I might buy the passenger side headlight from someone and want to know if there are any markings on the light to determine if its the HID or halogen one. The light doesn't come with the bulb or ballast just the headlight, thats all I need because my headlight is cracked. So don't want to get scammed on the lense.

 

It should be easy to tell... the stock HID's are D2R or D2S and the point where the cars wiring plugs into it is circular with a electrode in the center. Halogens should just have two metal clip-like pieces. Obviously the HID capsule should be plugged into a ballast attached to the bottom of the headlamp.



Here is a pic of a HID capsule:



Here is a halogen bulb:

 

I think the OP is asking about the housing itself, not the actual light bulb. But before I go any further, i'll let him respond in case you answered his question.

 

Yeah, I am talking about the housing

 

u can tell by the bulb seating........

 

The most obvious is to have a picture under the housing where the ballast would sit for HID. If it is indeed HID, there will be a hole for the ballast that you can see clean through to the "guts". If it is not HID, there will be no hole. There will be a spot where there could have been a ballast, but Nissan filled in that spot with plastic so nothing can fit there (at least for every set i've ever come across). Next, the wiring is different. You didn't say if it came with wiring, so the easiest way to tell is if there is a ballast plug right next to the main car harness 8 pin plug. They'll be a tooth picks width away from each other. If it's non HID, you'll only see the main car plug (6 pin connector). Lastly, as mentioned before, the bulbs will have a different fitting pattern, but you probably couldn't tell that by a picture unless it was a close up.

If you're still in doubt, post the pictures here. Lots of people could tell you right away what you have. Oh... And just so I know, we're talking about an 03-05 housing correct? All 06+ lights are HID so you don't have to worry about getting a non. You didn't say, but it's never safe to assume