HID bulbs.
If you're trying to save some $$$, first get some new D2S HID bulbs and put those in your stock housings. If that doesn't meet your expectations, then get the 06+ housings and reuse the new D2S bulbs you just purchased with the OEM ballasts.
Class dismissed.
Great explanation, I think I'll save my pennies and get the Bi-xenon whole assembly, I want to see at night.
I guess I'm like and old lady, can't make up my mind. Seems my car currently has halogen bulbs. I have been doing a bunch of research it certainly, it is not straight forward like the old days, lots of choices. This Z is not my daily driver and is only driven a few miles a year. Its an 05 with 43K miles on it, probably the original bulbs. I noticed at night low beams are not very bright and high beams have a yellow tint to them. Lenses are pretty clear but could be better. I'm thinking of just buying new lenses and halogen bulbs for about $250 and be done. I like to keep the car as original as possible so I don't want black back ground lenses. Am I crazy or what, probably one of the oldest Z drivers at 70 but I still like speed.
I guess I'm like and old lady, can't make up my mind. Seems my car currently has halogen bulbs. I have been doing a bunch of research it certainly, it is not straight forward like the old days, lots of choices. This Z is not my daily driver and is only driven a few miles a year. Its an 05 with 43K miles on it, probably the original bulbs. I noticed at night low beams are not very bright and high beams have a yellow tint to them. Lenses are pretty clear but could be better. I'm thinking of just buying new lenses and halogen bulbs for about $250 and be done. I like to keep the car as original as possible so I don't want black back ground lenses. Am I crazy or what, probably one of the oldest Z drivers at 70 but I still like speed.
You cannot buy "just" lenses to my knowledge. The housings are sealed and to do anything inside (new STi lenses, cleaning of the inside of the lenses, you must bake them open and upon reassembly, reseal them. But since you have Base lights, don't bother.
Back in the day, it was easy enough to go to an H4 high wattage with relays but now, really the best way to get more light is to upgrade to HID. Maybe someone parting out a non-Base Z will sell the stock HIDs cheap. Try yards like here or here. Once you get HIDs, you can wire up a 6-8 conversion or buy them pre-made.
If you're not going to do an HID conversion (even the '03-05 HIDs on everything but Base model), start by swapping bulbs to higher output units. Or try a pair of those "brighter LEDs".
If the lows and the highs have a similar color temperature (yellow-ish), then they use halogen bulbs and you have a base. If you want to stay with the stock appearance and keep the 03-05' housing style, then you can get a set for fairly cheap for under $200. You could get those and then purchase a set of HID bulbs and ballasts from TRS. That would be the cheapest upgrade in lighting and definitely an improvement.
If you go 06+ style, you'll still need to source the HID bulbs and ballasts, but the housings are about double the price of the 03-05.
So, about a $250 price difference between 03-05 and the 06+.
Okay today I decided to open up the car and see what the heck is in there. Looks like the hi beam is a xenon (NX15) and the low looks like it is a halogen (L423 H7) does that make sense. At this time I just want to replace the bulbs with a higher lumens (6000K). I could not find any other information on the hi beam bulb.
The bulb on the bottom is halogen and your high beam.
Going to a 6000K HID low beam will not increase lumens but merely change the color to more blue on the color spectrum.
Okay I guess that makes sense then, my low beams are really where I have the problem, they seem weak and have a yellow/orange color, the xenon bulbs must be tired. I thought the little light bulb was the low beam, my mistake. Also I did not realize I would have a mixture of halogen and xenon, I'm going to replace all of them now that I have it all opened up, thanks
08-19-2022, 11:25 AM
2005 Z Headlight Replacement Assemblies
